385/388 - Max anchor chain length Hanse 385

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Max anchor chain length Hanse 385

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Forum Name: 385/388
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Topic: Max anchor chain length Hanse 385

Posted By: sv_palamut
Subject: Max anchor chain length Hanse 385
Date Posted: 11 February 2024 at 10:02

Hi,

I am planning to order new chain for my hanse 385. It will be 8mm. Ideally I want 100mt, but seems like noone tried this before?

I saw even with 50mt one needs to intervene whilst weighing anchor.

So, my question is, what is the max chain length one can use on a hanse 385 with some intervention?

(Side note: I also have a 30mt anchor line, I will get it spliced to the new chain regardless)

Many thanks,

Cagri

Replies:

Posted By: Ratbasher
Date Posted: 11 February 2024 at 11:38

Hi Cagri - may I ask why you want as much as 100m, please? What depths are you planning to anchor in? This is of much more importance than just length.

The weight of 100m of chain right up forward in the bow will give you a massive hit on performance and comfort as your bow smashes through waves instead of riding over them.

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H400 (2008) 'Wight Leopard' Gosport, UK

Posted By: sv_palamut
Date Posted: 11 February 2024 at 11:44

Canary islands and Med is the plan for now.

100mt is the length I speculated I would need for those grounds, based on a few consultations. But maybe additional 50+ kilos on the bow is more harmful than I guessed...

Posted By: Ratbasher
Date Posted: 11 February 2024 at 12:05

Way more! I plan for a maximum of 7x expected anchoring depths as any more scope than that doesn't give much extra benefit. That's an all-chain rode with 12m of 16mm nylon set as a bridle to handle snatch loading. If we're sleeping without someone on anchor watch I use 5x depth unless in a tight anchorage with calm conditions.

Good luck with your cruise!

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H400 (2008) 'Wight Leopard' Gosport, UK

Posted By: Nebo
Date Posted: 02 January 2025 at 07:23

I have spent 18 months living on board my Hanse 385 in the Mediterranean (Greece, Sicily, Italy and Turkey).

I have 55 meters of chain 8 mm + 16 kg Lewmar Delta anchor, and have experienced so many draggings (and yes I have learnt how to anchor).

You can not make the Math when the wind is too strong.

You just find the most protective place, put all out and hope it will hold.

I have been in Marmaris Bay in Turkey anchored in South part of Bay in 9 meters depth, mudy bottom, perfect holding waiting for 9 Boufort SE. Set the anchor a day before, waited for one hour for it to adjust itself in the mud, turned on the engine and reverse with 2000 rpm. Tomorrow I was dragging (54.2 knots was the maximum wind speed).

And after all the experience I don't trust my anchoring setup. So this year I am going for 75 meters of chain + Rocna 20 kg anchor.

I do know this will affect my sailing performance, but at the end it comes out - what are you using your boat for.

Posted By: Ratbasher
Date Posted: 02 January 2025 at 08:17

Hi Nebo - I went from a 16kg Delta to a 20kg Rocna after I bought the boat and the difference in holding was incredible. 8mm G40 chain weighs about 1.4kg/m and 70-75kg should be a reasonable compromise on a boat like the 385. My worst experience was in similar strengths to your example and the boat hardly moved during a slow-moving storm. On my H400 I carry 67m with a 12m snubber bridle, removing the jib from the roller if winds >40kts are forecast so as to reduce yawing. We cruise northern Europe for about 6 months a year, preferring anchoring to marinas.

You can actually do reasonable maths approximations for strong winds, even adjusting for yawing and wave action. The ABYC (American Boat & Yacht Council) have produced figures which seem a bit pessimistic but which take into account worst case figures. For a (relatively!) simpler analysis have a look at Alain Fraysse's excellent http://alain.fraysse.free.fr/sail/rode/anchor/anchor.htm" rel="nofollow - Anchor site.

Everything on a boat is a compromise....

