For the years I did without a powered capstan, I used a 35-lb CQR shackled to 12 feet of heavy chain, then 25 feet of half-inch nylon, then 25 feet of lighter chain; the rest was nylon. This is now my reserve anchor system with the rode in the split anchor locker.
It gave me the catenary I was looking for without having to pull up a lot of the chain at the same time.
This suggestion came from the List many years ago, possibly from Jon Ayers, Skylark.
Bill Baxter
Persistence NS30 #507
Penetang, ON
Ah, the great anchor debate! As a Great Lakes cruiser without coral heads to contend with,I value holding, cleaning and light weight on the bow.A long heavy chain gets loaded up with clay/mud and vegetation and takes too long to clean. Like Thor I have found the Bruce original a great anchor. Sets and holds on short scope for our crowded anchorages. A 22lb did us for years with 5/16" BB. I tried a CQR copy (K-35) with little joy. When I installed my windlass I went to 35 ft.of 1/4"HT and 1/2" nylon combined with a nice shiny SS 15Kg Bruce copy. I think a problem with the Lewmar Claw in testing is it’s galvanized dull leading/cutting edge keeping it from biting in properly. My Binnacle SS Bruce sheds mud beautifully and has a sharp edge.It’s probably Chinese SS but in this massive casting I’m not worried and the price is right. This makes a light enough system that. I can shake the rode (and anchor) up and down by hand and shake off most of the mud and weeds, a real advantage in our weedy bays compared to dragging it all up with the windlass
Catenery is all very well but in our shallow short scope cruising area, when the wind gusts and the chain goes bar tight on the surge, the jerk is far stronger than on nylon rode. A reset in our weeds after a drag is problematic if you break out. So for me, less weight on the bow and easier cleaning still with good short scope peformance is a winner. That polished SS looks good too.
Dale Myrfield
Duck Soup NS30#382
Collins Bay ON