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From: David&Joan (no email)
Date: Mon Aug 01 2005 - 22:13:27 EDT
Let me try to answer Mike Sullivan's question using this topic heading as it
is much more descriptive than the previous one.
A snubber is a length of nylon rope that takes the load on the chain rode
off of the windlass and to a bow cleat or sampson post. There are two
theories behind the use of a snubber. The main one that I subscribe to is
that the windlass is not designed to take the full thousand pounds plus load
of an anchor in very high winds. A separate length of nylon is much better
suited to take that load to a strong point such as a bow cleat or sampson
post. The other theory is that nylon will act as a shock absorber and dampen
out some of the surge loads. It would take a rather long length of snubber
nylon to provide much dampening. Another good reason for a snubber is that
the nylon rope working back and forth is a lot quieter than chain.
The snubber that I use is a chain hook sized to match the chain size
attached to one or two nylon ropes with thimbles and an eye splice.
Depending on your bow configuration, use one or two lengths of nylon. On a
former cruising sailboat, it worked well with two nylon ropes of about 15'
length terminated at the two bow cleats so that the snubbers formed a V
bridle on both sides of the bow to the chain. On boats with a sampson post,
one snubber would probably work better. I rigged mine up with plastic hose
to protect from chafing on the bobstay as the boat yawed from side to side.
To rig the snubber, you attach the chain hook (or a special stainless steel
plate sold for this purpose) to the chain and then make the bitter end of
the snubber to the bow cleat or sampson post. Then let out another 5-10' of
chain so that you have the load taken by the nylon and a loop of chain
hanging slack.
In light winds, this will all hang pretty slack. If I am pretty sure that
the wind will stay light, I don't bother with the snubber, but let the
windlass hold the chain. But when the wind builds to 15-20 kts, a snubber
will tighten up and hold the chain out in front of the bow and is much safer
and quieter.
It works, try it.
David
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