Anchor Warps

Anchor Warps can be subdivided into three main types by application: Main or Bower, Secondary and Kedge.

The main anchor rode system may be all chain or a chain/rope combination, but a long length of suitable anchoring rope with a short piece of chain for the anchor end is much more convenient to store and deploy for additional warps not stowed forward in the chain locker.

The secondary anchor rode should be comparable in strength to the bower if it is considered a genuine cruising backup.

Kedge covers various uses, including lunching, kedging, club hauling and anything involving deployment via the dinghy. Kedge warps may be one or two sizes down in diameter from your main warp.

Similar Anchoring Rope properties are required for Anchor Snubbers, Mooring Strops, Mooring Bridles, Towing Warps, Para Anchor and Yacht Drogue Bridles and Warps.

The main requirements for all these applications are good strength without being oversized, making them difficult to handle and good shock absorption properties.

Nylon is generally popular because it is stronger and has more elongation (elasticity, stretch) than polyester.

Nylon has approximately 20% stretch under load, whereas polyester has 15%. However, polyester has excellent all-round properties which may hold sway. You can use additional snubbing methods when needed.

The main decision is between a 3 Strand twisted construction or an Eight Strand (OctoPlait) construction such as Anchorplait.

The quality of the splicing is critical to the integrity of the rode.

The next decision to make is whether you want the warp and chain as a continuous spliced entity or as two separate connectable parts, see below:

1. Splice a heart-shaped thimble (nylon, galvanised or stainless steel) into the anchor end of the warp and connect to a short chain length with a suitably rated shackle.
2. Splice the rope directly onto the chain – For these options, go to Anchor Warps Spliced to Chain

The custom build design of our rope products allows you to select the appropriate splice for the anchor end and a suitable finish for the bitter end if required. You can also add anti-chafe options.

Jimmy Green Marine offer a choice of four different LIROS ropes for Anchor Warps.

Selection Process for your Main Anchor Warp:

1. Select the appropriate sizing for your yacht:

   1. Find the column in the table below that best represents your Boat Length Overall.
   2. Compare your displacement with the tonnage listed.
   3. If the displacement is greater than displayed in your column in the table, or your yacht is a multihull, consider moving across to the next column to increase the diameter.
   4. Consider the worst-case scenario for your anticipated Anchoring - this will dictate whether you go for the minimum required or the belt and braces approach

   Benchmark Guide for determining the size of your Main Anchor Rode

   Yacht Length Overall	< 6 metres	6-8 metres	8-10 metres	10-12 metres	12-14 metres	14-16 metres	16-18 metres	18-20 metres
   Approximate length in feet	<20 feet	20-26 feet	26-33 feet	33-40 feet	40-46 feet	46-53 feet	53-60 feet	60-66 feet
   Displacement in tonnes	1 tonne	2.5 tones	5 tonnes	9 tonnes	13 tonnes	16 tonnes	20 tonnes	25 tonnes
   Chain Size	6mm	7/8mm	8mm	8/10mm	10mm	10mm	10/12mm	12mm
   Warp Diameter	10mm	12mm	14mm	14/16mm	16mm	18mm	20mm	24mm

2. Select the Anchor Rope (sub-category) that best suits your requirements.

   Select from these four main rope options for all the applications mentioned on this page:

   LIROS Anchorplait® White Nylon Article 01058JG - 100% Nylon (Polyamide) - Facts, Features and Plus Factors

   Anchorplait® is a Jimmy Green Marine UK Registered Trademark.

   Anchorplait® is manufactured exclusively by LIROS Ropes for Jimmy Green Marine.

   Anchorplait® features Easy Splice Markers designed by the Jimmy Green Rigging Team.

   The eight-strand construction (two pairs left hand, two pairs right hand) delivers a balanced performance with no twist under tension.

   In fact, Anchorplait falls and flakes like a chain.

   Anchorplait is the rope that will not cockle - the interlocking opposing pairs resist rotation.

   Anchorplait is the optimum anchor rope because it is strong, stretchy, easy to manage in long lengths, and spliceable to chain

   LIROS Anchorplait Facts, Features and Plus Factors:

   • LIROS manufacturing excellence and consistency
   • 100% Nylon (Polyamide)
   • UV stabilised
   • Square braid construction
   • Non-kinking
   • Balanced braiding
   • The eight-strand construction (two pairs left hand, two pairs right hand) ensures a balanced performance and no twist under tension
   • Zero possibility of cockling - the interlocking opposing pairs resist rotation
   • Falls and flakes like a chain
   • Dependable, robust strength
   • Reliable durability
   • Excellent weathering and wear resistance
   • Remains flexible for the duration of its working life
   • Superb supple handling, manageable in long lengths
   • Supreme Shock Absorbing Elongation, >20% working load stretch
   • Compatible with modern windlass gypsys N.B. check the manufacturer recommendation
   • Spliceable to chain - very strong 1-link splice to chain compatible with modern rope/chain gypsys
   • Alternative flexible 11-link splice to chain option
   • Available from 10mm up to 20mm diameter

