questions about anchor rode/thimbles

[haakebecks]

So I am getting ready to pull the trigger and order up new grand tackle from Defender, unless you folks can steer me to a cheaper/better vendor.

I'm going with 250 feet of 1/2 8 plait and 50 of 1/4 G4 HT chain. I'll be doing a chain to rope splice. My question is on the other end of the rope. Are most of you folks using a thimble and then going using a shackle to connect that to the eye bolt in the anchor locker or are you doing something else?

[colobear]

Sounds like a good setup. We use a thimble spliced into the bitter end and a shackle to the eye.

[thataway]

You may not want a thimble if you are using a windlass, even at the bitter end. Some folks switch ends every few years--to even the wear on the rode.
I tie a bowline in the bitter end, then I use 1/4" line --about 10 feet of it. I then thread the line thru the eye bolt, back thru the bowline, back thru the eye bolt nut, several times. This way if you need to access the end of the line, it can be brought to the deck, and even cut fast if you have to cut and run rapidly--the fine line can be cut faster than the full 1/2" line. If I have a windlass, (which I currently don't), I put a tight eye splice in the bitter end, and then do the same as above, so the bitter end could be brought up thru the windlass.

[journey on]

I use one of these swivels between the chain and anchor: [url=http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|118|103371|4089|2259973|2260017|2260037&id=1317606]Chicago Hardware 1/2" Swivel[/url]. It's worked well. Shackle on one end, swivel pin on t'other. I tried to use the next size up, but that was too big for the chain.

I stay away from the fancy ones (Suncor, etc.) because I read of them breaking. That's probably been cured or was a ramdon failure, but just a plain galvanized one has held for years.

I changed to braided anchor line, and found I had to soak it before the windlass would pull it in. Dumping it into the ocean fixed the problem.

Note that Defenders URLs doesn't work well with my posts. So you've got the URL AND the description. They have a similar one from WorldWide Enterprises at half the price. You make the choice.

Boris

[Sunbeam]

[localboy]

I just tied a bowline on it.

[haakebecks]

As always, I appreciate all of the great advice and feedback. Sounds like a bowline with some 1/4 is a cheaper/easier solution.

Thanks!

That leads me to my second question. Current anchor is a 10kg/22lb Bruce knock-off. Was leaning towards a Manson Supreme, but the 25lb Manson seems substantially larger than the Bruce. Are most of you running 25lb Manson Supremes on 25 Classics/26 Ventures or is the 15lb adequate?

[bridma]

[Foggy]

Keep it coming with the good stuff.
I'm taking notes.
Next Spring may be
a CD 26V.

Aye.

[Foggy]

[haakebecks]

Its a Lewmar V700.

[thataway]

We used the 25# Manson Supreme on our 25. Excellent anchor, and in my opinion far better than the Bruce. I realize the Bruce--or Bruce knock off--many of which are cast--and more likely to fail) are popular in the PNW. Not as popular on the East Coast.

In the tests I did in sand and mud, shell, the Mansom Supreme out preformed the Danforth HT, the Fortress --equal to the Fortress 15 X--much larger than the C Dory usually carry, Delta, Northill. The Manson set faster than the Larger Fortress did.

[bridma]

[haakebecks]

Did you all have to replace the bow roller for that or was there enough clearance from the hull with the standard roller?

[Sunbeam]