NJ Saltwater Fisherman Forums

Boating => Boating General Discussions => Topic started by: Duffman on February 21, 2015, 04:20:15 PM

Title: Chain Length....
Post by: Duffman on February 21, 2015, 04:20:15 PM
Curious as to what size and length you guys are running on your ground tackle.

Time for new chain and looking to tweak what I have.  Possibly going shorter but using a larger size chain.

BTW, as I type this its snowing again... rgmn....jonesing for shorts, t-shirts and the water.
Title: Re: Chain Length....
Post by: Fishin Dude on February 21, 2015, 04:43:06 PM
20' of 3/8" galvanized for me. The windlass pulls it up so I'm not concerned with the weight. On my emergency/back up anchor I've got 10' of 3/8".
Title: Re: Chain Length....
Post by: Wreckfish on February 21, 2015, 09:04:34 PM
20ft of 3/8th just like the Dude said
Title: Re: Chain Length....
Post by: BigAl13 on February 21, 2015, 09:53:15 PM
There's a formula to figure out the right chain size for boat weight and anchor weight but I don't remember it
Title: Re: Chain Length....
Post by: SHARKBITE on February 22, 2015, 08:12:06 AM
Hey Duffman, hope your surviving this crap.....here's a link to an article from Boat US I read about anchoring, rope and chain sizes/lengths....hope it helps

http://www.boatus.com/boattech/articles/anchoring.asp

 
Title: Re: Chain Length....
Post by: Duffman on February 22, 2015, 09:11:32 AM
Hey Duffman, hope your surviving this crap.....here's a link to an article from Boat US I read about anchoring, rope and chain sizes/lengths....hope it helps

http://www.boatus.com/boattech/articles/anchoring.asp


Yup Mike, read that.  Did a bunch of surfing looking for info. Reccos run everywhere from 6 feet to 50 feet!  Hard to get a definitive answer.

Read on one site the Coast Guard recommends 2X the boat length in chain!!  

Just looking to see what guys use in the real world application.
Title: Re: Chain Length....
Post by: Luna Sea 5 on February 22, 2015, 03:09:29 PM
longer the better as you will need less rode to hold
Title: Re: Chain Length....
Post by: Hunter 2 on February 23, 2015, 07:13:07 AM
If your chain weighs equal to or more than your anchor, the anchor won't slip back out of the ring while using an anchor ball retrieval system. Dave on Tuna.com uses 30' of 3/8" chain but has a winch.   t^
Title: Re: Chain Length....
Post by: striperdad on February 23, 2015, 05:38:50 PM
My boat is 26'. I use 30'x 3/8. Good work out with no windlass. Holds well.