Sizing rope section of Anchor Rode

[SimonBryan]

HI all
Am in the process of replacing the anchor rode, have a new 34m Graded 8mm chain, the original was 40 but 34m is the amount in one drum.
The original rope section looks ok but it is the original and parts of it are quite stiff, concerned that it's breaking strain may be compromised after approx 30 years.
The boat is an Island Gypsy 32 ft - weight I believe is about 10T

Question is what size should I use to replace it? 10mm or 12mm?
Silver rope or this?
https://www.whitworths.com.au/silver-blue-8mm-50m

 

[C lectric]

Your link is not working. Comes up with a 403 error.

Chain? GRADED? WHICH grade? THere a a number of chain types and grades and not all are suitable ESPECIALLY if you are using a windlass to deploy/retrieve the chain. They must be matched so the chain link matches the windlass wildcat pockets or you will have trouble.

I have a 32' , different boat, and use 1/2" [12mm]. Unless there is something special about the working strength of the 10mm do not go that way.

Look at the working strengths of any line considered.

What type of line are you considering, double braid, triple lay, 8 plait or something else?
Colour to me means nothing. Mfgrs can use any colour they want to.

Material? Nylon is good due to the stretchiness which helps to act as a shock absorber.

 

[BruceK]

The OP`s previous thread dealt with gypsy and suitable chain.
Assuming you want line and chain to go down the tube into the rode locker, I suggest checking the windlass manual,or with the windlass mfr, for the line size which fits the gypsy. You`ll need a "long splice" for the join so the join isn`t too bulky for the gypsy. I`m sure you`ll find a Youtube vid of how to, or ask the chandlers, they may know a good splicer.

Nylon 3 strand line is likely better than poly line you are considering but more expensive. With 34 metres of chain, how often will you use the line? I don`t know what breaking strain or SWL you should go for, but check the chandlery catalogue which has a chart of size/strength, and also compare silverline and nylon characteristics.

 

[Nomad Willy]

I’ve been using 5/8ths Brait on my 30’ 8 ton boat.
I’m oversized.
When I replace I’ll downsize to 9/16” or 1/2”.
Wouldn’t think of anything but nylon Brait.

 

[BruceK]

I’ve been using 5/8ths Brait on my 30’ 8 ton boat.
I’m oversized.
When I replace I’ll downsize to 9/16” or 1/2”.
Wouldn’t think of anything but nylon Brait.

Eric, "brait" line is not well known in Australia. Here`s a link:

.
I`m all chain but if I added line it would probably be 3 strand nylon.

 

[DrissZougari]

I would assume that the windless was sized appropriately, then size of the chain will dictated by the gypsy and I would use 3 strand nylon size 9/16” or 1/2”.
Good luck,

 

[FF]

The use of modest Nylon will give the smoothest ride in bumpy anchorages.

It takes about 15% of the lines breaking strength to begin to stretch well.

The usual mistake is heavy line that doesn't begin to stretch under normal conditions.

Thin line usually needs chafe protection where it comes aboard , but is worth the tiny bit of extra effort for the smoother ride.

 

[rslifkin]

5/8" 8 plait is more than stretchy enough on my moderately high windage 38' boat (about 26k lbs loaded). I've considered going up to 3/4" for a better strength buffer, but I'm not sure the splice will fit through my windlass if I do.



Worst case, if the line is big enough that you don't have enough stretch without a long length of line out, you can always add a lighter snubber like you would with chain. You can add stretch with tools like that, but you can't add strength beyond what the line already has.

 

[Nomad Willy]

Re Brait I love the way it handles.
Dosn’t do any of the things 3 strand does that’s annoying.

 

[rslifkin]

Re Brait I love the way it handles.
Dosn’t do any of the things 3 strand does that’s annoying.

Agreed. Brait is wonderful stuff with a windlass. It dumps into the locker pretty much like chain. And at least with my setup, you dump a pile of it in there, dump a pile of chain on top and it all goes in without a fuss and comes back out perfectly the next time as well.

 

[FlyWright]

5/16 chain (40 M/130 ft) with 5/8" Brait line on my 34 LRC which tips the scales at 12 tons. The Lewmar windlass gypsy is sized for 9/16" 3-strand line but the good folks at Defender.com (in consultation with Lewmar) recommended upsizing one size when going to Brait.

I've been extremely happy with the results after over 10 years of heavy use.

 

[SimonBryan]

Your link is not working. Comes up with a 403 error.

Chain? GRADED? WHICH grade? THere a a number of chain types and grades and not all are suitable ESPECIALLY if you are using a windlass to deploy/retrieve the chain. They must be matched so the chain link matches the windlass wildcat pockets or you will have trouble.

I have a 32' , different boat, and use 1/2" [12mm]. Unless there is something special about the working strength of the 10mm do not go that way.

Look at the working strengths of any line considered.

What type of line are you considering, double braid, triple lay, 8 plait or something else?
Colour to me means nothing. Mfgrs can use any colour they want to.

Material? Nylon is good due to the stretchiness which helps to act as a shock absorber.

Hi this is the description of the rope:
The blend of high level PE resins produces a rope with good handling properties and excellent strength. UV stabilisers are added to resist deterioration in the extreme Australian conditions.

 

[SimonBryan]

The OP`s previous thread dealt with gypsy and suitable chain.
Assuming you want line and chain to go down the tube into the rode locker, I suggest checking the windlass manual,or with the windlass mfr, for the line size which fits the gypsy. You`ll need a "long splice" for the join so the join isn`t too bulky for the gypsy. I`m sure you`ll find a Youtube vid of how to, or ask the chandlers, they may know a good splicer.

