If you want to estimate exactly how much a boat will move backward when the anchor rode is all chain, consider the following case. You are anchored on a calm day in 10' of water. The bow is 5' above the water. Being a traditionalist you use a 7:1 anchor rode, not forgetting to add in the height of the bow. So you have a total of 105' of chain. Fifteen feet of chain drops down directly from the bow and the remaining 90' lies on the bottom directly to the anchor. The wind builds up to near gale force. The chain is stretched bar tight. Because of the angle made by the chain to the bottom, the boat moves back about 24 feet. Larry - I think you meant it moves back 14 feet (essentially the length of the chain from bow chock to bottom if the boat is directly over the end of the 90' on the bottom)? Otherwise, you are dead on. I prefer chain because it is easy when one-handing and I have a top-shelf remote controlled Ideal windlass with a two sizes up Bruce. Works great up to 45 mph. So far... Otherwise, I consider good nylon rode with 10' of chain for abrasion protection (mostly emotional - no rocks here except sand abrasion) to be superior in storm+ conditions. That's always ready on my second anchor (a big Danforth Hi Tensile) and for simultaneous use in a hurricane if I ever have to do so (we are overdue!). Jim