[Rhodes22-list] anchoring

[Rik Sandberg]

Bill,

You like no chain. Others do, here's why.

Chain is heavy, you're right. Take a 20 foot chain (5/16 or 3/8) and go 
out in your yard (I assume you  have a yard). Tie one end of the chain 
to a tree. Now go to the other end of the chain and try to pull that 
chain out so it makes a straight line. Bet you can't.

As the boat pulls on a chain or partial chain rode, it has to lift the 
weight of the chain as the rode tightens. This slows the boat 
considerably before the rode becomes taut. A heavy chain rode makes 
quite a good shock absorber.

I'd agree that feeling the bottom and setting an anchor is surely 
tougher with a heavy chain rode.

And yeah, if one is just dumping his chain on top of his anchor, I guess 
he's likely to get the results he deserves.

Rik

Ayn Rand was a prophet - - it isn't my fault



Herb Parsons wrote:
> Bill will continue to say this is nonsense, and I'm not going to say 
> he's wrong. I AM going to say I think he's wrong. The coast guard 
> captain's class I took went over this, and disagrees with him. Sometimes 
> CG folks continue to do things based on "tradition", but I think in this 
> case, they knew what they were teaching.
>
> Bill Effros wrote:
>   
>> Rob,
>>
>> You need chain if your anchor is so heavy you can't pull it up by hand.  
>> Then you need a windlass.  The windlasses destroy rope -- they work best 
>> on chain.  Everybody makes a lot of money by suggesting that you anchor 
>> better if you have a chain rode, but that is nonsense, and the enormous 
>> weight of the chain in the bow totally throws off the balance of boats.
>>
>> In the process, people start drawing diagrams and providing pseudo 
>> scientific explanations that make absolutely no sense when you start to 
>> think about them.
>>
>> Then somebody comes up with the 22 feet of chain on the 22 foot boat 
>> rode rule.  Which also makes absolutely no sense.
>>
>> A modern anchor is not like a cinderblock or an engine block.  It does 
>> not just sit on the bottom, it digs in like a railroad spike, and is 
>> designed so it can be easily released by changing the angle of the rode 
>> from the surface.  Adding weight does not help it in any way.  Modern 
>> anchors are designed to be  pulled at specific angles -- mostly around 
>> 45 degrees -- which is what the 7:1 scope accomplishes.  Chain sitting 
>> on the bottom defeats the angle of the scope relative to the anchor.  It 
>> is counter-productive.
>>
>> If you want more weight on your anchor, get a heavier anchor.  But there 
>> is no need to do so.  A 2 1/2 lb guardian anchor, properly set, will 
>> hold you in place forever.  Your rope rode will withstand far more load 
>> than the fittings on your boat. 
>>
>> Bill Effros
>>
>>
>> Lowe, Rob wrote:
>>   
>>     
>>> Bill,
>>> So why does everyone (well, most everyone) suggest using chain on the
>>> rode? - rob
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
>>> [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Bill Effros
>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 10:59 AM
>>> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] anchoring
>>>
>>> Ben,
>>>
>>> In order to set the anchor you must put tension on it.  This pulls the 
>>> rode taut.  When there is no wind or current, the rode will lie flat on 
>>> the bottom, or float to the surface if it is a floating rode.  But it is
>>>
>>> not holding the boat in place.
>>>
>>> What most people call "dragging the anchor" is usually "dragging the 
>>> chain".  If you fail to set your anchor -- which you will fail to set 
>>> properly if you never draw the rode taut -- you can drag the chain all 
>>> over the place, without ever properly setting the anchor.  If you draw 
>>> the rode taut and properly set the anchor it just won't drag. 
>>>
>>> A very small anchor can be used to hold a very large boat in place if 
>>> the anchor is properly set.  It is much easier to set an anchor with an 
>>> all rope rode.  The chain portion of the rode does not change the angle 
>>> of pull.
>>>
>>> Bill Effros
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>     
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>>   
>>     
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