Lee,

Your idea of a piece of line at the bitter end makes good sense. That
line could be attached to the chain with a chain splice, tedious to
apply, but it will pass through the gypsy. The bitter end of the line
could then be made fast to a point inside the locker. It affords a means
to part company with the rode if needed, maybe enough time would be
available to attach a float and long messenger line to the rode before
cutting to enable retrieval of the dropped rode. You certainly won't be
able to easily sever the rode in an emergency otherwise. You could
provide a warning near the end of the chain to alert you so you don't
pay out chain to the point that the line is in danger of being stressed
in case you need all the rode deployed.

Steve

On 7/1/2013 10:03 AM, lalicata@alum.rpi.edu wrote:

--
Steve Sipe
Solo 4303 "Maerin"
Middle River, MD

Hey Lee,

I used a line to tie the bitter end of my chain to the embedded shackle in
the chain locker. Nothing fancy; I just used a line small enough to fit
though a link. In an emergency, however, I can simply open a locker door to
cut the line.

In your inaccessible situation, perhaps a use a line long enough to come up
out of the locker onto the wildcat...where you could then cut it in an
emergency.  In fact, I like that idea better than my scenario...and I will
lengthen my bitter end line next time I lean the locker.

Thanks,
Bob

Robert Calhoun Smith, Jr.
M/V MARY KATHRYN
Hatteras 58 LRC
Annapolis, Maryland

On Mon, Jul 1, 2013 at 10:03 AM, lalicata@alum.rpi.edu wrote:

Speaking as someone who has had to jettison his anchor and all-chain
rode
(http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-ship-without-anchor.html), I
can attest that you definitely want enough line at the bitter end to
appear completely on deck and fully clear the wildcat/gypsy.  We have
just enough 3/4" line on our 1/2" chain rode to do just that; in order
for the line to pass easily through the gypsy, it is spliced directly to
the last link of chain with an anchor splice. The bitter end is an eye
splice shackled to a steel hull stringer.

We, too, are on the hard with all our chain out, and we will use the
opportunity to end-for-end the all-chain rode.  Thus we will be changing
out the bitter end safety line, meaning I will need to make a new pair
of splices.  A small price to pay for the peace of mind. 3/4" line is
also what we use for a snubber, so it is plenty strong to hold the chain
firmly aboard should we inadvertently run past the end of the chain.
Getting the chain back into the gypsy is fairly easy at rest, but you'd
need to motor forward at anchor to take the load off first.  Thus I
would suggest line, splices, and shackles beefy enough to hold the boat
should the worst happen and you end up swinging from it in a storm.

-Sean
m/y Vector
on the hard in Deltaville, VA

On 7/1/2013 10:03 AM, lalicata@alum.rpi.edu wrote: