Sizing your anchor line correctly can mean the difference between a pleasant night and a terrifying nighttime drill.
Anchor rode is traditionally made of nylon line coupled to chain at the end. The chain provides weight and the line provides elasticity, which helps bear the load on the boat in rough waters. So what kind of line do you need? And how large? And how much?
Don Casey, author of This Old Boat, recommends 1/8 inch of line diameter for every 9 feet of boat length. For example, a 40-foot boat would use 5/8-inch line. Writing on the BoatUS site, Casey recommends using three-strand nylon line, which is cheaper and offers more elasticity, or braided nylon line, which is more flexible.
How much line do you need to carry to avoid getting to the end of your rope before you hit bottom? Casey's suggestion: "Multiply the deepest water you expect to anchor in by eight."
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