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T&T: Anchor kellets

From: Milt Baker (no email)
Date: Fri Apr 18 2008 - 09:47:40 EDT

  • Next message: Allen, Harris: "Re: T&T: ABYC"

    Lotsa ways to skin a cat!

    Something that's worked well for me on two boats, including the present one:
    run a long snubber line from the deck down through a towing eye at the
    waterline, and then back up to the deck. Once we set the anchor on its
    all-chain rode (typically 3-4:1 scope to start) and are satisfied with the
    holding, I attach the chain hook at one end of the subbber to the chain, then
    keep a little tension on the snubber as I pay out more chain until we have
    about 8 to 12 feet of snubber line in the water, at which point I make the
    deck end fast to a cleat. This means the pull of the chain, via the snubber,
    is to the towing eye rather than to the anchor roller six feet above. This
    effectively means more scope for a given amount of anchor chain out and
    seriously reduces seeking at anchor. Although we've never had to dump the
    chain in an emergency, if that becomes necessary we can simply cast off the
    bitter (deck) end of the snubber then allow the balance of the chain to
    freefall. (Doing that means kissing the snubber goodbye, but, hey, that's OK
    in an emergency!)

    To get more stretch I use light three-strand black nylon for the snubber and
    usually have one snubber rigged and a second ready to to rigged, though I've
    use the original for about 125 nights at anchor, once or twice in winds
    gusting over 50 knots, since this boat was delivered to me in Sept. 2005 and
    the snubber shows little wear. My present snubbers are 9/16", with a breaking
    strength of 8,500 lbs., with, according to the West Marine catalog, stretch of
    10% at 15% of breaking strength or 1,275 lbs. Experience shows this is plenty
    strong for my 90,000 lb. boat. The black color means it looks good, no matter
    how dirty the water is.

    This isn't a perfect solution because sometimes, especially in light air when
    there's little tension on the chain and snubber, the chain hook comes loose
    and has to be re-attached. However, in most cases it works great with no
    perceptible chafing on the snubber line where it passes through the polished
    stainless steel towing eye.

    --Milt Baker, Nordhavn 47 Bluewater, Barcelona

    Robert Kassal wrote:
    This is what we do. The Hat 48MY has 7' freeboard at the bow. The lines on
    the
    chain plate are fairly long, probably 15' each. I typically run out an extra
    20' or so of the 3/8" 4G chain over the chain plate and this has the dual
    benefit of keeping the chain plate below the surface in all conditions we
    have
    anchored in as well as keeping the chain on the plate. In all but the most
    crowded anchorages I continue to use a generous scope ratio, 5/1 to 7/1. In
    really snotty conditions I have used 10/1. No problems so far. I should add
    that we are on the east coast where waters are shallow compared to the PNW.
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  • Next message: Allen, Harris: "Re: T&T: ABYC"



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