We have lived on our Willard 40, October, for the past three years and during that time have put more than 10,000 miles under the keel. We carry three anchors: a 60 lb. CQR on an all chain rode, a Danforth on a nylon rode with 20 feet of heavy chain, and a light Danforth lunch hook. The CQR was our main anchor. So I can tell you that 100 feet of chain for an all chain rode is not enough. Let's talk about scope for a few minutes. Scope is the ratio of the length of the anchor rode to the height of the bow at high water above the anchor resting on the bottom or buried in the mud. Most people would consider a ratio of 5:1 to be about minimum, 7:1 much better, and 10:1 or more for storm conditions. And remember that the depth sounder only reads to the top of soft mud, not to the depth that the anchor rests So, if your bow roller is 5 feet above the water as ours is and the water depth at high tide is 10 feet, a scope of 5:1 requires 75 feet of chain, a scope of 7:1 requires 105 feet of chain, and a scope of 10:1 requires 150 feet of chain. If one anchors in 20 feet of water the scopes are 125, 175, and 250 feet of rode respectfully. We carry 300 feet of chain and on several occasions we have had most of it out. I would not recommend that you carry anything less than 300 feet of chain. We snub the chain with about 25 feet of 3/4 inch nylon on a chain hook. The nylon snaps a lot in a windy anchorage as it stretches and shrinks over the chock. If, in the middle of the night, it STOPS snapping it means that the anchor is dragging and we come awake instantly. That snapping is one of the friendliest noises I know. It means the anchor is working and I can go back to sleep. By the way - NEVER SHACKLE THE BITTER END OF THE ANCHOR CHAIN TO THE BOAT. Always tie it down with bit of nylon which can be cut on deck with a sharp knife. Why? My uncle once had his 60 foot schooner anchored in Oysterbay, NY. In the middle of a quiet night the tide changed and a string of barges began to swing down on the schooner. Without enough time to pull the anchor, they let out ever inch of chain only to find it was shackled down. The barges swung by breaking off the bow sprit. There are times when you will want to abandon the anchor and it is best to make it possible to do so easily. John Knauth aboard October, a 40 foot Willard, at her dock in Oriental, NC. E-mail: JohnKnauth@Coastalnet.com