Reef anchor - how much chain?

[MattInOz]

Hey guys

While I was up north I ended up having to cut off my expensive manson anchor (which also means replacing the double braided rope & chain since the old rope no longer has a thimble and apparently you can't resplice double braided rope once it's been wet & taut), so I've decided that to prevent a repeat of this I'll invest in a reef anchor. It's less likely to get permanantly snagged, and I'm less concerned about chopping off a $20 anchor than a $300 one. I'm gonna use the old anchor rope with it and just tie it onto the chain with an achor bend knot... but that begs the question of how much chain do I need?

I know the "standard" answer to that question is "the same as the length of the boat", and the "extreme" answer is "as much as you can store", but that assumes a "standard" anchor and I keep seeing posts in various places that say when using a reef anchor on reef or rocks you should reduce or even omit the chain altogether as the chain is often the bit that snags or damages the reef.

So what's the concensus? Same as the boat (abt 4.5m)? A bit less (say 3m)? Use chain but put it in a chain sock? None at all? What say you all?

Matt

[Junky]

I have a 6m plate boat that is heavy. 

I use 10m of 8mm gal chain. 

Always use reef anchors and never had to cut one off. 

It will even hold in that silty mud in the Brisbane River. 

Occasionally it will not hold, but only in really strong, full moon type currents. 

Reset and it is normally all okay. 

 

 

[ellicat]

3 metres of 8mm will be sufficient.

I run that on a 4.7m ally runabout with a 4kg sand anchor or reef anchor. Never had any problems with the reef anchor pulling or the chain getting stuck. I wouldn't go rope to anchor, as rope has some buoyancy, so your anchor may not set properly. Also there is the risk of the rope wearing through on reef.

Anchor socks are great, but the drawback is they collect and hold sediment.

[Huxstang]

Consider a Mooloolaba Pick anchor https://www.whitworths.com.au/mooloolaba-pick-anchor

Thats what all the boats have on the swains that I have been on.  

Shackle to the top then lay chain down the shaft and heavy zip ties to what you would normally attach to.  If its stuck you just pull back over the top and it snaps the zip ties and you then pull the anchor up from the head.

Mate bought a very expensive version of one (cannot remember the name) but it uses a sheer bolt to hold the fins in place and all you do it drive over the top and it sheers the pin and the fins collapse.  A guy up in Mackay makes them.  Very neat.

[mangajack]

3 hours ago, Huxstang said:

Consider a Mooloolaba Pick anchor https://www.whitworths.com.au/mooloolaba-pick-anchor

Thats what all the boats have on the swains that I have been on.  

Shackle to the top then lay chain down the shaft and heavy zip ties to what you would normally attach to.  If its stuck you just pull back over the top and it snaps the zip ties and you then pull the anchor up from the head.

Mate bought a very expensive version of one (cannot remember the name) but it uses a sheer bolt to hold the fins in place and all you do it drive over the top and it sheers the pin and the fins collapse.  A guy up in Mackay makes them.  Very neat.

Kyzanka in Mackay. Way over priced.

[mangajack]

I have never had an issue with 1.5m of chain fr my reef anchor....or sand anchor.

I think 2.5m of 8mm chain will be all you need in a 4.5m.

Dyneema / spectra is not a good option for anchor rope...it has next to no stretch and often will un-nest an anchor with surges coming down the rope. Use silver rope, it is a good stretch rope that helps keep an anchor holding.....plus it is enormously cheaper.

If using a cheap reef anchor you can shorten the spikes to about 6 inches long and bend them quickly back towards the eye....not long slow bends. they will hold better and release better when you need them to. Long slow bends are far less effective.

[MattInOz]

17 minutes ago, mangajack said:

Dyneema / spectra is not a good option for anchor rope...it has next to no stretch and often will un-nest an anchor with surges coming down the rope. Use silver rope, it is a good stretch rope that helps keep an anchor holding.....plus it is enormously cheaper.

I don't really have an option for the main anchor as it's on a winch, and the thicker silver rope means a much shorter anchor rode. I've got a coil of silver rope I was planning on putting on a fluke anchor to use a s stern achor when I'm anchoring off a beach or as a second anchor in case a storm blows up... no reason I couldn't swap it out and use it on the reef anchor too, just put on whichever anchor I'm using on the day.

It also has the advantage that if you do need to cut it you can always resplice a new thmble into it.

[MattInOz]

5 hours ago, Huxstang said:

Consider a Mooloolaba Pick anchor https://www.whitworths.com.au/mooloolaba-pick-anchor

Thats what all the boats have on the swains that I have been on.  

Shackle to the top then lay chain down the shaft and heavy zip ties to what you would normally attach to.  If its stuck you just pull back over the top and it snaps the zip ties and you then pull the anchor up from the head.

Mate bought a very expensive version of one (cannot remember the name) but it uses a sheer bolt to hold the fins in place and all you do it drive over the top and it sheers the pin and the fins collapse.  A guy up in Mackay makes them.  Very neat.

I did look at them but the price vs a reef anchor put me off a bit, I'm already spending about $270 replacing the Manson, and the reef anchor really won't see much use, I almopst always anchor in sand or mud.

Why am I not using a fluke anchor? I used to and it was ok, but it doesn't self launch and having to get out the front and shove it sort of takes away at least some of the fun of a winch.

Re: the zip ties down the shaft thing... that works right up until the tide/wind shift your boat around and the anchor tries to reset and the chain tears the zip ties, then your rode's pulling on the head of the anchor. Probably not a huge issue on a reef anchor since you won't be relying on it overnight or unattended, but still. Thinking I'll just get a 20m line and a float to attach to the head of the anchor in case I need to pull it loose.

The sliding shackle in a slot thing you see on some anchors seems a bit problematic too to me. It's fine if you're in a nice level sandy bottom but if you're anchor's sitting on a bottom that means the shaft's on an upsward angle the shackle's not going to slide down the anchor as you motor forward. It could also end up pulling out the anchor if your boat shifts but at least then the anchor would turn around and reseat itself.

[Neil Stratford]

I presume you’re not sleeping in your boat whilst reef  fishing ? If sleeping I prefer to use a plough of some sort and drop it on a sandy patch and set the anchor alarm. 

If just shallow reef fishing , I suggest just  using a  lead filled 5 pronged reef pick with about 3 m of  6 or 8mm chain  with some 10 mm silver rope and pull it up with a ball when your on reef . ( The 10mm rope is softer to use  on your hands than 8mm) This can be all stowed in a fish bin and taken out your boat when your not planning on anchoring on rock or reef. 

Keep your expensive Manson anchors for sand and mud for which they are designed .

Have a look at a Sarca  , they’re cheaper than the Mansons and have a slide shackle set up. They are bigger and may or may not suit your setup.

 

Regards

Neil