Anchor rode length and how to increase

[km1125]

Pics of the windlass could help others give you come clues on what make/model it is.

If there's not a huge amount of current in the area you lost the anchor you should contact some local divers to see if someone can go down and put a line right on the anchor so you can pull it "backwards" and retrieve it and the chain. My current anchor is from one of my diver friends who found it hooked on a pipe while he was out exploring.

[Cliffm]

Qr Bbpost I recently had to dump my anchor and chain on my 2000 396 aft cabin after getting hung up on the river bottom and after an hour or more of trying to get loose. Thoughts on a plow anchor and whether I should replace the chain or a combination? The boat is only on PA rivers, i.e., Ohio, Allegheny and Mon usually in water 15-25' deep. I am also trying to figure out the model of the windless so I can get the right chain. Thoughts??

I was told by some pretty savy boaters (more than one) that 1lb per foot of boat, so you'd most likely need a 40lb anchor.
my maxwell windlass manual says 3/1 scope minimal.
that being said we have 36MY with a 33lb anchor, but it has a Mantus swivel which feels like 5lbs itself, plus we expanded our rode to be 150' chain and 100' 8-plait rode.

You could get away with 150' rode, 25' in chain, 125' in rode (easier to cut if needed) 36lb "plow" style anchor, with a "Mantus" swivel
I like Dark horse marine rode packages as you can get the rode with a 2-link splice at the end to clevis inside your anchor locker.

[tgebler]

Thanks

[Viper]

The design of the anchor also plays a large roll in the weight required for a given size boat. Some designs have better holding power than others in the same conditions and thus can weigh less than other designs.