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| Anchor Sizing for a Tollycraft 26 Powerboat
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April 29, 2002
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Barry Kershaw sent this question about anchor replacement. We sure get a lot of Tolly 26 questions. For a boat that has been out of production since the mid-1980s, it's remarkable.
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Hi - just came across your site - looks terrific - will look to pick up a copy of your guide soon.
I am in the process of changing ground tackle on our 26' Tolly. Received a 600 Horizon windless for Xmas and figured now is the time to ditch the old Danforth & go with Bruce & new chain/rode.
Cdn Power Squadron recommends .5 kg per ft of boat length & 1 ft chain per foot of boat length + rope rode.
We cruise the Gulf Islands - my thoughts are 13 kg Bruce, 26 ft chain, 200 ft rode. At 5 :1 scope this should allow 25 ft depth at high tide.
I have noticed in your q/a section you mention 3:1 & 4:1 scope, that would give me some leeway.
Do my above thoughts sound correct, or should I shorten the chain & lengthen the rode? You, at one point mention a short chain - 3 ft I think.
Is this too heavy an anchor, would something smaller do, say with increased chain length?
Thank you,
Barry
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Response
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Yes, yes, do get a 2002 Waggoner before you go cruising. It will help you have a better, safer time.
The Bruce sizing chart suggests a 7.5 kg Bruce a 26-foot powerboat, but 7.5 kg is a little small for a boat as high, wide and heavy as a Tolly 26. We ran a 7.5 kg Bruce for a year on our Tolly 26, but it just didn't look right. The next year we put on a 10 kg Bruce, and that was the better choice. Bruce's next size up, 15 kg, would be much too large. I wouldn't do it.
For Inside Passage waters I recommend 300 feet of rode, whether rope or chain. Many of the anchorages are deep. Combined with 14-20-foot tidal ranges, you may not have the option of 25-foot-deep anchorages. Better to carry too much rode than too little.
Our 26 was equipped with a 50-plus year-old variable speed Armstrong windlass, which didn't like to handle chain. Since the Bruce doesn't really need chain to make the anchor bury, we used only 10 feet of 1/4" chain at the end of 300 feet of top quality nylon rope rode. But there would be nothing wrong with 25 feet of chain, especially with an electric windlass. Armstrong products, as you know, may have electric personalities, but are manually powered.
--Bob Hale
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