Nylon 3 strand line is likely better than poly line you are considering but more expensive. With 34 metres of chain, how often will you use the line? I don`t know what breaking strain or SWL you should go for, but check the chandlery catalogue which has a chart of size/strength, and also compare silverline and nylon characteristics.

Yeah tube is no issue 12mm would fit easily.
The aim of having the rope as part of the Rode is for those cases where I really need to get all 34m of the chain on the bottom. I am always in the same waters depth is about 10m average but with some deep holes along some of the rocky shores - so emergency use.
No problem with the splicing, can handle that - and have been practicing

 

[SimonBryan]

Yep chain has been tested in the gypsy, differnet to the original US size, which actually when lookiing at it now is slightly oversized.

 

[SimonBryan]

THanks everyone - the rope will be a last resort when I really need to get all the chain down on the bottom.
Seems 12mm is the go
THis is what I am looking at from Whitworths will also check out a Nylon aternative
Silverline Anchor Rope
New Zealand Synthetic
The blend of high level PE resins produces a rope with good handling properties and excellent strength. UV stabilisers are added to resist deterioration in the extreme Australian conditions.

Diameter: 12mm
Reel Size: 50m
Breaking Load: 2430kg

 

[Inbreaker]

Silverline is polypropelene. It floats, which is not a desirable feature for anchor rode. Nylon 3 strand of the same diameter is stronger.
Nylon is also likely to be more abrasion resistant than silver.

 

[BruceK]

According to the Whitworths Catalogue I think Simon is looking at, "Break Load" of Silverline 12mm is 2430 kg, Donaghy`s NZ 3 strand nylon " Guaranteed Strength" is 2200kg. There are 15M deep anchorages, line will likely get used sometimes. Imo it`s worth getting nylon but Silverline would do.

 

[Inbreaker]

Bruce-
Can't understand that. Donaghy's Au site shows the 'break load' for 12 mm Nylon 3 strand as 3000.
Anyway....

 

[backinblue]

I've used both 3-strand and 8-plait nylon. 8-plait is by far what I prefer. I don't know anything about the Silverline product but I would be concerned about it's stiffness which can cause problems getting in and out of the locker smoothly.

 

[BruceK]

Bruce-
Can't understand that. Donaghy's Au site shows the 'break load' for 12 mm Nylon 3 strand as 3000.
Anyway....

Good sleuthing. I see one is "break load",the other is "Guaranteed Strength". That might explain it, or the Whitworths Catalogue could be wrong.

 

[FF]

Don't think of anchor line as anchor line , think of it as future dock lines.


Sure your backup storm anchor may be heavy , but how many gas docks or marina cleats will secure 3/4 line , or even 5/8?

 

[rslifkin]

Sure your backup storm anchor may be heavy , but how many gas docks or marina cleats will secure 3/4 line , or even 5/8?

I've never seen a dock suitable for my boat that didn't have cleats big enough to accept my 5/8" dock lines.

 

[BruceK]

Great segue! Will 5/8 go through the gypsy, strip off, and down into the rode locker?

 

[FlyWright]

Great segue! Will 5/8 go through the gypsy, strip off, and down into the rode locker?

5/8" 8-plait Brait works great on my Lewmar that's sized for 9/16" 3-ply and 5/16" chain. Looks just like this...

 

[Nomad Willy]

Flywright,
That’s what I’m using.
I extended the line w a 50’ pice of 9/16” 3 strand.
If I boat long enough and need to replace it I’ll use 400’ of that 9/16” Brait in your pic.
For anchor line I’m 100% for the Brait.

 

[BruceK]

The brait looks to have superior flexibility over 3 strand. Is it, and is that what helps it pass through the gypsy. Academic really, I don`t recall seeing brait here. Does it cost more than 3 strand?

 

[rslifkin]

The brait looks to have superior flexibility over 3 strand. Is it, and is that what helps it pass through the gypsy. Academic really, I don`t recall seeing brait here. Does it cost more than 3 strand?

It's more expensive than 3 strand, but much more flexible. And it falls into a locker and packs down just as nicely as chain.

 

[Nomad Willy]

Bruce,
You can get a lot more of it in a given space.

 

[Marco Flamingo]

I just cut the prior owner's 365' of chain and replaced 265' of it with 8 plait. My bow came up over an inch from the reduced weight and the back of my car dropped an inch hauling the chain home. Good riddance.

The 8 plait splice seemed a little tedious, mostly because I had two print outs from difference web sites and they didn't agree on how to start the splice. I picked one and did it. If the splice fails and I live, I'll use the other method next time.

The 8 plait sure is different than 3 strand. I could see where it would make nice dock lines, but since I already have +30 of them in various states, I can't see spending the money. The odd part was that the 8 plait fibers and strands would catch on things. Little tiny snags and larger ones that actually pulled a strand out of the main body of the line. Maybe it all goes back to normal when a load is on it, but it had a weird "snagged sweater" feel that made me wonder about the strength. I'm sure it is a strong as advertised, but it was odd to get a "run" in my anchor line.

Oh yeah, now I don't have to run down to the anchor locker three times when I retrieve.

 

[FlyWright]

Great point about Brait snagging. As a dock line, it'll pick up dock splinters. DAMHIK

One of the main advantages of Brait is that it lies MUCH flatter than 3 ply. IIRC, it takes up something like 35% of the volume of similar 3-strand. (going by memory here)

It's also much easier on your hand...unless it's got a dock splinter!!