Anchor chain length Hylas 46

[SeaGlub]

Sounds like you've already made your decision but just to add to the conversation, SeaGlub has 300' of 3/8". In Mexico I rarely anchored in over 30' and would use 150'. In French Polynesia I found myself using as little as 35-40' of chain in 10' of water but then finding anchorages now in Fiji where it's common to be in 50-60' of water and I'm using 200-225' (less scope needed with that much heavy chain laid out). I have occasionally, during squalls, put out as much as 250'. So ya I've never used more than 250' but I don't mind having the extra 50' in storage, the weight of the extra 50' isn't changing how I'm sailing.

[Dealatis]

We have 300 feet BBB chain and 33kg Rocna on H49 on the bow.   45 lb cqr up there too with 25 feet chain and 200 feet nylon 3/4

[Seven Iron]

For what it's worth, I just had the same dilemma on my Hylas 46.  I only had 145 feet of 3/8" BBB chain with a 44 lb Rocna.  I talked with Bob Pingel a bit and he noted that John Kretschmer switched to 5/16" G4 for his Kaufman 47.  And it's a heavier boat than the Hylas 46.  So, I figured if that was good enough for John and all his passages, it was good enough for me.  I decided on 300 feet of 5/16" G4 and switched to a 55 lb Rocna.  300 feet gives you a 10:1 ratio in 25 feet of water (assuming 5 feet of freeboard).  The selling factor in going with 5/16" was weight.  300 feet of 3/8" is 175 lbs heavier than 300 feet of 5/16".  That's a significant weight reduction in the bow.  The 5/16" G4 also has a higher working load limit than 3/8" BBB.  So, compared to what I had before, I was getting a higher working strength as well.  Of course, you'd need to purchase a new chainwheel, but it's easy to switch out.

Chris
s/v Seven Iron

[bhalderman]

Hi Jeff,

We also cary 250 ft of G4 3/8 chain with a Rocna 33 kg and our holding has been excellent in all seabeds and conditions we have encountered. I don

[bhalderman]

Hi Jeff,
We also carry 250

[Gato Gordo]

Thank you all.
After your recommendations I will be adding 300 feet of new chain.

Safe sailing

Jeff Carr

[Ambition]

Jeff,
On board Ambition we carry 275 feet of G4 3/8" on our primary anchor. We find ourselves anchoring in 40 to 50 feet of water depths occasionally in the Caribbean and we sleep well knowing that we are not going anywhere. The Rocna 33kg is our primary anchor. We have never used the secondary anchor.

Cheers
Merrill
S/V Ambition
H46 #40

[sv Believe]

I recently replaced the chain on our Hylas49. I decreased the length from 300 feet to 250 feet.
The 49 has a very sloped bow which limits space where the chain drops.
We anchor a lot. In over 40,000nm and 42 countries we have never needed 250 feet.
We do carry two anchors but rely almost exclusively on our 73lb Roxana.

[joel]

Jeff,

How deep is the water where you are anchoring?  I'd be concerned about adding that much weight in the bow.

I rarely anchor in more than 25 feet of water, so I carry 100 feet of 3/8 G4 chain and 150 feet of rode with a 73 pound Vulcan on my 49.  If I let out all the chain I can tie off the rode, so I don't need a chain hook and snubber (but I carry them).

On a 46 I would also want 3/8 G4, but if you change chain you will need to change the gypsy.  I changed the 5/16 BBB that was totally inadequate.  Luckily, Maxwell had a gypsy in stock.

When I changed the chain on my 44 at the dock I got a short length of 2 inch PVC and ran the chain through it so the deck and toe rail did not get dinged up by the chain.

Joel
Rule One
49 #5
Atlantis 44 #66 (for sale)

[Gato Gordo]

Looking for input on the amount of chain that is recommended for a Hylas 46.
After inspecting our chain we found it to be only 175 feet and needs replacement.

Any recommendations on type of chain and length would be appreciated.
I am thinking 300 to 400 feet.

Thanks,
Jeff Carr
Gato Gordo
Hylas 46 #25
1999