| There are 2 main ways to go with Anchor rode and | | | | anchor rode. With the chain you can see it head right |
| it does not make a difference if you are a Sailboat or | | | | for the bottom and then go in the direction of the |
| Powerboat. You can use anchor line/rope or anchor | | | | boat anchor. As your boat or yacht eases back from |
| chain. I was a fan for many years on rope with a 20 | | | | a puff of wind, the chain lifts off the bottom. That's |
| foot length of chain from the anchor. I felt the length | | | | a lot of weight that chain has to lift off the bottom |
| of chain from the anchor protected the line from | | | | so you don't move back too much. With line/rope |
| getting chafed from dragging on the bottom as the | | | | anchor rode, that same puff of wind pushes your |
| boat would swing in the wind or change of tide. The | | | | boat or yacht back till it gets to the chain by the |
| chain would scrape along the bottom to a new | | | | anchor and sometimes gives you a jerk as it tugs on |
| position instead of your bare anchor line as it bumped | | | | the anchor itself. Also when swinging in the wind, the |
| or snagged shells, rocks, or debris on the bay or sea | | | | anchor rode with line/rope takes on a full swing of |
| floor. By using the chain off the anchor, you've added | | | | the line, while the all chain rode from its weight keeps |
| weight which keeps the anchor line parallel along the | | | | you in tight swing so you don't notice it as much. |
| bottom, making your boat anchor always bite deeper | | | | In bigger blows it is good to use all chain rode to |
| into the bottom. | | | | keep that anchor biting the bottom, but with this kind |
| As my cruising area expanded, I noticed other new | | | | of wind you can be putting more stress on the chain |
| or used boats and yachts anchoring with all chain. | | | | links and the boat or yacht by the jerking. Here is |
| That ratt-a-tat-tat of the chain going overboard is | | | | where you should hook a line/rope right to the chain, |
| very distinguishable, and as years passed by, I heard | | | | maybe 20 feet or so and tie the line/rope to a cleat. |
| this sound more and more. Other than being able to | | | | This section will now allow the stretching abilities of |
| let out much less rode if you have all chain, I noticed | | | | the line/rope to create less strain and stress to the |
| another factor in direct relationship between the two. | | | | boat and on the chain links themselves. |
| With anchor rode of line/rope, you swing around a lot | | | | Chain comes in varied sizes and tensile to match your |
| more and also feel much more movement when the | | | | boat or yacht needs. There are some considerations |
| wind freshens. With chain for your anchor rode, you | | | | to the storage and weight of chain, but also most |
| seem to swing less and as the wind gets fresher, | | | | boats and yachts today have anchor windlass to help |
| you also seem to just ease back only a little as the | | | | let out and/or bring the chain aboard. Take a look |
| wind blows. It's like slow motion. | | | | around the next time you anchor...You will see the |
| Diving below the water, I have seen the difference | | | | difference. |
| between the chain anchor rode and the line/rope | | | | |