Anchor rope to chain splice looks frayed

[Todd320]

My rope to chain splice on my anchor rode is becoming more and more frayed. I could switch to all chain, or we have a local boating supply store that will rig up whatever chain/rope combination I dictate. I think the extra weight would make my 320 ride a bit more bow down without needing trim tabs. Thoughts? I would need to get a snubber with all chain. The rope sure would be easier to retrieve in the event my windlass fails. That happened once in 2016.

 

[my3sons]

If you like your set up, you could just switch ends of the rope.
Check out the Samson website for how to do a chain splice.
https://www.samsonrope.com/docs/def...pe-to-chain_aug2012_web.pdf?sfvrsn=2a64083a_2

 

[Henry Boyd]

There is also no way to splice chain so that it will go through a Gypsy, so you would need all new chain. If you know the size chain you can easily calculate how much weight you would be adding to the bow. ¼” chain is roughly 0.7 pounds per foot, so 200 feet would add 140 pounds less whatever your existing weighed.

If you are concerned about the bow weight you could test it out using four five gallon buckets and covers filled with water. Water is 8.35 pounds per gallon so a bucket is forty pounds and four is 160. Obviously, they need to be tied down on the bow, but will give you an idea of how the boat would perform for about twenty bucks for Homer buckets.

 

[Todd320]

There is also no way to splice chain so that it will go through a Gypsy, so you would need all new chain. If you know the size chain you can easily calculate how much weight you would be adding to the bow. ¼” chain is roughly 0.7 pounds per foot, so 200 feet would add 140 pounds less whatever your existing weighed.

If you are concerned about the bow weight you could test it out using four five gallon buckets and covers filled with water. Water is 8.35 pounds per gallon so a bucket is forty pounds and four is 160. Obviously, they need to be tied down on the bow, but will give you an idea of how the boat would perform for about twenty bucks for Homer buckets.

Hah! You’re just trying to get me to drive around with 4-5 gallon buckets tied to the front of my boat with duct tape, then you’re going to post pics here and say look at this goober! I am on to you. LOL.
Seriously, I don’t know what you mean by ”no way for spliced chain to go through gypsy“? Right now, I have spliced chain to rope, and it successfully transitions about 80% of the time, rarely I have to manually skip it, more often I just have to redirect it into the anchor locker. Maybe you were talking about something else?

 

[Todd320]

If you like your set up, you could just switch ends of the rope.
Check out the Samson website for how to do a chain splice.
https://www.samsonrope.com/docs/def...pe-to-chain_aug2012_web.pdf?sfvrsn=2a64083a_2

This might the way to go. Will check out that end of the rode to see if it is in good shape or not. I could just bring the entire thing home and work on it during the week.

 

[Todd320]

There is also no way to splice chain so that it will go through a Gypsy, so you would need all new chain. If you know the size chain you can easily calculate how much weight you would be adding to the bow. ¼” chain is roughly 0.7 pounds per foot, so 200 feet would add 140 pounds less whatever your existing weighed.

If you are concerned about the bow weight you could test it out using four five gallon buckets and covers filled with water. Water is 8.35 pounds per gallon so a bucket is forty pounds and four is 160. Obviously, they need to be tied down on the bow, but will give you an idea of how the boat would perform for about twenty bucks for Homer buckets.

I am reading this again, and my understanding now is, “no way to splice chain to existing chain”, then yes, I planned on replacing the entire chain.

 

[b_arrington]

That amount of chain won’t make a lick of difference to the running trim. I switched from rope to 250 feet of chain. Didn’t feel any difference at all.

 

[GnrlPatton]

That amount of chain won’t make a lick of difference to the running trim. I switched from rope to 250 feet of chain. Didn’t feel any difference at all.

I bet it made your wallet lighter, so it balanced out the extra weight of the chain.

 

[b_arrington]

I bet it made your wallet lighter, so it balanced out the extra weight of the chain.

Actually, it didn’t cost me a penny. The braided rode that come with my boat kept slipping in the windlass; it wouldn’t pay out or retrieve properly. My dealer swapped it out for an all chain rode.

 

[GnrlPatton]

Actually, it didn’t cost me a penny. The braided rode that come with my boat kept slipping in the windlass; it wouldn’t pay out or retrieve properly. My dealer swapped it out for an all chain rode.

Nice! Switching to all chain is one of my future projects, it's not an inexpensive proposition. But then, not much in boating is.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Hah! You’re just trying to get me to drive around with 4-5 gallon buckets tied to the front of my boat with duct tape, then you’re going to post pics here and say look at this goober! I am on to you. LOL.
Seriously, I don’t know what you mean by ”no way for spliced chain to go through gypsy“? Right now, I have spliced chain to rope, and it successfully transitions about 80% of the time, rarely I have to manually skip it, more often I just have to redirect it into the anchor locker. Maybe you were talking about something else?

I said nothing about duct tape, although that would add some savoir faire. If it really bothers you, go to Lowes instead and buy silver buckets then they'll be color coordinated with the tape. You could also use a couple of bags of cement in the anchor locker if you wan to be discrete.

Chain fits into the gypsy with nearly the same tolerance as gear teeth do. When trying to splice two chains the splicing link would have to exactly match the other links and the distance between links would have to be identical. If not the splice link and following links won't fit in the gypsy. If you found a really good welder they could cut a link and weld the two pieces together. But that would be of quwestionable srength.

The rode hanging up when transitioning from chain to rope could be the splice is worn, but also might be the spring for the pressure finger may have weakened.

 

[Creekwood]

I put 175ft of chain on my boat, and spliced the old rode to the chain. I haven't seen the splice since. With 175 ft of chain I don't ever see the rope at all let alone worry about the splice not going though the windlass. We anchor in less than 30 ft of water though so your results may differ..

 

[Gofirstclass]

Hah! You’re just trying to get me to drive around with 4-5 gallon buckets tied to the front of my boat with duct tape, then you’re going to post pics here and say look at this goober! I am on to you. LOL.

Or get a heavy person to sit up there while you're running. Won't need duct tape, just tell her to hang on.