[Capt. Debbie]

Yes you should use chain. Three feet is about right for a rowboat on a danfoth anchor.

THIS IS FOR DANFORTH TYPE ANCHOR
With no chain every time the boat would pull would free it (and drag) unless the anchor's shank is flat to the bottom its flukes can not dig in.

The more chain you use the less scope you need. So you can get by with as little as 3:1 instead of 7:1.

Use a shackle at both ends of the chain. Ideally the chain should be 3/4 the length of your boat ( See Seamanship Secrets by Jamieson).

Use a bowline through the shackle as last resort. Or buy a thimble (nylon or metal) and get an old salt in a marina to do an eyesplice for you. That should take him about 5-10 minutes - max.

FOR RIVER ANCHOR
With a river anchor ( WHAT YOU HAVE) the chain just keeps the the last few feet before attachment from being mud impregnated. You could use maybe one foot of light chain or none at all. There are no flukes to dig in and it's made for water that has no current like lakes where the boat will swing all over.

As far as attachment - same thing:
Use a bowline through the shackle as last resort. Or buy a thimble (nylon or metal) and get an old salt in a marina to do an eyesplice for you.
Then shackle the thimble to the anchor or the end of your short (mud magnet) chain.


As far as shackles "safety wire" it instead of wrenching it locked tight. That way you can break the light wire, unscrew the shackle bolt and use the line for something else. Like a long tow line if you ever need lots and lots of line. Wrenching it tight works but good luck undoing it even with a wrench. Without a wrench you are screwed. (No pun intended)

Hope this helps? I crab with a fortress up front and a 15# river anchor off the stern. Locks me on the spot for crab lines.