Chesapeake Bay ground tackle.

C

curioustraveler

New member
Chesapeake Bay C-Brats,

Curious Traveler came with a #8 Danforth and maybe 6 feet of chain. Obviously not enough. I need to buy more chain but I don't want to go overboard and add way too much weight to the bow.

What have you found sufficient for our conditions? Generally muddy and very shallow protected anchorages. Most of the time we'll be in 5-10 feet of water, occasionally 12-20 but that would be rare.

For these conditions, is a boat length of 1/4” adequate?

Thanks
 
Some of the boats sold up your way came with 100' of 1/4" chain. For those waters 20 feet would be more than enough. If you anchored in 20', with a 7:1 scope would require about 160 feet of line. Lets say 150' of line and 20' of chain.

The extra 21' are for the bow being 3' off the water, which has to be included in the scope factor.

I have always carried more than that, just to be safe...

Keep the current chain for the stern anchor.
 
I am not in the Chessy, but I typically anchor in 5 - 10 feet of water. 5 foot minimum at low tide. I use 73 feet of 1/4" chain, running that out to the end of the chain. That gives me a range of 4 - 7 scope. (I do have another 150 feet, but rarely go past the end of the chain.) The C-Dory is typically stern heavy so the chain weight in the bow will be negligible. If you want to go light on chain, you should still carry at least 1 boat length of chain, BUT that would be minimal.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Defender is having a Memorial Day Sale. Think I'll get 25 feet of 1/4 inch G4 high test. From another post, I believe you said get 5/16 shackles.

I know more chain would be better but I think this will work for our conditions. Growing up on Lake Michigan, with a significantly bigger boat we never had more than 8 foot of chain and just made sure to let out at least 7:1.
 
I boat on the Chesapeake. I have more than a boat length (25-30') of 1/4 or 5/16 chain (can't remember) and a nylon rode. The anchor is a 11 or 13# plow. I find that letting all the chain out and then maybe 20-30' of line is plenty. Usually I just wait until all the chain is resting on the bottom. The places you anchor are going to be pretty protected.

As for the weight in the bow, you are going to find that you'll want more there anyway.
 
I use the Wichard bow or D shackles. They are only ones readily available which meet the SWL of the G4 chain. I may use a 3/8 shackle on the anchor itself, and then one of the 5/16" to the chain. (The 5/16" pin will fit thru the G4 link) Many of the Wichard SS shackles have captive pins and a detent to hold them secure (always a good idea to use at least a wire tie to secure the shackle. For long term securing, Monel metal wire is excellent.

Many of the China made shackles are low rated, and have been subject to failure under high loads.
 
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