Recommended anchor rope and chain for 23 Venture Sport

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BuckMontana

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Location
Bainbridge Island
C Dory Year
2021
C Dory Model
23 Venture
Vessel Name
Sea Raven
Hello Experts.
I would appreciate your input on the most practical rope diameter and length for rode on a 23 Venture Sport. It currently has 135' of 5/8" 3-strand nylon with 15' of ¼" chain on a windlass. I believe I need more for anchoring in the Puget Sound. So:
  • What diameter and length of rope?
  • What size and length of chain?
I'm newbie to the PNW and boating, so I look forward to your input and any other advice you may have.
Lesslie
 
This lost is timely.
I am wanting to replace the rode and chain on my c25.
 
I had too many types of rode slip in my gypsy, so I switched to all chain. I've been very happy. We use our boat exclusively for diving, so we anchor every time we go out.
 
I am a big believer in all chain as well, many nights as the winds were screaming I slept better. It does require a stout well designed bridle though. If you need to get the anchor up quickly in an "emergency", usually middle of the night, the last thing you need is trouble with the rode slipping or with the splice not wanting to go over the gypsy, especially if you are without crew. Just my opinion...
 
The problem with all chain is the weight. In the PNW, there are reasonably high tides. As you go further North, the tides become very large (25')--so you have to account of the depth, up to 100 feet. Even in my large boats (up to 62' LOA), I only carried 200 feet of HT chain on each of the two primary anchors, backed by nylon rode up to 500 feet.

The most practical solution would be to have up to 50 feet of chain--and that will be sufficient to have the chain gypsy engaged when your bringing the anchor up from up to 47 feet of anchoring depth. Considering that you can be anchoring in modest depths, I would back your 50 feet of 1/4" HT chain (which your gypsy is calibrated for) with at least 250 feet of 1/2" Or even 9/16", 8 plait "Brait" or similar line which takes up about 1/3 of ths space in your anchor locker of the 23. This will allow anchoring in up to 100 feet if necessary, with the miminal 3:1 scope, and the prefered 7:1 scope in up to about 40 feet of water depth. That will cover anything you will run into with normal Cruising in the PNW.

I hope that you have a horizonal axis windlass. This takes less "fall" under the deck than the vertical axis windlass. The rope is "gripped" better than the Vertical axis windlass.

Keep what you have for the current bow anchor for your stern anchor . Have a few hundred feet of extra line to take ashore, or extend the stern anchor rode. For these boats a Fortress FX 7 makes agreat stern anchor--and I usually carried two of these or a Guardian anchor in the same size.
 
For the PNW, the first 12 years & especially the first few before having access to the C-Brat knowledge base, I experimented with different anchors, their weights & various chain & rode lengths & my hands for a windless. This culminated in 2015 to my adding a Lewmar 700H windless, 25# Manson Boss anchor with a 15# Manson Supreme as a spare & 50’ feet 1/4” HT chain attached to 250 feet of 1/2” 8 brait rode. This is pretty much what Bob recommended in his post & for me has worked extremely well through many different anchorages & conditions, without rode slippage or even having the anchor drag in the last 11 years. I have made some not so fun moves in the middle of the night, but no problem with anchor retrieving & getting a new set in another location. I have considered more chain, but not less with ending up believing more not needed with my preferred oversized anchor. In my earlier years, I have used as little as 15 feet of chain & only a 11# anchor. I first upped to a 22 lb anchor & still had some trouble setting & dragging.. For either a CD22 or 23, I’m convinced the minimum chain length for a rode with a 11 to 15# anchor should be 50 feet with longer up to 75 or even a 100 feet fine, depending on individual bow weight tolerance. Bob’s explanation of why 50 feet is probably the optimum is as usual well said. I will add that in shallow waters such as rivers & some lakes, with 50 feet of chain, it’s easy to just let out the chain with enough 8 brait to tie off to the forward cleat & perhaps a few feet extra to soften wind caused jerking.
 
Great points made so far. No problems since new with 200 ft. of rode and 35 ft. of chain using a 25 lb. Mantus anchor. The 35 ft. of chain seems to be enough lay for a good set as we have never drug the anchor and always have a good set in the PNW waters.
 
This is most helpful and I appreciate you-all taking the time to provide your experienced recommendations. Your inputs also made me realize I needed to know more about my windlass; so I've read up on it. It is a Lewmar Pro Fish 700 with a gypsy for ¼" chain and ½" 3-strand or 8-plait rope. Also I have a 14# Lewmar Delta anchor.
So it seems a reasonable path forward is to add 35' of ¼" BBB chain to my existing 15'. Then replace the 135' of 5/8" 3-strand with 300' of ½" rope. The old rope would be used for stern anchoring or tying off. I understand from various forums that plait lays more compactly in the anchor locker than twisted. It seems people report that either works fine in the windlass. What is the advantage of plait?
Looking forward to any other recommendations.
 
Buck, for your windless I believe you should use the 1/4 inch HT G4 chain as the BBB most likely won’t work properly. The BBB might work some, but will be more prone to jam.
 
Last edited:
Thank you for noting. Chain is another area I'm trying to understand. The specs for rope and chain in the Lewmar manual for the standard gypsy, #503, that I believe I have are as follows:
  • Rope
    • 12 mm (1/2”) 3 Strand and 8 Plait
  • Chain
    • 7 mm DIN 766
    • 1/4” ISO G4
    • 1/4” BBB
So I've been looking at the forums and websites about chain. I'm much more knowledgeable, but still learning about standards, calibration, grades, dimensions, finishes, strength, weight, and more.

Next time I'm on Sea Raven I will verify the part number of the gypsy so that I'm not just assuming it is standard. I proposed using the BBB because of the compatibility and price. From the forums and vendor sites, I didn't see a reason to go G4 or stainless for the additional strength and weathering resistance.

I'm interested in further input. I continue to be a sponge in this new passion.
 
The majority of the chain gypsy's of the 700 are 1/4" G4--commonly known as "Hi Test" or "High Tensile" The gypsy is calibrated for a specific chain link length and diameter. It should have "G4" stamped on the links.
 
Thanks for the tip. I checked the current chain and the only markings I found were "CHINA' about every foot. But the existing rode will be stored for a stern anchor. I'll start anew with the right rope and chain for the bow anchor system. Thanks to everyone for their help and guidance. And -- I'm always looking forward to additional advice.
 
BuckMontana said:
Thanks for the tip. I checked the current chain and the only markings I found were "CHINA' about every foot. But the existing rode will be stored for a stern anchor. I'll start anew with the right rope and chain for the bow anchor system. Thanks to everyone for their help and guidance. And -- I'm always looking forward to additional advice.
Click to expand...
Please post an update when installed.
 
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