Anchor Question

[Mervnjudy]

Hello out there! We are full-time live-aboard cruising the Med and beyond in our Bavaria 46. We have a 33kg Rocna anchor and 58meters of 10ml chain attached to 42meters warp. Where-as we have had no problem so far, we were wondering what experiences others have had with anchoring set-ups. We thought maybe the chain should be longer?!

[Neil]

Check out the following link with lots of sound advice on anchoring:

http://coxengineering.sharepoint.com/Pages/Anchoring.aspx

[Brian]

Last year I replaced my chain with one of 85m for my 44. I have found that in some harbours in the Aegean the depth was 20m just a boat length out from shore. Anchoring in that situation can be a bit hit or miss with only 58m.

[patprice]

My B42 came with 50 metres of chain. Too often we were caught short going stern to a harbour wall. Added 30 metres and that solved the issue.
But now we have to topple the chain pile in the anchor well with a stick when retrieving. Not doing this gives a nasty chain jam at the winch. This year we will try and set up a method of forcing the chain to spread evenly into the well and not climb up the aft wall.

[Craig]

As much chain as your locker allows.

The windlasses on most Bavarias do not handle mixed chain/nylon rode and you never know how much will be on the bottom so I fitted all chain, 100 metres, and have had to use almost all of it on occasion. Kioni on Ithaca is often 20m + depths and during 75kn storm in Pula, Croatia in 2010. Also, in the tropics with shallower water, chain works better if you accidentally  snag coral

We have a 2009 Bav 38 and its locker copes well with 100m of 8mm chain, even allowing for the cut down plastic milk crate we placed in the bottom of the anchor well to keep the chain out of the water that sits there.

Craig
"Shirley Valentine"
Gold Coast
Australia

[patprice]

Craig...good move re keeping the chain dry above the well bottom. Very good for a winter layup in the Med.