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SG · 10-04-2006, 20:30

We use 250' of chain with a 50' tail of three-strand rope-chain. We have a 33,000# or so cruising displacement. (65# CQR)

If you look at the load's -- unless you're hooked to rock (or God forbid, coral) -- I would think that the rope to chain splice should be a lot stronger than the anchor-to-bottom connection -- or your bow cleat, for that matter.

I would take the length of chain that you would normally use for deepest water thay you would generally expect to be anchoring (i.e., as though you aren't going likely to use your line at all); then I'd add a "tail" for that time when you really are going to let all the scope out. Than you won't have to mess with a snubbe in those conditions -- a snubber may get in the way on that dark and stormy.

I've only had the rope out a couple of times (in about 30'-35' of water in a bit of blow) -- I had the room in the anchorage and probably would have been fine. (Once in Great Salt Pond when they said the wind would be above 40 knots with higher gusts. It was a night in which there weren't many other boats in the anchorage, we didn't have much in the way of waves.-- as opposed to some of the "Islands" that others deal with in the Carribean.)

**irwinsailor** · 11-04-2006, 04:54

We added 100' of 3/4" nylon 3 strand to 400' of 3/8" HT chain just for added insurance. The 3/4' line is bigger than what Lewmar recommends in the windlass but because I do not expect to see it out much there should not be much of a problem.

SG · 11-04-2006, 20:02

Great minds travel in the same ruts ;^)

..........._/)...............

Joli · 13-04-2006, 02:45

Gunner, the only other thing you may want to consider is a larger anchor. We currently carry a 110 CQR but will be moving up to a 176 Bruce. Like you we carry 400 foot of 3/8 G40 plus lots more stuff below. 61 foot, 65k weight, 93 foot airdraft.