Thread: Anchor Chain
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08-23-2012, 01:54 PM #1
- Join Date
- Jun 2010
- Location
- Freehold, New Jersey
- Boat
- Sea Ray
- Details
- 2008 310 Sundancer
- Engine(s)
- T-350 Mag,Br3's W/Axius
- Posts
- 1,729
Anchor Chain
While coming back from Atlantic City this weekend Following a few bigger Sea Ray's I noticed I was taking the Seas a little harder on the Bow than they were!! I wondering if I replaced my Anchor Line with all Chain if that would help the Ride. We have 20 feet of Chain and the rest line. Has anyone done that???

Marshall
Previous Boats;
(US Navy) 34' Sea Ark Dauntless PB, 360 Cummings Diesels x 2, M-60's Port & Starboard, M-2 50 cal. Forward and M-19 Aft.
1997 Cobia 197, Yammy 115 ob
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08-23-2012, 02:03 PM #2
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Location
- Southern WV
- Boat
- Sea Ray
- Details
- 2007 310DA
- Engine(s)
- Twin 350Mags, V-Drive
- Posts
- 1,915
Re: Anchor Chain
Have not yet, but considering it mostly because my rode won't feed into the hole without help every time
especially when it gets to the splice.

Summer Daze 3
2007 310 DA, 350 Mags, V-Drives
Tender: 2007 Triumph 150CC
Previous boats: 1999 270 SE, 454, Bravo 3; Bryant 212, 350, Alpha 1; Bryant 160, Yamaha outboard. All bought new off the showroom floor!
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08-23-2012, 02:08 PM #3
- Join Date
- Jul 2009
- Location
- Charlotte, NC- LKN
- Boat
- Sea Ray
- Details
- 2006 280 Sundancer
- Engine(s)
- T-5.0 w/BIIIs, CWC, 5.0 kw Kohler
- Posts
- 384
Re: Anchor Chain
Did you try adjusting your trim tabs to get the bow down?
Jim T.
Charlotte, NC (LKN)
Current Boat: 2006 280 Sundancer w/ 5.0s, BIII's, 5kw Kohler
Prior Boats:
2005 240 SD 350 Mag
2001 Beneteau 393
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08-23-2012, 02:12 PM #4
- Join Date
- Jun 2010
- Location
- Freehold, New Jersey
- Boat
- Sea Ray
- Details
- 2008 310 Sundancer
- Engine(s)
- T-350 Mag,Br3's W/Axius
- Posts
- 1,729
-
08-23-2012, 02:13 PM #5
- Join Date
- Apr 2010
- Location
- Tri Cities, WA
- Boat
- Sea Ray
- Details
- 1995 550 Sedan Bridge
- Engine(s)
- CAT 3406's, 580hp.
- Posts
- 2,911
Re: Anchor Chain
I had about 165' of all-chain on my 330 Sundancer and added an additional 150' of chain to it. (I got it free!!) The chain weighed about 1.7 pounds per foot, so the 150' only added 250 pounds to the bow.
The boat rode better in a choppy sea so that was the big plus. There really were not any negatives. I didn't notice any difference in the time-to-plane before or after adding the chain, and no other differences noted.
1995 550 Sedan Bridge "Beachcomber"
'There is nothing-absolutely nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats"
Proud dues paying Charter Member of the Hole In The Water Club!
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08-23-2012, 02:20 PM #6
- Join Date
- Jun 2010
- Location
- Freehold, New Jersey
- Boat
- Sea Ray
- Details
- 2008 310 Sundancer
- Engine(s)
- T-350 Mag,Br3's W/Axius
- Posts
- 1,729
Re: Anchor Chain
Yup that's what I'm talking about!! Even when trimmed right she has no weight in the Bow!!!

Marshall
Previous Boats;
(US Navy) 34' Sea Ark Dauntless PB, 360 Cummings Diesels x 2, M-60's Port & Starboard, M-2 50 cal. Forward and M-19 Aft.
1997 Cobia 197, Yammy 115 ob
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08-23-2012, 02:21 PM #7
- Join Date
- Feb 2007
- Location
- Portland, OR
- Boat
- Sea Ray
- Details
- 460 Sundancer 2003 Custom Cockpit interior, Cockpit AC/Heat & Thruster. 310 Yachtline Zodiac w/30hp
- Engine(s)
- Cummings 6CTA
- Posts
- 430
Re: Anchor Chain
I had this same problem and it was suggested by IMTRA to soak the rode in fabric softener for 6-8 hours to get the crud-dirt, salt, etc out of the line. Additionally, I was having really tough times getting my chain to rode transition through the windlass until I had it respliced. Now it passes very easily!
'03 460 Sundancer, 6CTAs Cummings, Thruster, Custom Cockpit Interior and Camperback, 10KW Westerbeke, (Carpe Diem IV)
'97 330 Sundancer, 454's w/Bravo III's (Carpe Diem III)-SOLD
'93 290 Sundancer, 454 Bravo II Drive (Carpe Diem II)-SOLD
'90 220 Sundancer, 350 Alpha Drive (Carpe Diem)-SOLD
'89 195 Baja-SOLD
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08-23-2012, 02:54 PM #8
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
- Location
- Newport, RI
- Boat
- Sea Ray
- Details
- 300 Sundancer
- Engine(s)
- 5.0MPI Bravo III
- Posts
- 938
Re: Anchor Chain
Why not add ballast to see if you get the desired effect. Then either go to the required amount of chain (based on how much ballast you had to use get the desired effect) or a permanent ballast solution.
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08-23-2012, 02:55 PM #9
- Join Date
- Oct 2006
- Location
- Oakland, NJ
- Boat
- Sea Ray
- Details
- 1998 330 DA C80 GPS & Radar
- Engine(s)
- 7.4 Mag. Horizons 380hp
- Posts
- 1,027
Re: Anchor Chain
I have replaced my rode about 3 years ago with all chain (250 ft), I notice a huge difference getting on plane and staying on plane using very little tabs. The bow does feel more solid in some chop. I don't even need to use trim tabs to get on plane, although it is slightly faster.
Larry
1998 330 Sundancer "Miss Melina"
2 X 7.4 Mag. Horizons 380hp FWC
Ryamarine C80 GPS & Radar
Home Port: Norwalk Cove Marina, Norwalk CT
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08-23-2012, 03:01 PM #10
- Join Date
- Jun 2010
- Location
- Freehold, New Jersey
- Boat
- Sea Ray
- Details
- 2008 310 Sundancer
- Engine(s)
- T-350 Mag,Br3's W/Axius
- Posts
- 1,729
Re: Anchor Chain
Thanks Larry... any idea what size chain Sea Ray uses!!!!!!

Marshall
Previous Boats;
(US Navy) 34' Sea Ark Dauntless PB, 360 Cummings Diesels x 2, M-60's Port & Starboard, M-2 50 cal. Forward and M-19 Aft.
1997 Cobia 197, Yammy 115 ob



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