After a few years of fighting with 3-strand nylon rode, I switched to a 5/8" 8-plait rode and it’s been much better. The problem with the 3-strand was that it would form hockles and bind up in the gypsy, especially when it got to the first chain link. 8-plait does not hockle or kink, and has a smaller, more square profile, which tends to work better with gypsies. As an added bonus, 8-plait is much less stiff, so it flakes itself nicely and takes up a lot less space in the chain locker. It’s well worth the additional $0.20/ft versus 3-strand.
There is a small strength difference between 5/8" 3-strand and 5/8" 8-plait, but I don’t think it really makes a difference. I’d consider a tensile strength of 11,000 pounds more than enough! Here’s hoping I never need anything close to that.
Thank you guys for all the info. I had planned to go all chain, then I looked at the price of chain…gulp!
So now I will revert to chain and rope. I already have about 100 feet of 5/16 chain in good condition - 75 foot aboard the boat and 25 in the garage. So I will be looking to lengthen the rode with rope and I really like the Plait idea, had not thought of that.
One, I hope, final question. Do you know if there a way to join sections of chain which will not jam the windlass? Currently I have one “quick link” connector in the chain and, if I extend it to 100 ft, I will have two. What is the best way to do this when one has a windlass installed?
If you install an electric windlass buy a two channel remote control as used in truck winches it wires into the control unit where you would wire a foot switch ,you will need to pick up a neutral .mine works great from anywhere in the boat and far cheaper than the lewmar one