Lewmar 700 pro series anchor winch

[Jakem]

I've purchased new system and have a few questions. My boat is 23 foot fiberglass with a cuddy. Is this enough machine for the boat. I've been told yes but hoping for more yesses. How much chain should I run before rope. Or all chain. Anchor is 25 pounds

 

[dingbat]

Pretty common machine for a boat that size that don't intend to use it as a storm anchor.

The question becomes what are your expectation and needs?
How much water do you anchor in?
Any drift allowed?
Any short rode situations?, i.e fishing in a crowd?

 

[Jakem]

Deepest I anchor is 60 feet...normally 40 ish...I never fish in a crowd so when tide flips I can spin around. No stormy weather. I just need it to pull anchor instead of my back pulling it lol

 

[alldodge]

Think your issue will be is the anchor locker deep enough?
Most need 12 inch drop to top when all rode and chain is loaded

 

[Jakem]

I have over 2 feet easy

 

[alldodge]

I've had a Formula 27PC with 125ft all chain, and currently have a 280 Chap with 15ft chain and 185ft of rode.

The all chain never had an issue with it going up/down.

The Mix seems to always have problems going up/down. The rode hangs going out and more so coming in. I cut off 50ft of rode and it's a tad better but for most part still hangs.

The problem with all chain is the weight on the bow

 

[dingbat]

Deepest I anchor is 60 feet...normally 40 ish...I never fish in a crowd so when tide flips I can spin around. No stormy weather. I just need it to pull anchor instead of my back pulling it lol

Pretty much the same here though I typically drift fish except when fishing an "edge".

Been a while......guessing I have 20-25' of 1/4" chain with a #16 Danforth.
The only advise I have is to make sure you have "free fall". Nothing worse than try to strategically position yourself with a "power out" winch

 

[Jakem]

So how about the chain grade...suggested is grade 40 I believe however grade 30 is way cheaper...

 

[alldodge]

The issue isn't the grade it's the size of the links. Lewmar requires 1/4 ISO G4 or 1/4 BBB chain, used with 8 plait rode
https://www.lewmar.com/Lewmar-Files/Manual_Pro-series-fish-manual-G3_B10414 iss1.pdf

Do you plan on splicing the rode to the chain? It can be done but needs a full understanding of how. Most buy a ready made but is pricey, about $250 for 150ft

 

[Jakem]

The shop I bought it at says to use all chain to avoid tangling up. The dam chain is about 3.40 a foot...pricey as I need 100 feet or more

 

[alldodge]

And note this will be like putting a 100 pound person on the bow. Before you go with all chain get some sand bags or something similar and place it at the nose in the cabin.

1/4 chain weights .75 Lb per ft

 

[Jakem]

Wow...I didn't realize that would weight that much. Ok...plan b

 

[Jakem]

I do know all the guide jet boats use all chain around here for the fraser river sturgeon fishing

 

[Horigan]

Also when considering all chain, make sure the windlass has a 3X capacity to haul the weight of all the rode and anchor.

 

[dingbat]

I do know all the guide jet boats use all chain around here for the fraser river sturgeon fishing

How do you cut the "anchor line" in case of an emergency or getting the anchor hung up on the bottom?

 

[alldodge]

How do you cut the "anchor line" in case of an emergency or getting the anchor hung up on the bottom?

I know this answer, you don't cut at least with mine, it was high tensile 1/4 inch. If ya had a 48 inch master key that would do it

This happened to me twice, and I let out all chain, removed shackle off the end and let it fall. Came back next day with scuba tanks and reconnect

 

[dingbat]

I know this answer, you don't cut at least with mine, it was high tensile 1/4 inch.

That's the point........nothing happening in a hurry in an emergency.
Not a good situation to be in with rouge waves approaching or a boat on auto-pilot bearing down on you.

 

[alldodge]

Agree in those issues there can be a major problem. I'm on a inland lake and therefore I put a shackle at the end. Maybe if on the ocean I would leave it off. With shackle off just put windless in free fall and the chain will run out faster then someone with a bad case of heresy squirts

EDIT: will add the main reason I used a shackle to start with, is on two occasions I was powering down the anchor and gypsy head loosened enough and it started falling fast. Had to run up to the bow to tighten or it all would have been gone in a few seconds

 

[Jakem]

Everything going up and down the river is going slow. Such as tugs...I get the emergency part and what guys do here is hook on a Scotchmen ball and turf it over and let chain out and drive away.