Dropping anchor

[Lorence Norton]

Hi everyone, I am a new owner of a 2012 ranger 25. Is their a ratio of the amount of chain to drop with the depth of water that your in?

 

[LADYBUG TOO]

We use a rode with 20 feet of chain with the line braided onto the chain so that it feeds through the windlass. Where possible the ratio we have used for years is seven times the depth. That being said we don't have such great depths to worry about most of the time. We have anchored in 80 ft. in the gulf with only 120 ft. of line. We do expect to drift a bit and keep a constant watch with such limited scope. It is easy to end up on the ground if you don't have good bottom and adequate scope.

Pat
Ladybug, Too

 

[Irish Mist]

When you are figuring your scope don't forget the height of the boat from the water.

 

[NewMoon]

Our 26-footer carries 40+ feet of chain spliced to 300 feet of 1/2" rope, w 10kg Rocna. We anchor everywhere from the San Juans to Glacier Bay, typically in 30-60 feet of water, with tidal range sometimes more than 20 feet. Typical scope is 3.5 x max depth, unless strong wind expected, in which we go to 5x or rarely more. Never dragged other than initial set (followed by successful re-set) in kelp or soft mud, in 800+ overnights, several at 30-40 knots.

 

[Crewdog]

We anchored on the lee side of Allans Pensacola Cay in Bahamas in 5 ft of water ahead of this storm that produced 36 kt winds.

Had 40 ft of chain and 20 ft of line, so thats a little more than 10:1 scope.

backed the boat to really set the anchor on bottom, and the 10kg Rocna held us firm.

On our home freshwater lake in a no wind, no current cove, we might just let the chain hit the bottom if we're just grilling out.

 

[pugtug613]

I took the Coast Guard safety course and they recommend 7:1 scope and the length of your boat in chain. I use at least 5:1 and I have 50' chain on my 27. Never dragged.