   LIROS Anchorplait and Octoplait Nylon Break Load in daN:

   10mm 2400daN - 12mm 3300daN - 14mm 4400daN - 16mm 5600daN - 18mm 7000daN - 20mm 8140 daN - 24mm 11800daN

   LIROS specify their manufacturer minimum break loads in Dekanewtons (DaN)

   Kg force is a more recognisable illustration of strength, so you can convert the LIROS DaN values as follows:

   1 Dekanewton = approximately 1.02 kg force

   Therefore, the strength for any given diameter will be higher in kg than in daN, e.g. 11800daN = approximately 12036kg

   Plain white LIROS Octoplait Nylon article 01058 with only LIROS tracer yarns is also available.

   LIROS 3 Strand Nylon Article 00110 - 100% Nylon (Polyamide)

   • Less expensive than the 8-Strand Anchorplait/Octoplait version
   • LIROS manufacturing excellence and consistency
   • LIROS apply spiral heat setting technology to the twist tension to ensure the long-term integrity of the three strands
   • The LIROS Design Team meticulously adjust the twist tension during manufacture to offset the stiffening effect of nylon when the fibres inevitably become saturated in water and shrink when drying out
   • 100% UV stabilised Nylon (Polyamide) manufactured to DIN EN ISO1140
   • Excellent shock absorption, >20% working load stretch 
   • Excellent weathering
   • Outstanding chafe and wear resistance
   • Splice-able - very strong 1-link splice to chain
   • 100% compatible with all rope/chain combination gypsys
   • Recommended as the only compatible rope construction by some windlass manufacturers
   • Available from 6mm up to 24mm diameter
   • Three strand Nylon offers the same UV stability and excellent wear abrasion resistance as eight strand construction

   Overall, three strand nylon is an excellent anchor warp that will run smoothly over a rope/chain gypsy.

   LIROS Break Load: 10mm 2400kg ~ 12mm 3300kg ~ 14mm 4400kg ~ 16mm 5600kg ~ 18mm 7000kg ~ 20mm 8140kg ~ 24mm 11800kg 

   LIROS Octoplait Polyester Article 01049

   • LIROS manufacturing excellence and consistency
   • 100% Polyester
   • Excellent shock absorption, >15% working load stretch
   • Superlative weathering and UV resistance
   • Excellent wear resistance
   • The 8-strand construction (two pairs left hand, two pairs right hand) ensures a balanced performance and no twist under tension
   • Zero possibility of cockling
   • Superb handling, manageable in long lengths
   • It falls and flakes like a chain
   • Remains flexible and supple for the duration of its working life
   • Splice-able - very strong 1-link splice to chain or flexible 11-link splice to chain
   • Available from 10mm up to 24mm diameter

   LIROS Break Load: 10mm 2000kg ~ 12mm 2400kg ~ 14mm 3800kg ~ 16mm 4700kg ~ 18mm 5800kg - 20mm 7600kg ~ 24mm 11600kg

   LIROS 3 Strand Polyester Article 00111/01110

   • Less expensive than the 8-Strand Anchorplait/Octoplait version
   • LIROS manufacturing excellence and consistency
   • LIROS apply spiral heat setting technology to the twist tension to ensure the long-term integrity of the three strands
   • 100% Polyester
   • Manufactured to DIN EN ISO1141
   • Excellent shock absorption, >15% working load stretch 
   • Superlative weathering and UV resistance
   • Excellent wear resistance
   • Excellent handling
   • Remains flexible and supple for the duration of its working life
   • Splice-able - very strong 1-link splice to chain
   • Recommended as the only compatible rope construction by some windlass manufacturers
   • Available from 6mm up to 24mm diameter

   Overall, a more supple but slightly less stretchy alternative to 3 Strand Nylon that will run smoothly over a rope/chain gypsy.

   LIROS Break Load: 10mm 2000kg ~ 12mm 2600kg ~ 14mm 3600kg ~ 16mm 5000kg ~ 18mm 6000kg ~ 20mm 7000kg ~ 24mm 10500kg 

3. Select the combination (product) you prefer

4. Get an instant quote - Build your rode by selecting the length of rope, the type of splice required for the end that is going to connect to the chain, and the finish for the bitter end.