The importance of chain

[jim dozier]

Just yesterday I observed a mini-lesson in anchoring dos and don'ts. I had to use my boat and another boat at work for a project in a local lake. We needed to anchor the other boat over some submerged equipment. The operators of the other boat were "inexperienced". This is not to say that I am "all that" either. My main point is that in attempting to set a bow and stern anchor, one of the other boats anchors refused to grab. There were multilple reasons for this that eventually became clear, none of which involved weather as it was calm.<br /><br />1. Their anchor rode was too short and would barely allow any scope in only 8 feet of water.<br />2. Despite repeated cautions against it one of the crew kept throwing the anchor to the intended spot instead of moving the boat, lowering the anchor, and then backing the boat away. I personally observed the anchor twist in the air each time and tangle itself in the rode.<br />3. The anchor had no chain, the nylon rode was tied to the shank.<br /><br />After repeated attempts I gave them my 4lb danforth with 4 feet of chain to replace the 8 lb chainless danforth they had been trying to anchor with.<br /><br />They moved the boat, they lowered the anchor, and the anchor set the first time, no muss no fuss.<br /><br />So if you ever wondered why your anchor won't set it may be something as simple as 4 feet of chain and how you put it in the water.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: The importance of chain

This is very common on the somewhat crowded inland lakes I frequent. Get into a "party" bay where everyone's anchored, and invariably there's a boat that JUST WON'T HOLD and keeps moving with the slightest breeze.<br /><br />I watch them repeatedly pull up and redrop an anchor that's tied directly to the rope with no chain.<br /><br />Eventually they drift to the other shore, give up, pack up, and leave! I've found these people don't often take well to friendly advice, either.