Dear all,

i m currently renewing the windlass and chain on my boat , Danú.
boat is 17.3 tonnes , 13m , steel.
looking at various information i have read it seems that given the weight and length that 10 mm g40 calibrated chain would be suitable . I am thinking of putting in 80 m chain.

does any one have any advice on whether to go to 12 mm or 10mm ?

Regarding the windlass, I like keeping with the manual anchor idea yet most windlasses available are electric.
There is a company still producing simpson lawrence seatiger 555 windlasses (SLSPARES UK) which seem to have a good reputation.

has anyone seen these in action ?

great to hear your suggestions / opinions on this.

thanks

Peter Owens , Galway , Ireland

Hi Peter,
I am currently writing an article on the choosing of chain, and would be happy to send you a copy off line if you send an email to me at Alchemy128(at)gmail.com.
The gist is to choose chain by strength and not by weight. The argument for weight is it produces catenary. This argument falls apart in near gale conditions (when you need catenary most) when the chain regularly gets 2-blocked (stretched link to link) in most reasonable scopes. Your snubber then becomes crucial in absorbing and averaging loads as the catenary is for all practical purposes non-existent.
I have a similarly sized boat (12.2m and 16+ ton) and am quite content with 5/16 inch G40 from a good manufacturer. I have 80m and will get 100m when I replace it. My chain is 16yo and has been re-galvanized once and has served through thousands of nights at anchor and many gales.
I would suggest 10mm G40 (plenty strong) from a good manufacturer and put your weight and money into a good designed anchor. Mine is a 35kg Spade and I have been using Spades for almost a decade now and think it is the top bower available presently.
We spent a week in Galway this last summer and the whole summer on the west coats of Ireland. Marvelous.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy