Adding Rode

C

cemiii

New member
Since I'm in the mode of asking a few "cheapskate" questions:

I have 200' of rode in good shape. I'm convinced I need 400'. Can this be spliced and still work reasonably well in my Lewmar, or do I need to breakdown and buy a new 400 to avoid problems? I suspect 90% of the time I would not be out past the splice.

Chris
 
Chris, if you splice it right, it should pass through the windlass fine. Splicing is an art though, practice makes perfect! Make sure you buy the same kind of line to extend it too.

Charlie
 
A traditional splice called the "long splice" will work perfectly with the windlass.
http://l-36.com/3S_C1_LongSpl.pdf
I suspect that even a tapered short splice will work fine. Do 4 tucks of the full strands, and then begin taper over 3 to 4 more tucks on each end.
http://www.machovec.com/rope/splicing/3 ... _short.htm

When making tapered tucks, you cut half of the fibers in each strand with each tuck flush with the last tuck. I like to seal this cut with a flame (cig. lighter/ fire starter flame or a hot knife (best). The next tuck half of the remaining fibers etc.

After each splce is done, roll the line under your foot, to return a proper lay to the line.
 
:lol: Wow that's a lot of rode, I used to carry several anchors and rode of 3 and 4 hundred feet each when I sailed. With the C-dory one of the great beauties is the shallow draft. I plan to snuggle into shallow water to anchor. If you want to increase your rode a long splice in 3 strand will work fine, just a bit of a bump where they join. It's more fun however to anchor in 2 feet of water at low tide and watch the crabs go by. And you have less trouble with company in the shallows. I run the 16 pound Lewmar "claw' copy of the Bruce with 30 feet of 5/16 high test and 150 feet of 3/8 nylon and for a primary on a 3000 pound package boat feel like overkill. I have some extra line aboard for tying to trees if needed.
 
Reading ghone's post reminds me that we carried 600 feet of rode (400 line and 200 feet of chain our our Cal 46)--but that was a fairly good sized boat, and we did anchor in 100 feet of water a number of times.

On the C Dory we carry about 200 feet of line and 30 feet of 1/4 " G4 chain. We carry two more coils of 200 feet nylon, plus about 200 feet of Poly prop stern line. These can always be tied together if we ever HAVE to anchor in more than 40 feet..., But as ghone says, one of the beauties of the C Dory is getting back in nooks where no other boats can go!
 
Thank you for the informative replies. What I am thinking about is a possible oversize sturgeon trip below the Bonneville dam. I've read up on it quite a bit. I had thought about just cutting my chain at about 12" and weaving the rode extension on.

But then I thought maybe I might want to use a float and ratchet lift on it and that would not work with the chain splice. I think I will attempt the long splice and If I can't get it looking acceptable, I'll just cut off a few feet off and take it to a pro.

I too use a claw type anchor mostly but I think I'm going to need a rocking chair on the Columbia.

Thanks again, Chris
 
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