chain. The chain is connected to 30 feet of 3/8 three strand nylon. The chain and nylon is connected with a SS snap shackle and many times I'll just hook the chain to the dinghy painter and forget about the anchor line. The snap shackle also lets me connect 40 feet of 3/8 bungie cord between the chain and anchor line. That way I can drop the anchor off the beach or dock, get ashore and have the bungie cord retract the dinhhy off the beach or dock. That works really well at keeping your dinghy out from under a dock while allowing you to get out of your dinghy. Tie off the painter and she just sit's outside the disaster zone.