Adding additional line for rode

Vdog

Vdog

New Member
Oct 22, 2016
16
Pasadena, MD
Boat Info
310 Sundancer 2000
Engines
Twin 5.7 horizon
i Want to be able to tie two lines together to add more rode for anchor.
I do have windless and not sure if I can simply tie to lines together.
Any advise ?
 
I would buy a replacement rode at the size you want. Tying probably won't work out too well.
 
I have never heard of a tie for two lines that will feed through a windlass. My logic dictates that the two lines tied will be nearly twice size of the single line that feeds through the windlass. Then you have the issue of connection reliability, is it worth loosing your anchor and tackle to not just buy the right length of line or a longer length of chain?

MM
 
The knot you tie won't go through the windlass. You'd have to stop the line just short of going completely through the windlass, pull the line that is on the anchor side of the windlass and tie it off, then let the remainder of the line come through the windlass after untying the line from the cleat in the anchor locker (you do have the bitter end tied off, right?), then tie the two lines together.

Keep in mind that ANY knot causes the line to lose it's rated breaking strength, although some are better than others in this sense. Just a heads up on that.

I did keep an extra 300' onboard my 260DA, but it was emergency use - not regular use. For regular use, I had a 25lb plow, 50' of chain and 300' of line. Once got caught overnight in a freak 70-mph windstorm. Boat never budged.

Much easier to just get a new, longer line if you're short right now.
 
I was thinking it would not work, just wanted to clarify.
I did see chain/rope combo and thought that was the way to go. The previous owner only had about 150 feet of rode and it is definitely not enough. The creeks around us are generally about 20 feet deep, with some areas about 3-5 feet, that’s where I generally anchor. We are only 3 seasons in our new lifestyle and any advise is always welcome! Thank you all for the advise!
 
Vdog said:
I was thinking it would not work, just wanted to clarify.
I did see chain/rope combo and thought that was the way to go. The previous owner only had about 150 feet of rode and it is definitely not enough. The creeks around us are generally about 20 feet deep, with some areas about 3-5 feet, that’s where I generally anchor. We are only 3 seasons in our new lifestyle and any advise is always welcome! Thank you all for the advise!
Click to expand...

Just make sure your windlass can handle chain,
 
Two lines connected with a long splice should work. Or, rope/chain with a tapered long splice will work as long as you have a gypsy that can handle the chain links.
 
If you decide to go all or longer chain you will need an anchor snubber. A windlass is not designed to take shock loads that occur while anchored.

A snubber moved the load over to your cleats, reduces the shock load of the inelastic chain, and generally lowers the attachment point for better anchor performance.
 
All great advise, the windless I have has about 20 feet of chain before it gets to the line. So, I think the chain, line combo should be fine. I have seen snubbers on dock lines but I never thought about using one on the anchor line. That is a great idea for sure! I will be looking that up once I am done here. I am going to head to the boat today and measure the anchor chain and line I have to be sure it works with the windless. Thanks again for all of the advise!
 
The snubber he is talking about is not the same as your typical "dock line" snubber. He is talking about adding an extra line that somehow ties into your anchor rode before it enters the pulpit and then ties off to a cleat. To hard for me to describe, maybe someone else has an idea hhow to explain it.
 
Vdog said:
All great advise, the windless I have has about 20 feet of chain before it gets to the line. So, I think the chain, line combo should be fine. I have seen snubbers on dock lines but I never thought about using one on the anchor line. That is a great idea for sure! I will be looking that up once I am done here. I am going to head to the boat today and measure the anchor chain and line I have to be sure it works with the windless. Thanks again for all of the advise!
Click to expand...
With only 20' of chain, you really don't need the bridle/snubber. You'll pretty much always be letting out at least 20' so you'll have rope to tie off with.
 
Lazy Daze said:
The knot you tie won't go through the windlass. You'd have to stop the line just short of going completely through the windlass, pull the line that is on the anchor side of the windlass and tie it off, then let the remainder of the line come through the windlass after untying the line from the cleat in the anchor locker (you do have the bitter end tied off, right?), then tie the two lines together.

Keep in mind that ANY knot causes the line to lose it's rated breaking strength, although some are better than others in this sense. Just a heads up on that.

I did keep an extra 300' onboard my 260DA, but it was emergency use - not regular use. For regular use, I had a 25lb plow, 50' of chain and 300' of line. Once got caught overnight in a freak 70-mph windstorm. Boat never budged.

Much easier to just get a new, longer line if you're short right now.
Click to expand...
A knot is not the appropriate application. There is a way to meld the two bitter ends together. Problem is it makes the splice larger and stiffe at the junction point. My windless just would not process the larger girth. I always had to be right there to make sure the rope kept feeding into the locker.
 
stephens013 said:
A knot is not the appropriate application. There is a way to meld the two bitter ends together. Problem is it makes the splice larger and stiffe at the junction point. My windless just would not process the larger girth. I always had to be right there to make sure the rope kept feeding into the locker.
Click to expand...
Correct, it is not. Hence the reason I said it wouldn't work. The OP had a simple question about tying two ropes together so the goal was to keep things simple.

You could do an end to end splice (probably what you are referring to), and you might get away with it working in some windlasses - especially if you taper it. Unfortunately, I've done literally 1,000's of splices :confused: ... it 'could' work - but may start to eventually slip as the line gets stiff/salted up - cleaning/soaking helps, but not always. But the OP's question, at least it seemed, was for temporary use - as in "tie them together, then untie them again".
 
IF your depth is 20 feet and its sheltered, 150 of rode with 20 feet of chain is plenty. If you are worried that is not enough, then you must think you need more than 7 to 1 scope and if you need that much, you should be worried about a spliced rode if you went that route.
 
A tapered splice is needed at the rope/chain connection if you want it to feed correctly.
 
So I measured the chain and it is 1/2 wide and the line is 1/4. Does anyone see a reason as to why I should not step up to 1/2 wide line? It seems like 1/2 would be a much safer choice.
 
The diameter of the rope and the geometry of the chain links are dictated by the gypsy. Of course you can replace the gypsy, but it’s doubtful the same one would handle both 14” and 1/2 line. BTW, we use 1/4” on our 13’ dinghy and I think it’s too light. I’d probably want at least 5/8 on a 27 foot boat.
 
Vdog said:
So I measured the chain and it is 1/2 wide and the line is 1/4. Does anyone see a reason as to why I should not step up to 1/2 wide line? It seems like 1/2 would be a much safer choice.
Click to expand...

Use what is recommended by your windlass manufacturer. Is it a Progress 1?
 
Vdog said:
So I measured the chain and it is 1/2 wide and the line is 1/4. Does anyone see a reason as to why I should not step up to 1/2 wide line? It seems like 1/2 would be a much safer choice.
Click to expand...
That doesn't sound right. I think you may be measuring wrong or someone did something DRASTICALLY wrong. The most likely combination for a smaller cruiser is 1/4" chain and 1/2" rope. Both of those sizes are MORE than enough for your size boat. Maybe you mixed up your numbers?
 
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