All chain rode?

I once owned a Cape Dory 36 sailboat. Big full keel hull and I had no anchor lifting help other than my arms and back. I had a CQR, 50 feet of chain and 450 of nylon line. Also another 200 feet of nylon to add to the total length if we went to San Clemente Island (the Navy makes you moor way off the beach). I could barely get the whole thing up and in the anchor locker. I would suggest going to a chandler, piling everything you want to use in the way of anchor gear into a big laundry basket and then pick it up 100 times dead lift from the floor. If you cannot do that, then maybe it is time to think over an anchor winch or lighter gear. Myself, I would vote for strip out the weight first as all mechanical devices are suspect in a marine environment. Although slow, I have never seen a quality well maintained manual winch fail. On my Cape Dory 36 I had turning blocks to bring the nylon anchor line back to the main cockpit sheet winches. I could even cross the winches and have two people crank with double handed winch handles, lots of horsepower. A good capstan located in the right place can do lots of nice things from allowing you to hoist up the dinghy to hoisting a stuck anchor off the seabed. I like the Aussie open reel winches, the GX and Elite series from LoneStar Marine are at the top of my list (http://lonestarmarine.com.au/elite-vs-g ... son-guide/).
Fair winds and calm waters to you all.
Bob Jarrard
 
And here is a little bit of advice. when you install the windlass make sure you place it so that the chain can fall straight down the longest distance. I messed up and the chain hits the front slope of the inside of the hull and piles up quickly. This causes the chain to slack and skip off the drum. Susan has to go forward and pull on the chain to keep it going. In the future I will have to pul it out of the deck and move it. That means rebuilding the deck where it is now.
 
Hey Bob-

We were running a 505 sailing World Championship in Santa Cruz Ca, quite a few years back and I was working on the Race Committee.
When the day's races were over, I foolishly volunteered to raise the anchor. After we took up the slack, I decided it would be faster to just haul it in by hand rather than use the manually cranked winch handle. 200 or so feet later I got the big Danforth up to the bow roller. Dang near had a coronary, and I was about 45 and in good running and other body trim (no more!). :smileo

Electric Windlasses Forever! :lol:

Have a Lewmar 1500 Express windlass on my Sea Ray 265 Sedan Cruiser that could probably win a pulling contest with the average off-road vehicle's winch. Could take off your arm, foot, or leg just like a good chain saw. Glad the up/down buttons are up at the flying bridge, not step-on ones at the bow, although I can see where and when they would be useful there when dealing with tangles or using raw water to wash the rode coming aboard.

No wonder so many mariners wind up with peg legs! :lol:

***All kidding aside, you can get seriously hurt with any electric or even manual winch, and care and safety must be used at all times!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
I just replaced my galvanized chain with 150 feet of stainless 1/4".
It now slides into a flat pile rather than a mound that blocked any further chain from entering the locker. It will also be easier to see underwater, especially with the stainless anchor.

chain.jpg
 
Phil, Looks good, nice find. It is BBB 1/4". What Windlass do you have? I am a long way from my boat, but it that would work, I might be interested.

2000# working Load
8000# Breaking Load

100 feet would be 76 pounds.

Does anyone see a problem with that for a 22 Cruiser.

Thoughts?

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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316 Stainless Steel Anchor Chain For Maximum Corrosion Resistance. This Calibrated Chain Has Dimensions Of "Bbb" Chain And Fits Many Standard Windlasses. This Chain Complies With All Requirements Of Din 766.

Size: 1/4"
A (Dia): .28"
B: (Inner L): .87"
C: (Inner W) .36"
WLL 2,000 lb
BL 8,000 lb
Weight .76 lb/ft

I have a Lewmar Pro Series 700h windlass.
 
Thanks Phil, I have a Swift, just can't remember the model number to look up the specs. I sure do like the idea of Stainless (non rusting) chain.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Another negative about all chain that hasn't been mentioned is that C Dory's tend to weathervane at anchor and unless you use a snubber at all times at the end of each swing there is an abrupt jolt and sound that makes sleeping difficult. Rather than adding the snubber each time you anchor, if you cruise in areas that don't require deep anchoring I think it's easier to use 30 to 40 feet of chain and let out enough line to act as a snubber.

Bill
 
hardee":3syoup1w said:
Thanks Phil, I have a Swift, just can't remember the model number to look up the specs. I sure do like the idea of Stainless (non rusting) chain.
Click to expand...

Going to the " Swift" windlass site, they refer to the Lewmar specs. Most of the Lewmar in the US use the HT 40 chain, and do not ship with the BBB gypsy. You probably could order the BBB chain wheel, but that would be several hundred more dollars.

I would bypass BBB SS chain. There area number of instances of Chinese SS chain snapping.

I do suggest that one never anchor only with chain, no snubber--several instances cited where chains will snap under heavy load as only one reason.
 
Bob, Thank you for the tip.
I checked the Swift website and it all refers to Lewmar for spec sheets, diagrams etc. I know my windlass is a 500, but I don't know the "letters" that go with it. Thought I had a good photo of that on my phone, but can't seem to find it now.

I have over 100 nights at anchor, with several nights with winds at 15 -25 knots, and yes, I have "ridden the chain" but I have never had jerking or snapping when changing direction. Yes, the chain will rumble as you ride back and forth, but that has never been an negative issue. If anything, it is reassuring in that I am still hooked up to solid ground. If that rumble changes, decreases, or stops, it is high time to check position.

Typically, I have not used a snubber as that necessitates going out/forward and since I single hand that is my least favorite job on the boat. I have used it a few times when I knew it was going to be bigger breeze and I knew I had a good hookup after some time in position.

Most of my anchoring is in quiet, shallow, protected, nooks and crannies, and not where I have to deal with winds or fetch.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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