New Anchor Rode for Aeolus. G4 Chain and 8 Plait.

I've updated my anchor along the way to the fantastic Mantus design that I've written much about on this blog, yet I attached it to my same old 3/8 BBB chain. I've had that chain regalvanized once myself a few years ago, and it was showing signs of rust again. I'd long wanted to upgrade my chain to High Test G4 and finally got around to doing that this week.

Acco 5/16 G4 High Test chain with a WLL of 3,900 lbs

I ordered 100 feet of 5/16 G4 Acco chain from Defender, which has a WLL of 3,900 lbs. The larger diameter but weaker steel 3/8 BBB had a WLL of only 2,600 lbs. I'd swear the size difference is more than 1/16 as the new chain is so much smaller looking. Yet it is stronger. Part of my motivation is that although Aeolus has a wonderful Lofrans Tigres electric windlass, the controls for the windlass are in the pilothouse and not near the anchor locker. So when I am sailing alone, which often happens in summer when I am delivering our boat north to Desolation Sound, I have to pull that heavy 3/8 BBB up by hand. No fun, especially as I get older.

NE Ropes 5/8 8 plait with a WLL of 10,600 lbs. 

I also went ahead and replaced the 3 strand nylon because it was about 10 years old. This let me upgrade to the New England Ropes 8 plait that is far easier to work with and will lay better in the anchor locker. I hear it absorbs shock better, but haven't seen data on that. I use a 5/8 size nylon as recommended.

Tonight I spliced the 8 plait onto the chain and it's all ready to go. Altogether I keep 300' of rode hooked up on Aeolus, which has proven more than ample for even our deeper anchoring spots like Teakerne Arm at 70' depths. That Mantus anchor has never once, not once, in storms, so much has budged, and so even 3:1 has always been sufficient in moderate conditions. In anything resembling storm conditions in typical anchoring depths of 25-40 feet, we can go more than 6:1. And of course our bow roller is top notch and accepts two separate rodes, and I keep a back up anchor and rode aboard for truly horrendous conditions of a sort I have yet to experience despite year round cruising in all weather here in the PNW.