Anchor rode fray

I have 100 feet of G-4 High Test plus 250 feet of 3-strand 1/2' nylon (New England Ropes Brand) and love it.

Most of the time, 1) I never have to use the rope section at all, 2) the chain slips ZERO amount on the windlass ( essentially: chain + sprocket), and, 3) the weight of the chain both makes for A) a secure set/hold of the anchor, and, B) acts as a shock absorber as the weight of the chain has to be lifted to put full pressure on the anchor. (line catenary)

If you do get "bar tight" on the chain with or without the rope section, you're on "full-tilt" so you might as well have all chain anyway, as the rope would be stretched to it's elastic limit by then.

And I like the weight of the 74 pounds of chain in the bow, as it helps hold the bow down and cut chop and waves.

I believe it was Cutter Marine in or around Annapolis, Md, that put 100 feet of chain in all the C-Dorys they sold. I seem to remember they also installed a vertical style Lewmar windlass as well.
 
I think I got my Yale Brait (8-plait) through Fisheries Supply (Seattle).

I found the instructions for the rope-to-chain splice for the 8-plait a bit confusing, but actually making the splice went fine after a couple of false starts. It was obvious once it was going correctly (and was also obvious the first time when it was not quite right). Like Bob shows in the other threads, I marked the various strands while doing the splice. I didn't have a fid, but used a Bic type pen as I remember it.
 
Ok I ordered 275' of rope @ .80 per foot and 35' of G4 chain 3.29 per foot. To have them do the splice was $33. I think I'll buy a piece of rope to practice the splice. I can see looking at Bob's splice that it might take me a while to get a splice that I can trust.
 
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