Anchor Rope and Chain?

77vetter

New Member
Dec 1, 2019
22
Boat Info
2005 200 Sport
Engines
4.3 MPI
I have a Sea Ray 200 Sport and wondering about anchoring the boat. We have not had the boat out as we just bought it and its winter up here. Our previous boat was a 18.5" Ebbtide Catalina and we always had trouble staying put while anchored. We typically drop anchor and dive/swim off the boat and it never seemed to stay put.

Here is our anchor:
anchor.png


I'm guessing after doing some reading that the length of rope was the issue. We have 50' rope and usually anchor in 15-25' of water. So I'm guessing i need to purchase more rope as I have been reading 7:1 ratio is pretty standard.

But also wondering how important it is to have a chain between the anchor and rope as we currently only have the anchor tied to rope. How much chain would one need for the 200 Sport? Where do you guys store this, I know the Sport has an anchor locker in the bow but not sure it will hold the anchor, chain and 150' rope?o_O
 
IMG_4230.JPG
200-250 feet of rope should be fine if you have room for it on a 20 foot boat. You should have an anchor that is suited to your holding ground. Locals should be able to help you with that question.
 
You may want to consider a "box anchor" or "slide anchor" with a couple hundred feet of rope. I've used the box anchor for a stern anchor in the past and they are impressive. They can be easily stored "semi-flat" which helps with logistics. They also seem to function fine without chain.

For the average "storage conscience" day boater I'm not sure these buggers can be beat.

https://www.slideanchor.com/boxanchor
 
I second the box anchor. Always holds. Only downside is that it seems to bring up half the bottom if you are anchored in mud and is a little awkward to bring back over the bow without hitting the side.
 
Huh, first time I've heard of a box anchor. I learned something new today!

An anchor system is critical safety gear. On your current setup (anchor, scope, etc), I'm not surprise you're dragging.
  • You would need some chain on the end. 6 feet or so would do it for your boat. The chain serves several functions. It holds the rode down and lowers the angle to the anchor to reduce pull-out. It also serves as a catenary, providing some shock buffer between the boat and the anchor. More chain is good.
  • Rope to chain connection: Don't just tie the rope to the chain. It will chafe and wear out. Either use a rope to chain splice, or insert an thimble into the chain and splice the rope around it. Or, buy a pre-made rope/chain rode and attach it to the anchor with a swivel.
    This is a thimble-chain connection.
    upload_2020-2-11_10-23-40.jpeg

    This is a rope to chain splice.
    images


  • You definitely need more scope and rode. 2x depth is a recipe for the anchor to drag. "Best practice" is 7:1. in reality that's storm conditions. For casual, good weather "lunch hook" you could go to 5:1 or *maybe* 4:1. You want plenty of line for your depth plus some extra.
  • The type of anchor you showed doesn't hold that well. It looks kind of like a modified naval anchor. They work on large naval ships due to their massive weight. I would try that box anchor mentioned, or a fluke-style like a Fortress anchor. Fortress anchors are all aluminum, light weight for their size, very very strong and hold in lots of conditions, and can be disassembled for storage. The FX-7 model is 4 lbs and rated for boats 16-27 feet. You could also use a Danforth anchor (similar style, heavier). DON'T use a knock-off Danforth-type anchor. They aren't the same and invariably don't perform nearly as well.

    Fortress anchor:
    upload_2020-2-11_10-16-5.jpeg
 
+1 for b_arrington

Get a FX-7 Fortress w/ a bag. They can be broken down easily and stored fairly compact. Less than 5 minutes to assemble or disassemble. A couple hundred feet of line w/ 5' of chain. Still need proper scope but chain will make it hold even better. Leave the chain connected to the anchor and store in the anchor bag. Store the line in a mesh bag made for purpose or in anchor locker. Feed it in properly and it never tangles.
 
+1 on the Fortress. Actually I replaced my "Digger" anchor which the OP posted with an FX-7. The Digger is my spare now.

I always had a 6' chain on the Digger which helped.
 

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