Adding chain

[Schuster]

I am looking for information that will help me add 25' of chain to my existing 25' of 1/4' high strength. Is there a link to connect the two that will go thru the Lewmar 700 windlass without complications?
I drug anchor a couple times and feel that added chain will help keep the anchor laying flat.
Thanks in advance.

 

[bridma]

My thoughts are.......put on 50ft of new high test chain. Keep the old 25ft of chain as spare for your back-up 2nd anchor.

Martin.

 

[thataway]

If you drug anchor, the extra chain may or may not help. What anchor were you using and what was the bottom type?

Safety wise Martin id correct--50' of new chain is stronger than a splice link in the old chain. Being that the C Dory is rarely loaded to significant anchor loads there are several ways to add a chain link for joining the chain--but never as strong as the initial intact G4 hi test chain.

One is a "soft link" using Dyneema or similar product. I have a couple of Dyneema shackles (one came with the boat, another I made). My concern would be pinching and abrasion--I would want to inspect the link regularly.

One trick I have used is a peen chain link. I put JB weld on all mating surfaces and then peen over the nubbins. I have never load tested this, but it probably will hold anything like what the average C Dory is hit with.

There are other connecting links: But none go all that well thru the windless:

A carabiner or spring steel link is just not strong enough.

I carry several rodes on my boats--on the current boat, I kept the main anchor rode as a stern and back up--and replaced it with 300' of 8 plait and 50 feet of G4 1/4" chain.

 

[tsturm]

I am looking for information that will help me add 25' of chain to my existing 25' of 1/4' high strength. Is there a link to connect the two that will go thru the Lewmar 700 windlass without complications?
I drug anchor a couple times and feel that added chain will help keep the anchor laying flat.
Thanks in advance.

I started with 50' of chain, drug anchor one night, went home and replaced it with 100' of chain. Haven't drug an anchor yet, in
any bottom type I can find. :thup

 

[hardee]

Schuster, Dragging is not (necessarily) due to a too short chain length, However, I am a strong believer in long chain. I use 70 feet, and usually that is all I put out, AND I have had an occasion to drag, ONE time. I changed anchors, and have not have a drag since then. BUT, I do think, if you have only 25 feet of chain you really should be increasing that length. I would go along with Marti and suggest, get a 50 foot section and save the other for a spare.

On my rode to chain joint, I have a stainless link spliced to the end of the rode, and then my chain is attached via a Peen link, as shown above, so that I do not have to redo the splice when I change chain.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

http://www.c-brats.com/albums/album1333 ... .thumb.jpg

 

[clayhubler]

I want to add more chain also. What is the best combo that will still fit in the anchor locker on the 22?

 

[thataway]

I want to add more chain also. What is the best combo that will still fit in the anchor locker on the 22?

The best windlass is a horizontal axis. You can get 300' of 8 plait and 50' of chain into a 22's anchor locker. However you should make a piece of canvas or other preventer to keep the rode from spilling out into the V berth.

 

[clayhubler]

Thanks Dr. Bob. :thup