Anchor rode size

[Stosh]

What size anchor rode is recommended for a 3500/4000 # boat, 3/8 or 1/2 (Hali fishing)
Thanks
Stosh

 

[Sr SQ]

3/8 will likely hold the boat but the thicker 1/2 will be easier on the hands when pull the anchor up.

 

[chinnok]

My boat is probably the same weight and I bought a 1/2" rope a couple of years ago. I wish I went with a 3/8", 1/2" is way too heavy to handle IMO.

 

[Stosh]

Thanks for the info. 3/8's will take up less room, it's lighter and maybe have more stretch which should be easier on the cleat etc. I'm not worried about being easier on the hands, I'll use a Scotty trap puller to pull it in once it's broken free.
Stosh

 

[e-zee]

I use 7/16 and my boat weighs around 7000lbs. 3/8 will work fine for you.

 

[Rum Buddies]

you don't NEED a heavy line for Hali fishing. Remember if you're setup right you have a break away on your anchor anyway, that's going to break WAAAY before your rode will ever have much pressure on it.

Bigger line is nicer on the hands, but also creates more drag and requires more line to keep your anchor stuck.


I know a lot of guys that just use commercial prawn line and it works fine. (no idea what the breaking strength of that suff is though?)

 

[SpringVelocity]

That is bad advice sorry don't use commercial prawning line use proper anchor rode. Not getting this too much again. Stosh I assume your down south island way..Go and see Trevor at Trotac and ask what size you should use based on your boat..If your around Nanaimo stop in and see HC...

Look even if you piece it all together your better off getting it spliced and done correct with everything that is matched to your boat. That is your call but dont be using prawn rope or Poly ropes. We had a guy almost go down last year with that setup..Line got caught on prop on tide change... Reason anchor rode is used. It has stretch and also sinks.

 

[Charlie]

X2… buy and use any rope you like, as long as it is made and meant for use as “anchor rode.”
http://www.boatus.com/boattech/articles/rope.asp

I would actually suggest starting with picking out the type of anchor you want? All anchors have one or more drawbacks and you need to use the anchor most successful for your needs – be it whatever? Match the anchor to your intended use (lunch hook, working, or storm anchor) and determine the minimum holding power you need and the type of bottom anchoring to. I actually carried all three types of anchors and overkill really is always best.

“However, always remember that there are few certainties when it comes to anchoring and overkill is always best. And this table is for guidance only. Always get the recommendations of the product manufacturer:”

[TABLE="width: 100%"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="colspan: 6"]Boat Dimensions Horizontal Load (lbs.)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Length
[/TD]
[TD]Beam (Power)
[/TD]
[TD]Beam (Sail )
[/TD]
[TD]Lunch Hook
[/TD]
[TD]Working Anchor
[/TD]
[TD]Storm Anchor
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10’
[/TD]
[TD]5’
[/TD]
[TD]4’
[/TD]
[TD]40
[/TD]
[TD]160
[/TD]
[TD]320
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]15’
[/TD]
[TD]6’
[/TD]
[TD]5’
[/TD]
[TD]60
[/TD]
[TD]250
[/TD]
[TD]500
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]20’
[/TD]
[TD]8’
[/TD]
[TD]7’
[/TD]
[TD]90
[/TD]
[TD]360
[/TD]
[TD]720
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]25’
[/TD]
[TD]9’
[/TD]
[TD]8’
[/TD]
[TD]125
[/TD]
[TD]490
[/TD]
[TD]980
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]30'
[/TD]
[TD]11'
[/TD]
[TD]9'
[/TD]
[TD]175
[/TD]
[TD]700
[/TD]
[TD]1,400
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]35'
[/TD]
[TD]13'
[/TD]
[TD]10'
[/TD]
[TD]225
[/TD]
[TD]900
[/TD]
[TD]1,800
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]40'
[/TD]
[TD]14'
[/TD]
[TD]11'
[/TD]
[TD]300
[/TD]
[TD]1,200
[/TD]
[TD]2,400
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]50'
[/TD]
[TD]16'
[/TD]
[TD]13'
[/TD]
[TD]400
[/TD]
[TD]1,600
[/TD]
[TD]3,200
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]60'
[/TD]
[TD]18'
[/TD]
[TD]15'
[/TD]
[TD]500
[/TD]
[TD]2,000
[/TD]
[TD]4,000
[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

Concerning the rode size, that has to do with the “Working Rode Sizes” and suggest using the chart below. If your boat is 15' - 20' you are fine using ¼ inch. That is within the “Suggested Minimum Working Rode Sizes”:

[TABLE="width: 100%"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="colspan: 5"]Suggested Minimum Working Rode Sizes*
(For winds up to 30 knots.)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]L.O.A.
[/TD]
[TD]Beam (Sail )
[/TD]
[TD]Beam (Power)
[/TD]
[TD]Nylon Rode
[/TD]
[TD]Chain Rode
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10'
[/TD]
[TD]5'
[/TD]
[TD]5'
[/TD]
[TD]125’-3/16”
[/TD]
[TD]3/16”
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]15'
[/TD]
[TD]7'
[/TD]
[TD]7'
[/TD]
[TD]150’-3/8”
[/TD]
[TD]1/4”
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]20'
[/TD]
[TD]8'
[/TD]
[TD]9'
[/TD]
[TD]150’-3/8”
[/TD]
[TD]1/4”
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]25'
[/TD]
[TD]9'
[/TD]
[TD]10'
[/TD]
[TD]150’-3/8”
[/TD]
[TD]1/4”
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]30'
[/TD]
[TD]10'
[/TD]
[TD]11'
[/TD]
[TD]200’-7/16”
[/TD]
[TD]5/16”
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]35'
[/TD]
[TD]12'
[/TD]
[TD]13'
[/TD]
[TD]300’-1/2”
[/TD]
[TD]3/8”
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]40'
[/TD]
[TD]13'
[/TD]
[TD]14'
[/TD]
[TD]400’-5/8”
[/TD]
[TD]7/16”
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]50'
[/TD]
[TD]14'
[/TD]
[TD]16'
[/TD]
[TD]500’-5/8”
[/TD]
[TD]7/16”
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]60'
[/TD]
[TD]16'
[/TD]
[TD]19'
[/TD]
[TD]500’-3/4”
[/TD]
[TD]1/2”
[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
*Suggested sizes assume fair holding ground, scope of at least 5:1 to 10:1, and moderate shelter from high seas. Boats that operate generally in shallow waters, as on the East Coast of the United States, may get by with shorter rode lengths.

And… Yes, there is really nothing wrong with using a larger anchor and/or rode (if you want a rode easier on the hands remembering that larger rode is harder to handle and takes up more space)! Here is an excellent article outlining the above:
http://www.boatus.com/boattech/articles/anchoring.asp

 

[Stosh]

Thanks for all the great advice.
Stosh