The purpose of a boat anchor cannot be over emphasized. The anchor is such an important part of the boat that its absence could be the difference between a boat continuing to work effectively and a boat that gets damaged.
For a boat to remain steady on the body of water, it needs to be very strong. The anchor helps to control the boat during bad weather. Imagine what would happen to a boat with a weak anchor. That’s a disaster waiting to happen.
With that in mind, it is obviously important to have a strong boat anchor. To get the right anchor, there are certain things that need to be considered.
There is something called boat anchor rope. The rope is the line ot the chain that connects the anchor to your boat.
What Anchor Rope Thickness Is Needed?
The common advice when determining the anchor rope thickness is 1/8" of rope diameter for every 9 feet of boat length. That means if you have a 28-footer boat, then you should purchase a ½ rope.
What Anchor Rope Length Is Needed?
The recommendation for the length of a rope anchor is it should be at least seven to ten times the depth of the water where you are setting anchor.
- Formula by Depth
The simple formula to calculate the rope anchor by depth is: The cable length of should be 3 times of the water depth plus 90 meters in normal condition. It should be 6 shackles under normal circumstance for a depth of 25 meters. In rough weather condition, the cable length should be 4 times the water depth plus 150 meters.
- Formula by Length
The simple formula by length is: Approximately 1' of chain for every 1' of boat. So a 30' boat would want 30' of chain.
The Different Types of Anchor Rope Material
The anchor rope material comes in two major types. One is the polypropylene and the other is the nylon material.
- Polypropylene
Ropes made of polypropylene are popular because of various factors which includes strength, versatility, cost and color. The material is synthetic and they
are resistant to mildew. They do not also rot in water and this quality makes them preferable to be used on, in and around water.
It is no wonder that they are widely used to make anchor rope. It is the most common material found in ropes used in the marine field.
- Nylon
Ropes made of nylon also have the attributes common to nylon. They are strong, heavy in weight, resistant to salt water and chemicals. They are also stretchy and resistant to abrasion.
Comparing both nylon and polypropylene rope anchors, the latter is less expensive compared to the former. It however deteriorates quickly from ultraviolet rays. The nylon rope is awesome but it loses its strength when some of its strength when it is wet.
Extreme Max Anchor Rope
Extreme Max Anchor Rope is a special product which is designed to provide the very best protection for boats and any other craft that moves on water. They also have high durability and can perform effectively in harsh conditions. The anchor rope have optimal strength and guarantees optimal boat stability.
Get the Effective Anchor Rope for Your Boat
To get the best anchor rope for your boat, you should consider the type of boat you have and also consider the depths of the water you want to use your boat on and so on. You also need to consider your budget and the type of material you want for your anchor, putting in mind the different materials that they are made of.
Dock Cleats: The Ultimate Guide to Keep Your Boat Secure and Close at Hand
Dock cleats are ropes that are tied to the boat deck and the purpose is to secure the boat by wrapping a line around the cleat several times.
The most effective cleat are the ones that are durable, weather and rust-resistant. They can be made of either nylon or plastic.
Which Dock Cleats Are Best For Your Particular Dock Situation?
There are many different types of dock cleats that can be effective for your boat no matter the dock situation.
Some of them include:
- MarineNow Heavy Duty Oval Scandinavian Style Boat Cleat.
- Simplified Living Rough Cast Galvanized Iron Dock Cleats.
- Amarine Made Heavy Duty Cross Bollard Boat Dock Cleat.
- Amarine Made Pull up Flush Boat Cleat.
- Thorn Marine Boat DockFolding Cleat.
Dock Cleat Materials
The three common dock cleat materials include: stainless steel, nylon and aluminum. The stainless steel material are reliable and then won’t rust even though they are expensive.
The nylon material is not as expensive compared to the stainless steel. The aluminum is as expensive as the stainless steel but they are also reliable.
Styles of Dock Cleats
There are many different styles of cock cleats:
- Standard Style Dock Cleat: As the name implies, it is very common as it is used on many boat docks.
- Pull-Up Dock Cleats: This type of cleat is very strong and clean but it is not cheap.
- Flip-Up Dock Cleats: These types are more affordable and also popular.
- Solar Dock Cleats: They are simple and can be compared to the standard style dick cleat. You also have the option of attaching bulbs to it.
- Zig Zag Dock Cleats: These type of cleats do not require a knot and they are useful for temporary stops only.
- Clam Dock Cleats: Similar to Zig Zag dog cleats, they are meant for small boats that are stopping for a quick jaunt.
How to Tie Down to Dock Cleats
Hold the stern side to side standing here on the starboard side of the boat. The two lines coming off the starboard side of the boat these are what are called your spring lines; the purpose of those is to keep your boat from either moving aft or forward.
The last two lines are the bow lines. Like the stern the purpose of these are to keep the bow from moving port to starboard.
Go around the forward portion of the cleat, creating tension in the line, then go all the way around up and over here and then back up to the forward part of the cleat. Create a loop. You will have a lock. Pull it tight.
