What length and Diameter of Rope

[sporty1]

Hi Guys
what length and Diameter of anchor rope do most of you use in offshore applications? I have a 5.2m Aluminium center console any suggestions for type length and diameter needed? I will be in both shallow (less than 30m) and deeper arears.

[Noelm]

I guess you can never have too much, and it can never be too thick, but you will need to compromise on space in the anchor well, and realistic thickness for handling. As a guide, you should allow for 5 times the max depth you will ever expect to anchor in, and then have more if space will allow it.

[kokomo]

silver 12mm is nice on the hands

go smaller and longer if you dont have the room

[welder]

1/2" triple strand , 300' with atleast10' of 1/4" chain MINIMUM

[TimiBoy]

I use 250m of Silver 12 mm, 6 m of 10 mm chain. But I don't anchor much...

Cheers,

Tim

[Jeremy]

As a guide, you should allow for 5 times the max depth you will ever expect to anchor in, and then have more if space will allow it.

C'mon Noel, really, did you read that off the internet.::) Do you actually let out 5 times the depth?:o

Lets get real. Are you going to pull it by hand or use a buoy? If pull by hand then prob 12mm, if using a buoy then 8-10mm. Thinner dia saves alot of space. I would (infact I do) carry 60m, plus a couple of shorter lengths of 10 and 20m in the side pockets, with D-shackles to connect.

I generally use the minimum rope I can to hold bottom, which is maybe 30-50% more then the depth. This makes your anchoring more accurate, and If you get onto a good fish you want to chase, you can throw your float over the side and go, without leaving hundreds of metres of anchor rope floating on the surface.

Of course, if you want to do an overnighter and get some sleep, then let more rope out to make sure you are extra safe.

Also, go with Welders info on the chain.

Jeremy

[Mindi]

Agree Jeremy..I use about 130%-150% of the depth in 50 M offshore and usually get away with that or less...and use 12mm silver rope..only have about 90M I think. Actually silver rope has changed in composition over the years ...I have some quite old 12mm which I like more than the recent stuff.
Sporty1 you want to be using a ring and float to lift it anyway..... so you can go down thinner than 12mm but I wouldnt personally. The more chain the better it works but you need at least 6-8ft to be heavier than the anchor and stop it falling back to the bottom when you take the power off..? so you pull the chain all through the ring and then the chain hangs from the anchor at the surface. I stick with 12mm as if I had to haul it by hand the smaller diameters would be nasty on hands.

[Noelm]

no I dont let out 5 times the depth, but as you mentioned, if you are doing an over nighter, or broken down in windy weather and need to let out more rope, it is just a tad difficult if you do not have it! don't know anyone who uses a 5:1 "scope" but I use 3:1 almost all the time.

[Scott nthQld]

I have about 100m of 10mm silver, and run 5m of 6mm chain for a 4.8m boat. I rarely fish anything deeper than 30m, mostly fish in around 10m of water

[lethal098]

i have 300m of 12mm rope but my anchor well is deep, i would rather have it than be looking for it in the event of a mishap/breakdown. Overnight will generally be 2-3 times the depth. Definately invest in a anchor ball, will make life easier for your Decky anyway. cheers Lee

[Mr__Bean]

I too use 12mm.

Jeeez 10mm is bloody hard on the hands if you have to pull up manually for whatever reason.

- Darren

[Chimo]

12 mm by 100m and 6m plus spare 6m chain plus a couple of hundred of 10mm "spare" as well danforth and a spare reef anchor and spare admiralty anchor etc.

Also a length of 16mm tow line just in case?

I only use 3 x depth and on reef I use less ie enough to hold with light reef anchor and chain.

Like most GOMs on here not into excitement so like boring sort of trips and that includes anchoring. Rather carry a little extra!

Cheers
Chimo

[davez104]

I'll go against the grain, because, well I guess someone has to.

I use 8mm nylon rope, 100M of it. Going by the ratings, it's stronger than 12mm silver, I've never had trouble with it floating, never had any trouble at all. It's easier to handle than 12mm silver too, although not sure how it would go on a manual lift. I use an anchor buoy to lift mine.

Cheers,
Dave.

[tenzing]

150m 10mm silver. 300mm float ball and Ezi lift. I still prefer this to the plain ring as I dont find it hard to put on- I changed the lifter to a 12mm model - as it stops and holds at the chain so the rope is quite slack in the water, I have a long chain and I find it easier than with the chain dragging the rope down if the float gets to the anchor.

[littlemac]

"" go the electric anchor whinch""

cheers

brett

[bigjimg]

250m of 12mm silver and 6m of 8mm short link chain.A 300mm ball will float a 6kg anchor and 6m of chain.I had 8m of chain on and the ball would float suspended below the surface and was hard to judge whether the anchor had risen too the clip.There are many occassions when i don't bother with the float and pull up by hand and 12mm is the go.Offshore Trading at Coopers Plains sell large coils of all types of rope.Jim