Anchor line problem

J

Jack in Alaska

New member
I have always used 3 strand 3/8" anchor line until last year. I decided to treat myself to a new double braid line and I purchased a 600' spool of 3/8" at a hardware store here. After putting a thimble on each end and marking off distances in 100' intervals I installed it on my boat with 20' of 3/8" chain and a Bruce anchor.
I always pull my anchor with the split ring and a buoy. The 3 strand line pulled without problems every time. The new dbl. braid has consistently tangled up enough to stop the split ring/buoy from completely pulling the anchor/chain to the surface. When letting up on the power the anchor heads back to bottom. Sometimes it takes 3 attempts to retrieve it.
What is wrong???? Can it be a cheap dbl.braid that lets the outer casing bunch up stopping the split ring.???
No amount of power will make it come up.
I think the dbl.braid is going into the trash and a new 3 strand is in my future.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Pulling the anchor that way is dangerous enough if all works right but when having to stop and redo it several times is not fun particularly in a rough sea.
 
Jack-

I'm not a user of that method, though I've read about it a lot.

I think you're on the right road in analyzing what's wrong with your new rode.

I'm thinking that the outer layer of the double braid slides around independently of the inner core layer that takes the load, and bunches up as it tries to pass through the ring, eventually jamming.

It's also very slick compared to the 'Knobby" feel of the 3-strand, so slides back down when you let off on the power forward (if it isn't jammed).

Was the braid you bought marine grade, and intended for anchor use?

Even if you replace it, it should have other uses for your boat, crabbing, or whatever.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Jack, I purchase this type of rope for work by the roll, cut to length and braid both ends. The first few times we use the rope, it tends to roll up on itself when trying to pull the slack through the diamond. After several uses the rope loses it's memory and starts to come through without a problem. You could try to stretch the rope using a vehicle for tension, or boating out to water deep enough to let the rode hang straight down and with the weight of the anchor and chain, it should untwist itself. Hope this helps.
 
Jack,

I have about 600 feet of double braid on a 28' Kingfisher in Ninilchik and the anchor pulls just fine. This is a much larger double braid, but you can compare the quality to see if that is the issue. I think we got this at Kachemak Gear Shed.
 
I was talking to the guys at Fisheries about this very topic today and they recommended 3-strand over double braid because there is more for the windlass to grab onto. (What is the name of the part of the windlass that grabs the chain or line? Also, I have gotten into the habit of referring to chain and rode (for the line part) but I am wondering if rode is the correct term for the whole chain/line assembly?)

Warren
 
Hopefully I solved the problem. Today I went to Homer to the Katchemak Gear Shed, now called Redden Marine, and purchased a 600' reel of 1/2" 3 strand. It is on the boat and all marked up at each 100'.
Tomorrow will be the test. I have never had any problem with 3 strand and went to 1/2" because it is easier on the hands and stronger than 3/8".
I spooled the old 3/8" on the reel from my new line. May be able to get a few buck for it. Most of it looks brand new and it has a thimble on each end.
 
Today I put out 500' of my new line in 80' of water.

Fished for 5 hrs. Then pulled the anchor with the split ring/buoy. No problems. It pulled the line through the ring to the anchor as it should. Yeeehaaa.
Caught 8 nice halibut besides.
 
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