Ground Tackle

[thinwater]

It sounds pretty unlikely with a low aspect keel.

You don't get a keel wrap, but in wind against current, the anchor line can rub at the leading or following edge of the keel to hull joint. On Tanahkeeta, it actually rubbed through sufficiently to cause a hole. This is when I changed to 60 ft of chain from the stock 30 ft.

I agree with Ron, we had a 2" deep slot cut into the rear of the starboard keel from anchor rode, and lots of little dings on the trailing edges of both keels. Maybe something to do with the trailing edges being vertical, that snags the rodes?

I guess I've been lucky - my last boat had a 4' dagger board and I in 15 years I never had a problem. I wonder... though I never used a kelet, I did have several heavy shackles at the apex of my bridle which served that purpose at the moment the boat would dance over the rode; they would pull the rode(s) right down. Though the proper place for the weight when anchoring would be well down the rode, for wrap prevention, it would be just about a bridle length out. Perhaps a little weight right at the apex of the bridle is the simple answer for a multihull? Thoughts? I hate the idea of too much chain in the bow.

[Bob]

I have a 35# delta with 250' of 5/16" ht, also a BIG Fortress with ~50' 5/16" and 200' 5/8" nylon as well as a smaller Fortress with a shorter length of chain and 5/8" nylon. I did get hung up sideways with the rode wrapped around the keel at the Skipper Bob anchorage at Shallotte Inlet on the ICW. You could have played music on the rode it was so tight. Had to tie an oil jug to the end and threw everything overboard. Picked it up and tried again with the same results so I moved out to just off the main channel. I put the all chain setup on after that experience.

[thinwater]

I always connected the rodes to a bridle with some heavy stainless fittings, and every time the wind died the bridle would take the rodes straight down. Perhaps this is why I have never had this experience, including 15 years with my prior boat (4' dagger board). Rather like a light kellet 15' in front of the bow. I forget that many either use no bridle at all, or they simply attach a second line with a rolling hitch.

[Bob]

Thinwater, this makes good sense with nylon rodes. I can see where that could solve some of the wrap issues. I'll bet a rolling hitch with a long tail with which to tie a dingy anchor to would work in a pinch.

[Page 83]

On the subject of the bridle, has anyone spotted a stainless steel chain hook or equivalent that latches on the chain?

[SecondWind]

SS Chain Hooks this page: http://www.mcmaster.com/#chain-hooks/=inavl

[thinwater]

My bridle actually has 2 loops at the end: one for the chain hook, and one for tying a rolling hitch, prusick hitch, or clipping a second fiber rode. Many options.

[36041]

Wow! Some of you can actually carry 250 feet of chain ?!!? Jeez, all that weight would send us right to the bottom. Not sure about the rest of you, but every 600 pounds sends us one inch lower in the water.

We've managed for the last five years down in the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos and on the east coast of the U.S. with a 35 pound CQR and a 35 pound Delta, each with 50 feet of chain and 150 feet of 3/4 inch anchor rode. I would definitely recommend an anchor sentinel or kellet for those occasions with hard reversing currents as I have the matching twin keel gouges to show what happens when you boat trips over its own chain in those conditions.

Regards,
Tom
36041
http://www.tendervittles.net