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**roverhi** · 22-03-2016, 13:50

Recently ought 300' of 8 plait braid spliced to 15' of 1/4" chain for the stern anchor on my boat. Got it used on Ebay for a really good price and turned out to be as new. The 300' of 8 plait fits with room to spare in a bag that barely held 200' of three strand.

The guy has a 24' boat for christ's sake, anything more than 1/4" chain and 3/8" line is overkill. For hand retrieval, would go with 1/2" line just to make it easier on the hands. 3/8" line would be more than adequate for strength but find it hard to grab with my old fingers. 1/4' chain is plenty large enough to grab hold of and get a good grip. 1/4 inch is the size of the wire it's made out of not the overall dimension of the links.

8 plait coils up so nice, stays supple, and takes up so much less space, I'm replacing my 3 strand anchor lines with it as need arises or a deal appears.

thinwater · 22-03-2016, 13:51

The answer for handling chain is rubber faced gloves. And no way 1/4" is undersize; G4 should be good up to ~ 36 feet, particularly in a fixed rode which will snub out the load spikes. Bet he doesn't see 500 pounds in a 50 knot squall. BBB is fine. Remember, this is WWL, not breaking strength.

The main reason for 1/2 line is handling (easier to haul upwind with no windlass) and chafe. Sounds good, will last the life of the boat, nearly. I also seriously doubt you need more than 150 feet.

If you are concerned about holding, tell us about your anchor.

Donald Duque · 22-03-2016, 14:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ribbit

As a significant portion of so called 'calibrated' chain from chandlers is fake (and poorly galvanised), how about some genuine American properly hot dipped galvanised HT chain?

Grade 43 Hot Dipped Galvanized Finish - tulsa chain low carbon chain

Scroll down to the bottom for the bucket of Grade 43 1/4" 2,600lb WLL . . . . (works out at $1.99 a foot). A 400ft half drum works out at $1.35 a foot.

Be careful. This outfit also sells ACCO chain under the 'Marine Chain' category. Check the dimensions, as they are different than the chain mentioned The ACCO chain is twice the price, but may well work on a windlass gypsy more reliably than the bargain chain (whose manufacture is not specified, by the way).

RainDog · 22-03-2016, 14:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by barnakiel

- we were on 10 mm chain and 16 mm polyester multiplait,
- we upgraded to 8 mm chain and 16 mm polyester mp,

Who makes the polyester mutiplait? Didn't even realize that was a thing.

HopCar · 22-03-2016, 15:11

Dinghydreams, I think if you decide to go with 3/8" rope, you'll find that 1/4" proof coil chain will be strong enough. Be sure to compare tensil strength with tensil strength or working load limit with working load limit.

**Dockhead** · 22-03-2016, 15:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainDog

Who makes the polyester mutiplait? Didn't even realize that was a thing.

Most common rope rode here. Lipos, Marlowe, all make it. Also called "anchorplait".

Only way to go for rope rode.

Sent from my D6633 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

HopCar · 22-03-2016, 15:30

Dockhead, on this side of the Atlantic polyester isn't considered a good anchor line. Not enough stretch. Not sure that's a valid concern but that's why you don't see polyester plait over here.

**Dockhead** · 22-03-2016, 16:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by HopCar

Dockhead, on this side of the Atlantic polyester isn't considered a good anchor line. Not enough stretch. Not sure that's a valid concern but that's why you don't see polyester plait over here.

Nylon loses much strength when wet, and fails from internal heating when used as anchor rode in strong conditions. Nylon is also far more vulnerable to chafe. Nylon should be avoided, on both sides of the Atlantic, except for light weather. Nylon is the right material for snubbers, however.

Steve Dashew - an American I believe - calls nylon "the wrong material" for anchor rode. Peter Smith agrees, and both recommend polyester octoplait (sometimes called "brait " in the U.S., so I know it's available.

Read Steve Dashew, "The Right Rode", for the authoritative analysis.

Don't use nylon anchor rode! It's prone to failure in strong conditions.

Sent from my D6633 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

HopCar · 22-03-2016, 17:53

Dockhead those are good points. At this time all of the major rope manufacturers,that I know of, are still recommending nylon. The Marlow website also recommends their nylon plait as an anchor line. They do recommend polyester dock lines in some cases.

Stu Jackson · 22-03-2016, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by roverhi

Recently ought 300' of 8 plait braid spliced to 15' of 1/4" chain for the stern anchor on my boat. Got it used on Ebay for a really good price and turned out to be as new. The 300' of 8 plait fits with room to spare in a bag that barely held 200' of three strand.

The guy has a 24' boat for christ's sake, anything more than 1/4" chain and 3/8" line is overkill. For hand retrieval, would go with 1/2" line just to make it easier on the hands. 3/8" line would be more than adequate for strength but find it hard to grab with my old fingers. 1/4' chain is plenty large enough to grab hold of and get a good grip. 1/4 inch is the size of the wire it's made out of not the overall dimension of the links.

8 plait coils up so nice, stays supple, and takes up so much less space, I'm replacing my 3 strand anchor lines with it as need arises or a deal appears.

^^^^^ Yup.

Here's why Peter is right:

Anchor System Sizing Tables (Reply #6) & Why Swivels are a bad idea Ground Tackle & Anchor System Sizing TABLES & Swivels

Don't any posters read books?

RainDog · 22-03-2016, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Most common rope rode here. Lipos, Marlowe, all make it. Also called "anchorplait".

Only way to go for rope rode.

I cannot find it on Marlowe web site. Have not heard of Lipos.

If anyone knows where to order this stuff in the USA, please share. I would like to get a hank and check it out.

RainDog · 22-03-2016, 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

^^^^^ Yup.

Here's why Peter is right:

Anchor System Sizing Tables (Reply #6) & Why Swivels are a bad idea Ground Tackle & Anchor System Sizing TABLES & Swivels

Don't any posters read books?

I am a bit confused by your seeming conflicting advice. You seem to support the notion of 1/4 inch chain of unspecified type and 3/8 or 1/2 inch nylon line, but then link to a post that suggests much larger sizes.

What are you suggesting for OP?

thinwater · 22-03-2016, 21:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainDog

I am a bit confused by your seeming conflicting advice. You seem to support the notion of 1/4 inch chain of unspecified type and 3/8 or 1/2 inch nylon line, but then link to a post that suggests much larger sizes.

What are you suggesting for OP?

I think the confusion may be that ABYC tables are for ALL CHAIN. with nylon the working load is much lower. With polyester, on the other hand, the loads will be close to chain (I actually did testing with polyester but have not yet published it--at least with shorter rodes (<100') the results were terrible. You still need a snubber. Often it was WORSE than chain because there is no catenary. But all of this depends on many variables. In deep water, with plenty out, it is very likely the right answer. At some point nylon stretches too much, increasing movement.

Stu Jackson · 22-03-2016, 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainDog

...................

What are you suggesting for OP?

I'm suggesting that HE decides based on what HE decides is HIS design criteria, and size his components accordingly.

That link describes how I designed MY system. Now he gets to do his.