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Anchor Chain

Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 415/418
Forum Description: 415/418 Hints, Tips and News
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8580
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 05:01
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Anchor Chain
Posted By: 415 Singapore
Subject: Anchor Chain
Date Posted: 17 August 2014 at 15:11
Night Train was delivered with the standard 18 kg anchor and 30 meters of galvanized anchor chain. We need to extend our anchoring depth, but don't particularly want to buy 50 - 60 meters of new chain. The obvious solution is to use rope, but then you can't use the electric windlass to pull this up, I am not keen on on using a chain connector. I am sure someone has a good solution to this problem and would love to hear your thoughts
Good sailing
Paul

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Paul - Night Train - 415 #136



Replies:
Posted By: bovine
Date Posted: 17 August 2014 at 16:21
Hi buy new chain it's not as expensive as you might think buy from a chain supplier ( not a chandler)
Regards
David p


Posted By: Fendant
Date Posted: 17 August 2014 at 17:46
If you change the chain go for a stainless steel one, whch is salt water resistant. As said above try the local industrial hardware suppliers and have them supply it "free anchor locker ".
 
Most owners in the MED have done this and switched to a 60 m chain. Yes, it is heavier in the bow, but you can remove it when you feel you want to win a raceWink


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Frank


Posted By: GrainDeSel
Date Posted: 18 August 2014 at 12:02
Hi
On my H385, I have add to the chaîne 40m of 18mm rope with a splice node. No problem to use with the windlass
Regards
Jean Marie

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Best regards
Jean-Marie
H385#139 june 2012


Posted By: alidal
Date Posted: 18 August 2014 at 12:19
Originally posted by GrainDeSel GrainDeSel wrote:

Hi
 No problem to use with the windlass
What kind of winch did you have?


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Hanse 400#655


Posted By: Wayne's World
Date Posted: 18 August 2014 at 12:26

Paul,

I think you will find on most production yachts the anchor and chain supplied are the minimum size .

If you look at the various websites on anchor selection you would find the suggested anchor size for your boat for normal conditions would be around 21kg with 8mm anchor chain. The weight of the anchor is not the only thing that dictates its effectiveness - as the weight goes up the holding surface area increases. A heavier anchor will normally set better but the added surface area provides more holding. You may find even with more chain out you may need to increase your anchor size. Originally our boat was specified standard with a 27 kg anchor but we put on a 45 kg Ultra anchor. The standard size from the shipyard for our boat is now a 40kg Delta.

I don't know which anchor winch you have on your boat but I think you will find most of the smaller winches are designed to take a rope/chain combination. To work correctly the rope needs to be correct size and design but this type of rope is not cheap. It also needs to be spliced correctly to the chain. Rope also wears quickly particularly if the gypsy on your anchor winch is worn. This rope tends to not want to self stack in the anchor locker so this could be a problem.

The best option and longest lasting is SS anchor chain but there is nothing wrong with galvanised anchor chain. If you are not going anchor very often you will probably not wear off the galvanising. The selection between SS and galvanised chain would come down to how much anchoring you will do and what the cost difference is. Personally we do a lot of anchoring so we opted for SS chain. We put on 100 meters compared to the standard 60 meters. We would have preferred 140 meters of chain but the yard was not convinced the chain would still self stack with this much in the anchor locker. SS chain does seems to self stack better in the anchor locker where as galvanised chain seems to stack higher because of the roughness of the galvanising.

I would think you should bite the bullet and replace your 30 meters of galvanised chain with either 60 meters of  galvanised chain or if the budget stretches or you intend doing a lot of anchoring SS chain. You can then if needed replace your 18kg anchor with a 27kg and keep the 18kg as a spare or use it as a stern anchor.

 



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Wayne W
Cruising, currently in the Pacific until the end of 2026.


Posted By: GrainDeSel
Date Posted: 18 August 2014 at 13:17
Hi
We have a Lewmar Pro-series 1000. the sprocket wheel is mixt (chain & rope)
Anchor is a delta 16kg with 30 m of 8mm chain
Regards




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Best regards
Jean-Marie
H385#139 june 2012


Posted By: Rod
Date Posted: 18 August 2014 at 16:29
Phil,
On our 415 we use the Hanse standard 16kg delta with 8mm of chain plus I added 30M of 8 strand braided nylon.
This is spliced onto the bitter end of the chain and runs no problem over the windlass.
I'd never tried splicing this before but here is a link to a good website and after a couple of attempts, and color coding we now have a good splice. Intend to stack the nylon on the rear ledge of the chain locker to stop the chain piling on top , however wash and soak everything regularly with fresh water.
http://www.yalecordage.com/pleasure-marine-ropes/anchoring-mooring-specialty/nylon-brait.html
Apparently all chain is preferable if you plan anchoring in some pretty wild and windy locations , but until now no probs. The 16kg will only accept 8mm chain according to the lewmar website as I was looking for a larger anchor.
Rod

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Hanse 415 - "Ti"
Gocek,
Turkey.


Posted By: alidal
Date Posted: 19 August 2014 at 08:49
Originally posted by GrainDeSel GrainDeSel wrote:

 the sprocket wheel is mixt (chain & rope)
Did you know if that is standard on these winches?


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Hanse 400#655


Posted By: iemand
Date Posted: 19 August 2014 at 08:55
I think yes!

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Hanse 312 MJ 2004 - Hanse 370e MJ 2007


Posted By: alidal
Date Posted: 19 August 2014 at 10:53

Is this the right type? Anyone has a picture of the splice between rope and chain?


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Hanse 400#655


Posted By: Wayne's World
Date Posted: 19 August 2014 at 13:51
Paul,
 
One thing I forgot to mention if you are doing a lot of anchoring and in adverse conditions you should use a anchor chain snubber to take the load off the anchor winch. This is made up of a chain claw or hook and a length of strong rope preferable nylon so it has some stretch. Attach the chain hook/claw to the chain and the rope to you fwd bollards and the let extra chain out so there is no load taken by the anchor winch. The anchor winch shaft and bearings are not designed to take the weight of the boat and can be easily damaged.
 
  


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Wayne W
Cruising, currently in the Pacific until the end of 2026.


Posted By: Wayne's World
Date Posted: 19 August 2014 at 14:09
Alidal,

To do a chain splice - pass two strands together through the end of the chain and pass the third strand in the reverse direction. It is neatest when the single strand passes between the other two. Lay the three strands down beside the rope and thread them through the adjacent standing strands as close to the chain as possible. Complete the remainder of the splice by tucking each tail over and under the standing strands as per a normal splice. Complete seven tucks to complete the chain splice.

Google "Animated Knots By Grog" and you can download a splicing and knot software for a few dollars. It has animated photos and instructions on all types of boating knots and splices as well as other knots.



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Wayne W
Cruising, currently in the Pacific until the end of 2026.


Posted By: 415 Singapore
Date Posted: 19 August 2014 at 18:14
Hi, thanks to all for your advice, sounds like the best option is to go for a new 60m chain, but 8mm not so readily available in Singapore, chains for super tankers are easier! So will see what we can find. We already use an anchor snubber and have upgraded the anchor to 25kg so have those aspects covered. I would love to use rope as it is lighter, just not convinced about the splice that is small enough to go through the windlass.
Many thanks
Paul

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Paul - Night Train - 415 #136



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