Anchor rope

[Ned L]

Re: Anchor rope

Thank you UncleWillie. The last time I suggested 3/8" anchor line here I was almost crucified. I completely agree with everything you say (though having 300' on a 19' is a lot). Long Island sound can get nasty, but the opportunity for really 'drifting out to sea' is pretty slim.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Anchor rope

Thank you UncleWillie. The last time I suggested 3/8" anchor line here I was almost crucified. I completely agree with everything you say (though having 300' on a 19' is a lot). Long Island sound can get nasty, but the opportunity for really 'drifting out to sea' is pretty slim.

Interpret the "Out to Sea" statement as a dramatic version of "Away from shore" with a touch of Artistic License.
Feel free to insert your favorite peril. Drifting onto shoal, Seas Kicking up, Tsunami Approaching.

I run an 18 ft bowrider in lake Erie.
It is 30-50' deep a mile off shore.
The LEOs want to see at least 200 ft of anchor line. And get statutary if you have less than 150 or an anchor without flutes. (No Mushrooms Allowed!)
The tinnie fishermen can get by with 1/4" line and a Cinder block. (Cinder Block has Flutes in LEOs eyes!!! ????)

I keep 250' of 3/8 cut into 2 ready to join pieces.
It is a lot of line but managable.
If it was 1/2 or 5/8 maybe not so managable.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Anchor rope

for what its worth, I had 200' of 1/2" line in the bow storage locker of the SeaRay, and 150' of 3/8" rear anchor line in a storage tote. I regularly anchored in 20-30' of fast moving tide water and used most of the bow line, and all the rear line. I have also gotten away with only 60' of line on a calm day.

I now carry 300' of 5/8" braided anchor rode on the Cruisers in the bow storage locker, two 150' sections of 1/2" line for rear anchors, a 75' section of 5/8" used for towing stranded boats back to a ramp, and 150' of 3/8" line connected to a drift sock.

only used about 200' of the bow anchor line to date, however used the 75' tow rope about a dozen times

As unclewillie stated, when you need it, you need it.

 

[mobgod]

Re: Anchor rope

ok so just get 3/8 and I should be fine? Around 300 feet but 150 should be just fine correct?

Agree +1



The operative word in there is "PLAN"
You will need to plan on the unplanned, as in "The engine won't start, and I am driftng out to sea, and is is getting deeper by the minute.
When you really need the Line you'll Really Need the Line!

3/8, 3 strand line will be fine for a 19 footer. Nice and springy.
3/8 has a breaking strength of over 3000 lbs.
You could lift the entire boat out of the water with a single line.
If the anchor could even hold the bottom, the force to break the line would likely throw you overboard if you weren't tied in.
1/2, braided line would be like hitting the end of a steel cable in the swells.

250-300 feet would be reasonable. Cut it into two pieces to make it managable, 150 ft. for a planned stop, 300 for the unplanned!
Add thimbles to the ends, and a shackle to splice them together when needed.

There is a reason that anchors are required. They are a life saving device, not a convenience.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Anchor rope

ok so just get 3/8 and I should be fine? Around 300 feet but 150 should be just fine correct?

150' of 3/8 would be fine if you PLAN to anchor in 25' of calm water. (Planned)

300' would be Marginal in 50' of water with moderate seas. (Unplanned!)

You can use the same argument that you do not need a fire extinguiser aboard because you do not Plan on starting any Fires.