HOC member login

Message Board

Message board > Navigation & sea worthiness > Anchor - how much rope ?

Message 8 of 8
Posted by member Nigel Garbett on Thursday 24 April 2008

In the first instance I recommend you get hold of the RYA Day Skippers booklet which gives an excellent pictorial view of anchoring and some simple rules. You are quite right in assuming the the buoy rope identifies where the anchor is lying it serves a secondary role if your anchor snags i.e. heave on the rope - lifts the flukes instead of hauling the anchor chain end - hopefully this helps.

Add your comment

Message 7 of 8
Posted by member Kerry Lord on Monday 21 April 2008

Shackle the chain directly to the anchor, but use the right kind of shackle (same metal as anchor) as different metals can set off galvanic corrosion. On length needed, check the tide charts. If you are using chain only, you should let out a MINIMUM of at least four times the expected maximum depth of water. Using a combination of chain and warp (rope) you'll need 6 times max depth. In strong wind or current you'll need at least 8 times max depth. I suggest you buy a copy of a decent yachtmaster training manual (try Alison Noice) and read up on the subject. Also, practise anchoring lots, in a quiet area where you can afford to mess up before you have to do it for real. It's easy to do, but also very simple to balls up and damage your own boat or someone else's if you get it wrong.

Add your comment | ^Top

Message 6 of 8
Posted by member Andy Wells on Monday 14 April 2008

I have now bought (off e-bay) 10m of chain and 50m of 3 strand rope, already spliced together. Next question is, what goes where? The anchor has already got two bits of rope on it, one a thin bit with a float on the end (I presume to make where ones anchor lies) and the other a short length of about 10mm rope with one end tied round the eye on the top of the anchor, and the other end spliced around an galvanised eye. Question is, do I attach the chain to the eye on the loose end of the short bit of 10mm rope, using a shackle, or should I remove the 10mm rope and attach the chain straight to the eye on the anchor? Confusing for a newcomer!! ANDY

Add your comment | ^Top

Message 5 of 8
Posted by member Andy Wells on Monday 14 April 2008

I have now bought (off e-bay) 10m of chain and 50m of 3 strand rope, already spliced together. Next question is, what goes where? The anchor has already got two bits of rope on it, one a thin bit with a float on the end (I presume to make where ones anchor lies) and the other a short length of about 10mm rope with one end tied round the eye on the top of the anchor, and the other end spliced around an galvanised eye. Question is, do I attach the chain to the eye on the loose end of the short bit of 10mm rope, using a shackle, or should I remove the 10mm rope and attach the chain straight to the eye on the anchor? Confusing for a newcomer!! ANDY

Add your comment | ^Top

Message 4 of 8
Posted by member Andy Wells on Monday 14 April 2008

I have now bought (off e-bay) 10m of chain and 50m of 3 strand rope, already spliced together. Next question is, what goes where? The anchor has already got two bits of rope on it, one a thin bit with a float on the end (I presume to make where ones anchor lies) and the other a short length of about 10mm rope with one end tied round the eye on the top of the anchor, and the other end spliced around an galvanised eye. Question is, do I attach the chain to the eye on the loose end of the short bit of 10mm rope, using a shackle, or should I remove the 10mm rope and attach the chain straight to the eye on the anchor? Confusing for a newcomer!! ANDY

Add your comment | ^Top

Message 3 of 8
Posted by member Andrew Cross on Tuesday 14 August 2007

the genral rule of thumb for sea work is the lengh of your boat in chain and three times you depth of water in rope i use 12mm rope as its kinder to the hands regards andy cross,forty-winks

Add your comment | ^Top

Message 2 of 8
Posted by member Angus Geddes on Tuesday 14 August 2007

5 to 10 m of galvanised chain and as much rope as you can afford. 30M X of multiplate is best, but hawser laid nylon should do the trick.

Add your comment | ^Top

Message 1 of 8
Posted by member Andy Wells on Wednesday 8 August 2007

When we bought our HFP 20 it came with an anchor but no chain or rope. I intend using it on the Blackwater Estuary in Essex, any ideas on the length of chain needed, what material the chain should be, the length of rope needed and how thick / what material the rope should be? Thanks, Andy.

Add your comment | ^Top

You must be logged in to post to the Hardy Motor Boat Owners Club message board. Click here to login in. If you’re not yet a HOC member then why not join us today?