Lofrans Windlass with chain/ rope rode

[renegade27]

I've removed a few hundred pounds of weight from my bow by cutting 25' off of my 150' chain and adding 150' of 1/2 rope rode.

Splicing of the rope to the cut chain is difficult as neither knots nor shackles can travel through the windlass guides.

I'm having the rope spliced back into the rode for a minimum profile.

Still, its unclear to me how to use the rope with the windlass. Should I put it up on the winch? This seems to fowl the feed system into the locker. Leaving it in the teeth of the windlass works OK but I'm concerned about chafing.

Motivation - getting weight out of the bow and maybe less tendency for round-ups?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[MartyB]

So did you go from 150' of chain to 25'? or 150 to 125' of chain? if the first, yes you saved a lot of weight! if the latter, not sure you gained a whole lot!

Yes removing 125' of chain, if that is truly what you did, then that will help with roundups. Better yet, would be to remove chain, rode and anchor from the bow, and put below untill needed in the middle part of the boat.

Marty

[Don Reaves]

I have had a rope/chain anchor rode for 5 years, and the use of the drum has always eluded me. The design of my windlass has the chain captured on the gypsy under a metal cover. There's really no way to use the drum once the chain (and the rope that follows it) is rigged to the gypsy, because that's where it stays.

The rope-to-chain splice is pretty easy to do with a three-strand rope. If done well, it will travel through the system without binding as long as you keep some tension on the rope. In fact, I've found that the rope will slip if you don't keep tension while running the windlass. I haven't noticed much in the way of chafe, but I can't say I use it that much.

Don

[renegade27]

Yes, Marty - from 150' of chain to 25' of chain plus 150' of 1/2" nylon anchor rode. It's got to be a few hundred pounds - right now sitting coiled on the dock - I'll need some help to move it!

Don, you identified exactly the issue - the gypsy. The angle of the drum to the gypsy causes binding at the gypsy. Also can't run a thimble or eye through the gears so I'm having it spliced this week. So, not much chafing running the rope anchor rode through the windlass gears...

On our 20 mile lake, I can't imagine being out in a situation where we needed to drop anchor in a blow or in deep water. This is lunch hook gear - I picked 25' because we nearly always anchor close to shore in 10-15' and under 15 knots during the day. The 25' would be a good indicator for my wife that the anchor is out enough

Anyone have a good idea where to put the chain if I choose to leave it on the boat? I can imagine it rattling around in a bilge compartment... otherwise into my basement or "donated" to the boat yard (although I'd rather keep it in case me or the boat moves to a more demanding sailing area).

[gene]

You don't say what size chain. But if you are using 1/2 in line then you probably have 1/4 in chain which is .63 lbs/ft or a savings of 79 lbs - the weight of the 1/2 rode which is probably 15 lbs for a savings of 64 lbs. If you are using 5/16 chain then it is 1 lb/ft or a total savings of 105 lbs.

[MartyB]

Put it as close to the keel, and center of the boat as you can. TO the rear will be opposite of putting all the way forward, this might be a good thing! But from a normal sailing perspective, center is better.

I'm one of those "ALL" chain rodes is not needed, unless I am anchored in all coral, then maybe. I only have 16' per the PO setting up anchors worth of chain for Puget Sound, they were all the way from the south part of the sound which was home base, to Desolation up in BC with a 7.5kg bruce, 16' of chain, and a 250' 1/2" three strand. Granted I am a bit smaller than you with a 30' probably 7000-7500 loaded boat, std disp is 6200 or there abouts............If I was to have to worry about hurricanes or equal.......Things would be upsized and lengthened etc. If I was strictly on Lk Washington, I would go to a 5kg bruce 8-10' of chain, not sure about the line, might stick with 1/2" but 100-150'.

I'm actually toying with finding an aluminum 6lb with about 8' of chain, and 3/8"rode rope, this is minimum race std for the boat, then keep the man anchor below in a settee locker mid station in the boat as I do know.

Marty

[gene]

I have been looking at this on my boat. It has 350 ft of 5/16 HT and a 45 lb plow. That is 400 lbs of anchor gear. I was planning of changing this right away but the biggest surprise for me is I do not notice the extra weight as a problem while sailing. Add to this the water tank in the bow for another 250 lbs although it is not all the way forward. I do not race but the previous owner did and consistently won. I have puzzled about how I would move 350 lbs of chain however. The project has been dropping on my priority list.

[renegade27]

Haven't done the weight calcs, Gene, but I can tell you that there was far too much chain to even consider lifting at once and the 150' of rope was easily lifted with one hand. The bow is no longer down relative to the waterline. I don't expect night and day difference in sailing (but do expect it will help - weight in the ends are never good) but it also was a total of $120 or so and 45 mins of work.

Like getting a crew member off of the bow rail for sure!