Now that I know I could replace, relatively cheaply, my SL Seatiger 555 chain-only gipsy with a rope/chain gipsy (thanks, Buk!), I've looked into the dimensions, etc. My current chain is 5/16".

However, the specs for the rope/chain gipsy (here: http://www.slspares.co.uk/Seatiger-Parts.htm ) show it as being for 10mm chain (10mm is slightly larger than 3/8"), so presumably I'd have to get new chain. Since 10mm is slightly larger than 3/8" (.39 of an inch), I assume that my existing 5/16" chain wouldn't work with the rope/chain gipsy...but I'll ask slspares just to be sure.

Unfortunately, that diameter of chain is a quite a bit heavier than I'd like to carry, and I have 200 feet of chain --but perhaps I could simply use a somewhat shorter length of the larger (10mm) diameter chain that would be the same weight as the longer length of 5/16" chain I currently have? I'm aware of the role of catenary for anchoring and in chain length, but I'm also aware of the role of chain weight in anchoring...so, I'm not sure what would be the 'best' solution.

In my view, having a rope/chain gipsy is a relatively cheap and good improvement over my existing chain-only gypsy (and much easier for my wife to bring the rode in when it gets to the rope/chain splice!), but I don't want to carry 200 feet of heavy 10mm (3/8"+)chain...5/16" chain weighs about 1 lb. per foot, while 3/8" chain is about 1.5 lbs. per foot...so, 200 feet of 3/8" chain would weigh quite a bit more...on what is already a heavy boat!

Thanks for any thoughts.