How much chain and rode for Salish Sea?

[colbysmith]

50' of chain is nice to have on the Columbia if you're fishing. with that chain you can have that anchor on a short leash when parked in hog line. be sure to rig your anchor to break away. Here's a video on rigging a break away, he's using one zip tie, you need at least two to center the chain on the shank so it doesn't get hung up on the bow roller when retrieving.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTe8DJj3w8o

enjoy

I've seen this method a few times and wonder how well it works. Any chance that in heavy seas or a heavy blow that the zip tie could break off? Especially if the wind changes directions, blowing the boat back over the top of the anchor, so that the anchor line ends up pulling across the anchor and rather than the anchor resetting, the zip tie breaks? Colby

 

[B~C]

a pair of heavy duty zip ties hold pretty good for most applications. In AK where we regularly anchored in 200' of rough water we used gangion with several wraps

 

[thataway]

You can also use a variant of the "taut line hitch".

My all-time favorite knot from Boy Scout days. Thank you for sharing your knowledge Bob!

Thank you.

Yes, the "taut Line hitch" stems from my Boy Scout days also.

 

[westward]

The "breakaway" anchor rig shown in the YouTube video is intended for day use only. Unless you wish to trust your fate to the strength of zip-ties.

Sitting at the window, watching a gale blow as I type

 

[B~C]

that's why you use gangion for heavy duty applications

 

[westward]

I guess I'm not understanding this setup? I thought it was designed for easier breakout of a stuck anchor? If that is the purpose, then anything significantly weaker than your main rode would in theory increase your risk of failure under full strain, and (as was mentioned earlier) tend to impede a re-set of the anchor. I've seen this setup many times, but always with the warning not to use in foul anchoring weather, especially at night, when not under continuous watch.

My personal thoughts are: when do deployed anchors tend to fail? Pretty much always in a heavy-weather situation under strain, and pretty much always when one's boat is near rocks, other boats, the shore, etc.

I've heard this setup called a "fisherman's anchor"

Maybe it warrants another thread, such as: "anchor failure experiences and lessons learned" ?