4 feet of chain?

[simple]

I picked up an unopened package of boat chain from a rummage sale for only $2.00. It's 1/4 inch, but it's only 4 feet long. Is 4 feet ok, or should I have at least 5 feet between my anchor and rode? <br />I can always use the chain for something else if needed.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

It depends on the size of your boat and the depth of the water.1/4 inch is kinda small chain but again it depends on the size of the boat.If its the 20ft Bayliner and the water depth is 5-15 feet then the chain should be fine.Charlie

 

[gutshot grouper]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

12-15 feet if 1/4 inch would be better, especially if you don't have enough anchor line to use a 6 to 1 ratio of line to bottom depth.

 

[simple]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

Originally posted by gutshot grouper:<br /> 12-15 feet if 1/4 inch would be better, especially if you don't have enough anchor line to use a 6 to 1 ratio of line to bottom depth.

I thought it was a 3 to 1 ratio? So, if I'm in 10 feet of water I should have 70 feet of rode?

 

[milkyway]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

I think 1/4" is too thin. One of the functions of the chain is to help lay down flat the anchor at the bottom. If your chain is too light, the tendency is for the chain to float with the anchor line especially if the anchor line is heavy. Another factor to use a thicker chain is that it is stronger and can withstand the pull of a strong current. I would used 1/2" that's only 4 ft. long. Just my opinion.

 

[Sea Six]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

4 feet is enough for your boat if you maintain a 7:1 scope.

 

[Stratocaster]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

Power Squadron teaches (rightly) that you should have a length of chain equal to the length of your boat. 4 feet is definitely not enough for anything but a lunch hook.

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

Has any body seen a 20' boat let out 20' of chain. You have to be kidding us. A 20' chain of 1/2" size on a 20' bow rider fills the anchor locker. What do we do? bring all 3 items together and assemble it every time we anchor?

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

I use 4' of 1/2" chain on a light weight fluked anchor. I have never had a pullout in sand or mud. All other types of bottom are pure dumb luck as to what the flukes bang against and if it is going to hold.-I have a 18.5' boat.

 

[milkyway]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

I have the same setup a cyclops and I have a 23footer. Never failed anchoring. The anchor, fluke type, was setup by the marina.

 

[Osprey]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

Make no mistake, the anchor kits that come with a new boat are almost always Cr**. They are simply the minimum possible that will get past a saftey inspection. As stratocaster said if you are going to use it for a lunch break or a little fishing, ie never leave the boat unattended then 4' maybe can get you by. For anything else you need a chain length that approches the length of your boat plus plenty of rope to throw for scope.<br /><br />I believe its something like 75% to 80% of the holding power of a fluke style anchor is provided by the anchor chain holding it down flat on the bottom. You know what happens when you pull up on one, it breaks free as designed. Also without a long piece of chain to protect it, the anchor rope is much more likely to be cut after being draped over a ledge or other bottom obstruction.<br /><br />I am a long time diver who often leaves the boat unattended and have seen firsthand how poorly a short piece of anchor chain works. I have a 21' Grady White and 24' of chain.

 

[Sea Six]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

cyclops2 and milkyway are right - 4 ft is enough. The amount of chain length will never be a safety issue (as Osprey suggests) as long as an anchor is not even a safety requirement by the USCG. Did you know that an anchor is not even a safety requirement?? As for me, I never had a problem with 4ft of chain on my 23 footer. Buy all you want if it makes you feel better. 4 or 5 ft is all you need.

 

[NJHARLEYMAN]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

I use 10' of heavy chain for my 16' but it's used for heavy currents. 4 to 5' of chain is fine.

 

[Stratocaster]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

Those giving the advice for "4 feet of chain being plenty" are dead wrong. I don't ever want to be anchored overnight next to any of you when the wind comes up in the middle of the night, cause you'll either be hitting other boats as you drag, or you'll wake up with your boat on the beach. Both of which I have seen happen way too many times.<br /><br />I'm not talking about stopping for lunch or fishing. I'm talking about anchoring overnight, or leaving your boat unattended, which is different. About 5 years ago I had an unattended boat drag anchor and slam into mine for this exact reason. He had an "anchor kit" in a 5 gal pail, which included 3 feet of chain.<br /><br />Small boats can use 3/16" or 1/4" chain. And 20 feet of it doesn't take up much room.

 

[wvit100]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

I all depends on where your boating. I boat on a lake with very little if any current and the days I boat are pretty nice - sunshine and no rain. Most places I stop the depth is over 10' - 20'. I don't have any chain on my fluke style anchor with a 23' boat. I have never had any problems.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

my personal opinion... people around here go too far with their anchor setups. bigger anchor, bigger man? appears that's the thinking.<br /><br />anchor package needs to be efficient and effective. decent size anchor, some chain, and rode. most situations require a decent anchor, 4-6' of chain, and 3x depth of water in rode.<br /><br />navy teaches us to use 5-7x depth of water for the rode. but on a naval ship, the anchor does not do the anchoring, it's the weight of chain. but the 5-7 rule is a good one, and i usually go with 5.<br /><br />chain helps set the anchor. if you get a good set, and then use a proper amount of rode, you will be fine.<br /><br />if you want to carry 20'+ of chain, go for it. you will set that anchor easily. and then you must pull it up and store it. whatever floats your boat.

 

[Buttanic]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

A smaller longer chain is better than a short big chain. I think 10 feet of 1/4 or 5/16 chain on a 20 footer is a good combination. What is needed really depends more on the condition of the bottom, wind ,current and depth. I am a diver and regularly anchor in 100 feet of water with sandy bottom. I carry a 15# danforth with 15 feet of 5/16 chain and 400 feet of 1/2" line.

 

[tommays]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

i figure pretty much everwere has sudden thunderstorms once in a while <br /><br /> usally about the time your boat doesent make it back to the dock for some reason<br /><br />so you may not need it on a normal day but you never no when the bad day might happen and 10 ft of chain becomes your best friend<br /><br />tommays

 

[Stratocaster]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

my personal opinion... people around here go too far with their anchor setups. bigger anchor, bigger man? appears that's the thinking.<br />

That's a peculiar observation. To me, it's all about safety for you and your family, not whose balls are bigger. Being ready for the odd occasion when things go wrong. <br /><br />Last summer I was in a calm anchorage with about 20 boats. I was anchored at 5:1 with a line to shore. Overkill perhaps? Nice millpond anchorage? Maybe, maybe not. The wind came up, out of nowhere, at about 10pm. By 10:30 it was blowing about 30 kts. My anchor line and shore lines were as tight as guitar strings.<br /><br />To watch all these people over the next 3 hours would have been comical if it hadn't been so dangerous. Probably half the boats dragged. They dragged over other people's anchors, causing horrible tangles. Try dealing with that when you're trying to save your boat! I'm sure all of them thought they had anchored correctly, or else they wouldn't have done it, right? <br /><br />Anyway, our boat didn't move, because I had the right anchor, 30 feet of chain, and I had set it correctly (unlike some of the clowns I watched during the day). Was I concerned? You bet. But I had done all I could to be ready for the situation.<br /><br />Oh, by the way, I don't have a big anchor, but I know how to use the one I have.

 

[txswinner]

Re: 4 feet of chain?

Consider use then apply equipment. Down here I know of no one that carries 20 foot of anchor chain on bass boat but get with the blue water boys on the coast and they can not get enough of the chain.