All chain rode for TC255?

N

nwboater

New member
I want to replace the 15' of chain+rope that came with my TC255 with an all-chain. By my estimate, 200 feet weighs 125 lbs -- too much for the Tomcat? Maybe 150'...?
 
I can answer the weight part. I have a 75 lb trolling motor and an 80 pound life raft on the bow of my boat. I would say the weight actually helps handling, planing and keeping the cockpit scuppers slightly drier.
 
I have about 220 feet of stainless chain on my Tomcat. We use the boat for diving, so I don't want to risk dragging the boat or having to feed out a few hundred feet of scope.
chain.jpg
 
Be sure to use a horizontal axis windlass. There probably. would not be enough 'fall" for the vertical axis. Another idea is to use a drum windlass, and even go with back up after XXX feet chain with a synthetic such as a few hundred feet of Dyneema®. That would allow anchoring in up to 100 feet, and have the advantage of chain, and long scope.
 
We found that 100' of chain was all that was necessary in the PNW. Added another 100' of rope rode to that just in case. I don't remember ever paying out the whole length of chain.
 
Thanks all for the feedback on my question about switching from rope to an all-chain anchor rode. I purchased 200' of 1/4" high-test from Washington Chain in Seattle. After loading it all into the chain locker, the bow dropped somewhat, but the biggest problem was the factory installed D-ring bolted through the bridge deck/bow. The chain kept piling up on the protruding bolts, then tumbling down into a tangled mess. My solution was to install a 3" PVC pipe with a 45-degree curve to direct the chain to the center of the locker -- it is working like a charm! (Photos in the gallery)
 
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