How to Tie a Rope to an Anchor Chain

Tying a rope to an anchor chain is not a permanent solution--like turning an eye splice around a thimble baled around the anchor ring. It may, however, be necessary in a pinch if the anchor line has suffered rot, abrasion from embedded sand or grit, or has strand-opening kinks that were not removed before stowage. Any knot that does not readily capsize will demonstrate 80 percent of the strength of a single length of line or rope that has an eye splice turned around a thimble.

Instructions

    • 1

      Make a loop in the line, as if to start tying a bowline.

    • 2

      Pass the end of the rope through the link in the anchor chain farthest from the anchor ring. Use the largest rope that will pass through the link without binding on the line.

    • 3

      Finish tying the bowline (see illustration). The bowline illustrated is a simple bowline, although a double-loop French bowline will also work. (A French bowline will require a longer length of line and may give a false sense of security; a French bowline's two loops are rarely the same length--meaning an extra bend contributes to the degeneration of the knot's holding power without adding any holding power to the knot.)

    • 4

      Tie the "bitter end" of the line to the bowline's loop. Use a figure-8 knot, to prevent the bowline from loosening when the bowline is not under a strain. Slide the figure-8 knot along the loop until it reaches the top of the bowline, then pull it tight.