anchor chain

[boatman37]

another question...i am looking to add some chain to my anchor this spring. i have a 1986 sundancer 250 with a manual fluke anchor and about 150' of rope. we sometimes have a little trouble getting the anchor to hold so thought maybe i would add a little chain to see if that helps. any ideas on the size or length? i was figuring about 10' of chain? we boat on the ohio and it is usually about 20-30' deep or so where we anchor. i know the 'desired' scope is about 7:1 but how much and what thickness chain should i add? remember, i am doing this by hand...lol

 

[alldodge]

What kind of anchor and what kind of bottom?

 

[boatman37]

not really sure what the bottom is. feels like mud or softer silt though. anchor is a standard danforth style fluke anchor. not sure of the weight but from ones i have seen i'd say it is more than enough for our 25'er

 

[wrench 3]

If you're anchoring in a soft bottom a claw http://www.iboats.com/Claw-Anchors/dm/cart_id.168045845--session_id.901675889--view_id.238309 will hold a lot better. Also known as a plow or a bruce. I carry a danforth and a bruce. I've been anchoring in a mud and weed bottom where the danforth wouldn't even keep us pointing up wind but the bruce held us in position against the strong wind no problem.
The last time I went looking for information on chain lengths the only thing I could find said the it should be the same length as the boat! However I don't know anyone who's using that much. I have four feet of 5/16 chain on each of my anchors on a 26' boat.

 

[four winns 214]

I boat on the Ohio River. Ten feet of chain will make a BIG difference in your anchoring success.

This is what I use:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Campbell-C...e-Polycoat-Steel-Chain-By-the-Foot/1000017505

 

[Watermann]

You can learn about all you want to know about anchors, rope rode and of course chain.

 

[boatman37]

not positive it is soft bottom but doesn't seem to be dragging across rocks when i pull it. as far as the anchor, most of the others we boat with use a similar anchor and don't seem to have any issues. i will try about 10' of chain first and see if that helps. what i read says for my boat 1/2" rope and 1/4" chain is good? i already have the 1/2" rope (pretty sure its 1/2"). i was planning on 1/4" chain but can go 5/16" if it will be better, which i assume it would due to extra weight?

 

[tpenfield]

I vote for 15 feet of 1/4" chain . . . is there an anchor locker up on deck ?

 

[alldodge]

The Danforth needs to be held closer to the bottom so the flukes will continue to dig and hold. The reasons yours is not is as your thinking it needs chain. I would use at least 10 feet and 15 will been even better. Also suggest galvanized for no maintenance. Also a slop of 3 to 1

 

[boatman37]

yes, anchor locker up front.

i also think part of my problem is not enough scope. i try to use as little as possible because we usually anchor on one side or the other of the river about 50' off shore. my concern is if i have too much rope out then i have enough to swing too close to shore. i try to keep my pivot radius too short sometimes i think

 

[jforrest1]

I have seen the advertisement for Mantus anchors and it claims it sets the first time every time. Their website is
http://www.mantusanchors.com/

 

[alldodge]

yes, anchor locker up front.

i also think part of my problem is not enough scope. i try to use as little as possible because we usually anchor on one side or the other of the river about 50' off shore. my concern is if i have too much rope out then i have enough to swing too close to shore. i try to keep my pivot radius too short sometimes i think

Yep, don't know of any anchor which can hold being almost straight up

 

[bruceb58]

yes, anchor locker up front.

i also think part of my problem is not enough scope. i try to use as little as possible because we usually anchor on one side or the other of the river about 50' off shore. my concern is if i have too much rope out then i have enough to swing too close to shore. i try to keep my pivot radius too short sometimes i think

How deep are you when you are 50' off shore? If you were trying to minimize swing to 50' you better be only 10' deep to have a 5:1 scope.

Best anchor made in my opinion is this one:
http://fortressanchors.com/
Expensive but worth it.

 

[boatman37]

it is probably no more than 10-15' deep when we are close to shore. i bought 10' of 1/4" proof coil galvanized chain today at lowes. they didn't have the white coated so i just got the uncoated one.

 

[bruceb58]

it is probably no more than 10-15' deep when we are close to shore. i bought 10' of 1/4" proof coil galvanized chain today at lowes. they didn't have the white coated so i just got the uncoated one.

Yes but how deep is it where the anchor is? Where the boat is floating is not relevant.

 

[boatman37]

what i usually do is drop the anchor then back up about 20' or so then tie off the anchor line. kind of hard to say for sure

 

[Watermann]

what i usually do is drop the anchor then back up about 20' or so then tie off the anchor line. kind of hard to say for sure

Kind of sounds like someone in the thread is having an issue.

I think your good, the only thing you could do to improve your anchoring fun is to add an anchor ball to your set up. Lots of vids on them too.
http://www.boatingmag.com/how-to/using-anchor-ball

 

[boatman37]

well hopefully adding the chain will help

 

[km1125]

Chain will help, but so will technique. Also, when figuring depth to estimate the length of rode, you need to add the distance from the waterline to the cleat, which I'd guess on your boat is about 4'. So, in 10' of water, plus the 4' of boat, you'd have 14' of "depth" and would need at least 70' of rode for a 5:1.

On technique.. .put out MUCH MORE rode when you initially drop the anchor... drop back and let it 'hook' into the bottom, then pull in the rode till you get to 5:1 - or whatever rode is appropriate for the conditions. If you're in relatively calm water, you can pull in most of it till you're at 3:1 or 5:1 but if there is current or wind, you might want 7:1 or more.

 

[bruceb58]

what i usually do is drop the anchor then back up about 20' or so then tie off the anchor line. kind of hard to say for sure

This is the problem. You can't be in 20'-30' water, drop the anchor and then let out 20' of additional line and expect it to hold.