TWL: all chain rode
I've been reading this discussion with much interest. I have a couple of
questions for the list on this subject.
I currently have a nylon rode with an almost worthless windlass. I'm planning
on replacing the windlass soon and have been leaning towards the all chain
rode & remote control windlass. (Lofrans Tigress to be exact) One reason is
that my rode locker is all but impossible to feed a nylon rope into from
above. The only way to feed it in there is for me to go below & pull while the
wife feeds the line from above. The second reason is that she hates dealing
with the anchor, afraid of it as much as anything, (pinched fingers, broken
fingernails, that sort of thing) and also is not too interested in operating
the boat while I do it. I want this to be as comfortable & safe as possible
for all concerned and I like the idea of the all chain rode for holding power.
My questions are this. A very knowledgeable dock neighbor warned me that in
his experience the all chain rode caused problems with the chain going in
somewhat dirty & stinking up the boat. I have a washdown at the bow pulpit &
would plan on washing the chain as it comes up, but not sure this is enough.
He suggested that if I went the all chain route, the chain locker should be
sealed off from the bilge & drained directly to the outside.
How are your lockers set up? Are they sealed off? Do you have any problems
with the smell? I realize that there would be a big difference in where you do
your anchoring. Lower Florida, anchoring in nice clean sand vs in Texas where
we have to anchor in black, stinky mud most of the time, but that's the hand
I'm dealing with at this time.
Any ideas will be a big help. TIA
Brent Hodges
M/V Friendship
43 Albin
Seabrook, Tx
Brent,
I have used all chain rode for many years and prefer it hands down. I
carry a little over 500' of 5/16" hi-test on the main anchor which is a CQR.
I carry a second anchor, a Bruce, at the bow ready to deploy with 100' chain
and 200' nylon, but rarely use it, and it is in its own locker above deck.
Any rode which is not washed down and is put away dirty will create a bit of
a stink. However, the chain is normally easier and faster to clean and a
good high-pressure wash down pump with a good nozzle is a must. My chain
locker drains into the bilge and I have no smelly bilge problems with it.
As with any chain locker, it is a good idea to pull all the rode out for
inspection and clean the chain locker out as required as well as flushing
out the bilge.
Because of the two different types of rode we carry, I use a Maxwell
vertical windlass, which lines up with the bow rollers regardless of which
rode I use.
Good luck,
Bob Lowe
I currently have a nylon rode with an almost worthless windlass. I'm
planning
on replacing the windlass soon and have been leaning towards the all chain
rode & remote control windlass. (Lofrans Tigress to be exact) One reason is
that my rode locker is all but impossible to feed a nylon rope into from
above. The only way to feed it in there is for me to go below & pull while
the
wife feeds the line from above. The second reason is that she hates dealing
with the anchor, afraid of it as much as anything, (pinched fingers, broken
fingernails, that sort of thing) and also is not too interested in operating
the boat while I do it. I want this to be as comfortable & safe as possible
for all concerned and I like the idea of the all chain rode for holding
power.
My questions are this. A very knowledgeable dock neighbor warned me that in
his experience the all chain rode caused problems with the chain going in
somewhat dirty & stinking up the boat. I have a washdown at the bow pulpit &
would plan on washing the chain as it comes up, but not sure this is enough.
He suggested that if I went the all chain route, the chain locker should be
sealed off from the bilge & drained directly to the outside.
How are your lockers set up? Are they sealed off? Do you have any problems
with the smell? I realize that there would be a big difference in where you
do
your anchoring. Lower Florida, anchoring in nice clean sand vs in Texas
where
we have to anchor in black, stinky mud most of the time, but that's the hand
I'm dealing with at this time.
Brent Hodges<<<
Brent
Having used both, I suggest going with all chain. Actually, I suggest
splitting your anchor locker and having both as a safety measure, but using
the chain/windless one as your primary anchor. I havent noticed any
difference in smell between the two and can't think of a reason why there
would be. Dirty line is likely to be just as smelly as a dirty chain. Both
need to be washed down as they come aboard, if they are dirty.
If there is a reasonably easy way to have your anchor locker drain
overboard, that will help keep the bilge clean and keep water out of the
boat in rough seas where you may get water down the hawse pipe. OK, ok, I
know a competent sailor seals the hawse pipe when heavy seas are
anticipated, but stuff happens and having the anchor locker drain overboard
is one less thing to worry about no matter what kind of rode you use.
Kent
Monday, July 28, 2003, 12:10:57 PM, Brent wrote:
I've been reading this discussion with much interest. I have a couple of
questions for the list on this subject.
I currently have a nylon rode with an almost worthless windlass. I'm planning
on replacing the windlass soon and have been leaning towards the all chain
rode & remote control windlass. (Lofrans Tigress to be exact)
I think it was a Lofrans Tigress windlass I had on my previous boat.
That windlass has provision for manual retrieval of the anchor - the
ratchet (or whatever) that permits this also means that the windlass
is very (and I do mean very) weak for pulling the chain out of the
anchor locker - I generally had to go to the foredeck and give the
anchor a kick to get it started down. Any degree of tangle in the
anchor locker meant some manual operation to extract chain from the
locker.
--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI Vancouver, B.C., Canada
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver-webpages.com/van-ps