I use 40-feet of 5/16 HT Acco spliced to 5/8" 3-strand and try to anchor in shallow areas, less than 20' deep, so we usually have only a small amount of rope out. Next time the rope needs refresh I'll go with plaited though... the stiffness of 3-strand sometimes causes a jam-up at the windlass that prevents it from falling freely into the locker. A little tug from below allows it all to move again as it should. (So far this has always been before the anchor broke out, so there's time to go forward and clear it, but if it happened in a deep anchorage after breaking free it might cause some tense moments.)