Anchor Bridle

[S/V Mother Ocean]

How long & how thick should an anchor bridle be? What do you use to attach it to the anchore rode/chain (I have both)?

Thanks
Dan

[Cheechako]

I always just used a forged chain hook they dont fall off very easy, and wont come off under stress. I used a 3/4" bridle on my Lagoon 42, but realistically, I think you want the bridle to absorb some shock and stretch a little. Let's face it, the anchor is going to pull out long before the bridle breaks. So on your 37 maybe 1/2 or 5/8. Chafe is a factor. How do you like your 37? It's alot like my 42 was I believe. I loved mine.

[S/V Mother Ocean]

I like it, we looked at a 42, but it wasnt worth the extra 40 grand they wanted for it. The bridge deck was set up different, but its a trade off I can live with.

[Cheechako]

I agree, if doing it again, the 37 would be plenty, almost the same boat really. I transferred my gear and liveaboard amenities from a 47 mono that was down 5" on the water line to the 42 cat and the cat only went down maybe 1.5" ! On a 5 hour close reach/beat between anchorages we left with our friends who had a Perry designed aluminum 48 and they barely beat us. I kept wanting to head up as I was tracking them,but once I figured out that 7 knots cracked off 15 degrees was better than 5 knots pinched up we did great! Use a big anchor though, a lot of windage with the cat.. The other thing I loved was the built in davits, pulled our 10ft rib with 15hp OB up in 5 minutes and we were gone. Also loved the completely open engine rooms, hell you could sun bathe in there! Those TPI built Lagoons are great boats.