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H400 (2008) 'Wight Leopard' Gosport, UK

Posted By: sgrhma2
Date Posted: 02 January 2025 at 11:33

As Ratbasher has outlined, it’s very important to use a snubber on the anchor chain as this significantly reduces the snatch loads on the anchor system and its fittings on the boat. Nylon rope is very good for this due to its high stretch properties, but what is also extremely good is climbing rope. I have sailed extensively around Ireland and the West of Scotland and like Ratbasher my preference is to anchor. I’ve 50m of chain with 80m of 20mm nylon 8 strand rope spliced to it and a 16kg delta (only had it drag once). I’ve only ever had to use it all on a single occasion. The stretch and shock absorbing ability of the climbing and/or nylon rope is really amazing and I believe make a huge difference to your anchor’s ability to hold without dragging. Generally speaking I’m not in crowded anchorages so I usually put all bar 5m of the chain out and use 20m of climbing rope (10 in the water and 10m onboard and attached to a stern cleat). Before dropping the hook it’s very important to survey the area as with this set up you’ll have a big swinging area and it needs to be clear of boats / buoys and bottom fouling. I’m very happy with my chain and rope set up and think that it is an ideal compromise for my boat (2005 370e). I also believe that the shock absorbing climbing rope lets the Delta perform better than it would otherwise on a chain only rode. I do plan to change it for a Rocna or Ultra this year.

To sum up, for a boat in the 36 - 39ft range 50m of 8mm chain spliced to at least 60m of 20mm nylon rope is a good compromise, but I’d recommend a more modern anchor type than the Delta I have.

Hope this was useful.

Simon

Posted By: sv_palamut
Date Posted: 02 January 2025 at 11:53

Thanks for all the information!

I actually ended up buying 70mt of 8mm chain, and a 20kg Rocna, and has been sailing for 7 months. This setup works pretty good for me, except for the piling chain on the windlass (I heard this is a more common problem than just hanses).

Max depth I anchored is pretty shallow though - 12Mt, so, this amount of chain was enough for me until now. Later maybe I will end up adding some rope.

Rocna 20kg fits perfectly (except for safety pin).

Posted By: S&J
Date Posted: 23 February 2025 at 20:41

I found 60m too little in my first med season, but this was mostly down to my inexperience anchoring stern too and reversing up to the quay/shore only to find I had dropped the anchor too soon.

I now have 80m with 30m rope. I have ever used the rope but often use the full chain when sitting out the Meltimi.

On the 385 I'd say 70m is more than enough. As you mention, you will need someone on the bow to kick the chain away from the windlass when you retrieve it. At least the 458 has a deep anchor locker which means I don't have to do this, but this brings other iaccess ssues if the chain gets tangled!

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H458 #159 Primal Mediterranean cruising

Posted By: sv_palamut
Date Posted: 23 February 2025 at 22:00

Thanks for the response!

After a traveling full time for 8 months around Biscay, Madeira and Canaries, I can confirm that 70 meters of chain was more than enough for my needs. We never anchored more than 10mt depth anyways :)

Posted By: Rhum coco
Date Posted: 25 February 2025 at 09:17

[QUOTE=S&J]J'ai trouvé que 60 m étaient trop peu lors de ma première saison en Méditerranée, mais c'était principalement dû à mon inexpérience dans l'ancrage à l'arrière et dans la marche arrière jusqu'au quai/rive pour découvrir que j'avais jeté l'ancre trop tôt.

J'ai maintenant 80 m avec 30 m de corde. J'ai déjà utilisé la corde, mais j'utilise souvent la chaîne complète lorsque je suis assis sur le Meltimi.

Sur le 385, je dirais que 70 m sont largement suffisants. Comme vous le mentionnez, vous aurez besoin de quelqu'un à l'avant pour éloigner la chaîne du guindeau lorsque vous la récupérez. Au moins, le 458 a un coffre à ancre profond, ce qui signifie que je n'ai pas à le faire, mais cela pose d'autres problèmes d'accès si la chaîne s'emmêle !

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Posted By: Mark&Catherine
Date Posted: 30 April 2025 at 14:39

we have 80 metres of chain and the standard delta anchor.

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385 ubulukutu sail number GBR 3350L in Turkey and Greece with Mark and Catherine