All chain on my Ranger 25

dmadson · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 5:01 pm Post subject: All chain on my Ranger 25

I am getting a new Ranger 25 from the factory about May 1st. I am a fan on all chain with my anchor. Will all chain be a weight problem? Denny

captd · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject:

The weight in the bow helps bring it down to get on plane a bit better.

captd Thumbs Up

Sea Wolf · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 7:59 pm Post subject:

The all chain helps keep the bow down in chop, too.

It will take another Ranger-25 Tug owner to tell you if it will be too heavy in the bow in following seas, etc, though.

Joe. Teeth

thataway · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:18 pm Post subject:

You live in the PNW--where occasionally you may anchor in up to 100 feet.
I would think that 400 feet of chain would not be justified in this size boat.

Why do you like all chain?

In my long distance cruising boats, I have had 150 to 200 feet of chain, backed by at least 400 feet of line. With chain you have to use a snubber, and should not leave the boat riding to the chain on the windlass. You should not pull the boat to the anchor with the windlass--you take up the slack (and the combination rope/chain gypsy does well with this)--the boat breaks out the anchor--and then the weight of the anchor is hoisted aboard--and it makes sence to have 20 to 30 feet of chain for positive engagement during this stage.

Yes, you can compensate for too much weight aft, by putting weight foreward--but weight in the ends of the boats increased pitching momentum and hobby horsing. Most boaters like to keep weight out of the ends of boats--but with outbaords this is not possiable--the Ranger 25 has the diesel and fuel tanks further foreward--for a good balance. If you hang a heavy dinghy on the back--you may find compensating for that necessary. Only if a boat is underpowered or poorly designed should one have to put weight foreward to get best perfromance. Better performance will be obtained with a lighter boat.