Anchor gear - Main anchor

The main anchor gear needed an overhaul. Teria came with a large Danforth, 7m of 8 mm standard link chain and a long run of 10 mm white rope.

The first thing to go was the oversized danforth which wouldn't fit in the anchor locker. It was replaced with a 10 lb (4.5kg) CQR plough copy. This mostly fit into the locker but the shank stuck out by about 1" onto deck, so lashed this to the bow rail with 6mm starter cord.

It was hidden under the chain in the locker, the chain to anchor rope join was a "birdsnest", the rope on the hard eye had been chaffed through and a tangle of strange knotting had rope in direct contact with chain link. This was bad form, it could easily chafe through, part the anchor cable and the boat could drift off to it's demise. Also the 6 mm bow shackle was corroded shut.

So re-rigged the rope to chain join with a hard eye splice. The bowshackle pin's turn tab broke off, so grinder in to cut it off. Replaced with a new 6 mm bowshackle.

I thought the 8 mm chain was a bit of over-kill for our use. I hauled the anchor up on one trip and it was a handful, a long heavy lift. So replaced the original 8 mm chain with 7 m of lighter 6 mm standard link galvanized chain.

The anchor chain to rope join. Hard eye prevents shackle from chafing through rope, shackle pin is wired so it can't undo.

 It had been a long time since i did an eye-splice so a bit out of practice.. First learnt it at sea scouts ages ago, have books on rigging and knots and applied it to my boats in the 1990's.

The new chain had the added benefit of taking up less space (and weight) in the anchor locker when restowed. The anchor now fits completely into the locker!

I'm hoping this set up will suit most situations in our area. I may carry the old 8 mm chain down below and could add it to the 6 mm chain if needed.

Teria's stem head fitting - a small anchor roller,  anchor bitts, jib furler. Stainless gunwale protection plate is at front.