I used to see a lot of writing about the use of kellets as a way to reduce scope requirements or otherwise improve the effectiveness of ground tackle. Is anyone using one now? Are they an effective option? The idea makes sense to me, especially if hand hauling, otherwise just use a heavier chain. I have been pretty much resigned to having to purchase and install a bow roller, all chain rode, and a windlass for my C&C36 project. I had been led to believe that all chain is the only good option for Caribbean cruising. Certainly it is popular, but some of the comments in this thread have me wondering if a boat length of chain and the rest nylon might still be a viable option. A dragging anchor in a crowded anchorage would be problem enough without having physical problems retrieving the ground tackle.
Steve Thomas C&C27 MKIII Port Stanley, ON C&C36 Merritt Island, FL ----- Original Message ----- From: Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List To: 'cnc-list@cnc-list.com' Cc: Della Barba, Joe Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2016 11:02 Subject: Re: Stus-List Windlass rebuff I use 30 feet of chain because I got tired of all the cruisers anchoring with all chain and me having to be way off to allow 7:1 scope swing room. Having 30 feet of 5/16 and anchoring in usually 8-15 feet of water works well. I have no windlass now, but I wouldn’t mind one. IMHO much past 35 feet and lack of a windlass will be painful with the correct size chain and anchor. Joe Coquina C&C 35 MK I From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Frederick G Street via CnC-List Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2016 10:52 To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: Frederick G Street Subject: Re: Stus-List Windlass rebuff Also, anyone who cruises in tropical areas NEEDS chain, to avoid chafe on the occasional chuck of dead coral... Fred Street -- Minneapolis S/V Oceanis (1979 C&C Landfall 38) -- Bayfield, WI On Aug 17, 2016, at 9:18 AM, Chuck Gilchrest via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: Chuck, Avoiding chain on anchor rode means you’re giving up one of the most important aspects of the rode: the catenary effect of shock absorbsion. By allowing some of the chain to lie on the ocean (or lake) bottom, the effort that it takes to lift the chain off the bottom before the line goes taut, serves as a shock absorber to wave, wind, or current. Also, using chain on an anchor rode means you can get by with a somewhat shorter scope in a crowded anchorage without worrying that your anchor will break free. Using only rope between your clean and the anchor allows for very little catenary and as such, your cleat and the anchor rope is bearing the entire shock load of the boat all the time. If I had only rope on my anchor line, I would make sure I had a proper anchor rode snubber, rubber or otherwise, to manage those loads. On Half Magic, we use 25’ of 5/16” Galv BBB chain spliced to 200’ of 5/8” NovEight Novabraid 8 plait rope with a 25lb CQR anchor (which is probably a bit light for the size and weight of the boat). We rarely anchor in more than 20’ of water where we sail although we might rethink that if we decide to cruise up in Maine or Nova Scotia. Chuck Gilchrest S/V Half Magic 1983 Landfall 35 Padanaram, MA
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