anchor weight and lenght of chain

[12345]

hi i have a 16ft 6 bayliner bowrider it has an inboard with sterndrive whats the best weight and style anchor with what length and thickness chain,thanks tony

 

[Chris1956]

Re: anchor weight and lenght of chain

Tony, The best anchor depends on what kind of bottom you plan to anchor in. If it is sand, the best anchor is a fluke anchor. If it is rock, the think the navy type anchors are best. A 16 foot boat can use a 5 - 7 pound fluke anchor and 3/8 line. Figure your anchor line length should be five times the deepest water you wish to anchor in. I gave up using chain on my 19 footer years ago. I didn't need it for holding power and it always got rusty and stained the anchor locker. Most people swear you need it, but unless you anchor in a gale, it is unnecessary. I also do not recommend you anchor in a gale!

 

[12345]

Re: anchor weight and lenght of chain

Tony, The best anchor depends on what kind of bottom you plan to anchor in. If it is sand, the best anchor is a fluke anchor. If it is rock, the think the navy type anchors are best. A 16 foot boat can use a 5 - 7 pound fluke anchor and 3/8 line. Figure your anchor line length should be five times the deepest water you wish to anchor in. I gave up using chain on my 19 footer years ago. I didn't need it for holding power and it always got rusty and stained the anchor locker. Most people swear you need it, but unless you anchor in a gale, it is unnecessary. I also do not recommend you anchor in a gale!

 

[12345]

Re: anchor weight and lenght of chain

thanks chris

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: anchor weight and lenght of chain

If you are anchoring in sand or mud and using a fluke, danforth, or fortress, you will want to use at least 6' of chain. Galvanized, stainless, or coated chain will not rust up the inside of your anchor locker. The chain keeps the anchor oriented in the right direction when setting the anchor; the front of this type anchor needs to be low when you are setting in the bottom. Using this type of anchor with no chain can be frustrating at best. I often anchor in rough water in the Gulf of Mexico, I have about 15' of stainless chain on an 8LB fortress, anchoring is nearly effortless this way.

 

[12345]

Re: anchor weight and lenght of chain

If you are anchoring in sand or mud and using a fluke, danforth, or fortress, you will want to use at least 6' of chain. Galvanized, stainless, or coated chain will not rust up the inside of your anchor locker. The chain keeps the anchor oriented in the right direction when setting the anchor; the front of this type anchor needs to be low when you are setting in the bottom. Using this type of anchor with no chain can be frustrating at best. I often anchor in rough water in the Gulf of Mexico, I have about 15' of stainless chain on an 8LB fortress, anchoring is nearly effortless this way.

cheers

 

[Almeja]

Re: anchor weight and lenght of chain

What is the main purpose for your anchor?

1) Picnic anchor?
2) Anchoring overnight?
3) Emergency Anchor?
4) Anchoring where there is current or wave action?

If your purpose is anything but number 1, you want a length of chain (probably 3/16" in your case) about equal to your boat length... and 3/8" nylon line about 7 times the depth of the water you are expecting to be anchoring in.

Appropriate shackles and thimble on the end of the anchor rode (the nylon part) to reduce chafing.

 

[Boatist]

Re: anchor weight and lenght of chain

I have a 21 foot Boat and have 3 anchors. By far the best anchor is a 4 LB Fortress FX-7.
Anchor is designed to hold boats 16 to 27 feet.
This anchor set faster and holds better than my 2 8 lb Danforth anchors.

Do you need chain. Chain is use for 3 things.
1: If you anchor in rocks the chain will prevent your line from being cut from sharp rocks your line is running over.
2: Chain will get the Shank of your anchor down to the bottom a little quicker.
3: In CALM contition with no current chain will allow you to use less line.

Normal scope is 7 to 1 meaning, if you messure from where you tie you anchor to the bottom then multiply times 7 that will tell you how much line to put out.
Example: Water is 18 feet deep and where you tie to your bow is 2 feet above the water. Then you need 18 feet plus 2 feet = 20 times 7 for a total of 140 feet of anchor line.

In very calm water you can get by with 3 to 1 SCOPE. if the wind, current, or waves pick up as the line get tight it will lift the shank of the anchor off the bottom and it will point toward the boat. This also means the flutes are pointed up also and the anchor will no longer dig in so it will slide along the bottom and boat will drift. As the boat drift the anchor may slide under a tree root or rock and you will never be able to get it out.
Adding some chain may hold the shank of anchor down a little longer, but if wind, current or waves pick up anchor will still break loose.

Letting out more line is the best solution to this problem. If you use 7 to 1 scope then even strong winds, current and waves will not lift the shank High to cause the flutes to stop digging in. In fact with a Fortress it will dig in even deeper.

 

[Maltair]

Re: anchor weight and lenght of chain

Mind if I hijack this thread with my own question?
What do you think of this anchor? Its a Kwik Tek Folding Anchor System weighs 3 1/3 lb with 4 folding flukes.
I'm new to boating, 16 foot larson tri-hull for tubing, and crusing lakes and Columbia.
Will just be using it for picnicing and swimming. It looks like the float doesn't come off so I wouldn't be able to attach another rope to make it longer would I? the rope on there now is only 25'.

 

[Boatist]

Re: anchor weight and lenght of chain

I think that anchor is pure junk. It might work for a rowboat in a very small lake with lots of weeds. On a heavy boat in the wind, current, and waves I would not trust it at all. Maybe as a side anchor to prevent stern from drifting.

Also in my opinion anchore line should be Nylon or 3 strand something with some streach.

 

[wvit1001]

Re: anchor weight and lenght of chain

The type of anchor and how big it needs to be depends on alot of things. I do all my boating in a lake. Wind is the only real problem. I have a small fluke anchor with no chain and 50' of rope. I haven't had any problems with it holding my 22' boat. Sometimes if I'm in a crowd I'll throw a 10 lb mushroom anchor off the back to keep the boat from swinging around and hitting other boats.

This anchor wouldn't be even close to big enough to hold in a river with a current an wind.

You need to talk with some people who have been boating where you'll be doing your boating and see what works.

 

[Andrew Leigh]

Re: anchor weight and lenght of chain

Another slight hijack,

why is there an eye at the bottom of the anchor as posted by Maltair? Surely it is intended to attach something to it?

My mate reckons the bottom eye is actually where you attach your rope, you then take the rope up the shank and secure the rope to the top eye with a cable tie. That way when the anchor is stuck, firm pressure will cause the cable tie to break allowing one to pull the anchor out in the reverse direction???????

Any thoughts
Andrew

 

[Chris1956]

Re: anchor weight and lenght of chain

Multaire has posted a picture of a wreck anchor. These are intended to "grapple" a wreck and come in other designs. Sometimes the wreck won't let go, hence the eye at the bottom of the hook. You tie the anchor line to the bottom eye, and witha light line you attach the anchor line to the top eye. If it gets stuck, the light line lets go, and you can pull the anchor out in reverse.