Anchor Chain Hook Poll

[Palarran]

Originally Posted by DotDun

Just got the Mantus Chain Hook, used it a couple of times but no big wind to test it. Was using a Wichard Snap Shackle. It's very beefy, can't imagine it would ever break.

I wish I could use a Wichard snap shackle. We had one and it bent the pin during a blow. It was a real pain pounding the pin out and in the mean time there was a serious amount of stress put on my anchor roller.

That Mantus chain hook looks very good. I hope all the guys using them keep us posted on how well they work.

[svmariane]

We use an eye grab hook.

Haven't had one "slip" off. Took a short chunk of my 3/8 HT chain to the chandlery and tried out different size hooks before selecting a size that fits snug but is still removable. All hooks are not created equal.

We adjust it so the hook is just out of the water in dead calm, with a chain-loop of approx 2.5 ft. Means we've roughly 10 ft of 5/8 3-strand twixt hook and cleat. Chunk of 3" fire hose for chaff protection on the bow roller.

[SVNeko]

Originally Posted by Palarran

It was a real pain pounding the pin out and in the mean time there was a serious amount of stress put on my anchor roller.

You should carry a second one rigged and ready.

[Kettlewell]

I'm not wild about the idea of any chain grabber that could possible jam or bend, or requires you to reach out and release something from a chain under great strain. You want something that will do what you want it to do in the pitch black on a pitching bow.

[delmarrey]

Has anyone even mentioned a pelican hook?

[SVNeko]

Originally Posted by Kettlewell

I'm not wild about the idea of any chain grabber that could possible jam or bend, or requires you to reach out and release something from a chain under great strain. You want something that will do what you want it to do in the pitch black on a pitching bow.

Well, when you find one that does that and doesn't present a risk of dropping off, let us know. I have the Kong shackle and setting the pin is indeed a PITA hanging over the cross-beam, but it is secure and strong. I have a second bridle with a basic hook always ready to go.

[Kettlewell]

Rolling hitch.

[Lagoon4us]

We use these, work very well, good option on a Cat.

[Nicholson58]

This is almost a good as an Anchor Poll.

The method & hardware that might work for one is not necessarily right for all. I think that the closer your vessel gets to a 'ship' the more you will probably use stantard heavy forged load rated grab hooks. My boat is 55,000 disp. and 36 tons on the hook. I carry 220 feet of 7/16 BBB on a 121# Rocna primary and 600 feet of nylon on my secondary. I have a below deck horizpntal windlass Maxwell H-3000. The last thing I want to fool with is a possibly dodgy piece of kit that might bend or break. Some of the hardware shown can wedge to the chain like it was welded & others break. I have used some of the hooks proposed as boom brakes and preventors and opened them up. Your chain should be the weakest link in your ground tackle and everything else needs to exceed that.

[Lagoon4us]

Agree all equipment should be sized for use that's a given, from memory our 'ULTRA' chain grab has a SWL of 16 tonne, our boat cannot generate that load so we sleep well.

[wsmurdoch]

Originally Posted by Andrew Troup

The general use of snubbers on cruising yachts is a fairly recent development

I'm guessing this arises from a combination of some or all of the following: increased aversion to perceived risk and discomfort and noise, the megaphone effect of the www, the general use of light or ultra-light chain, boats with lightly built foredecks, and the fact that typical designers and builders no longer provide sampson posts or towing bitts.

Eric Hiscock describes and recommends the use of a three strand nylon snubber in 'Cruising Under Sail' (1950/1965) on page 181. He uses a rolling hitch which is shown in plate 33E.

Bill

[Lagoon4us]

Originally Posted by wsmurdoch

Eric Hiscock describes and recommends the use of a three strand nylon snubber in 'Cruising Under Sail' (1950/1965) on page 181. He uses a rolling hitch which is shown in plate 33E.

Bill

Certainly and in addition on the Queensland coast here in Australia snubbers go back 40 years that i'm aware of, many were set lightly to bend and release under heavy load to certainly wake those on board with the jolt.

On Cat's i've had one at 18 years ago so not classified 'recent'.

Cheers

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Well, much depends on chain amount and size, perhaps.

Never seen snubbers on fishing trawlers, coastal freighters, nor on sailing ships.b.

I have seen and used snubber anchor bridals on all types of commercial vessels from offshore tugs, rig support vessels to fish packers anchored in roadsteads, as well as Super-yachts.

Most of the time, larger vessels will simply relieve the stress off the windlass with chain stopper. Ship

My own practice if roadstead weather is building on high-windage 500 to 900 ton displacement Super yachts, is to use same type of bridle as I use on SG, but much heavier.

Primary purpose of snubber with bridle is to minimize the dynamic behavior of swinging and yawing in tidal conditions that can actually create a break-away sheer on ground tackle, when chain is nipped on bow and vessel is sheering away at 3-5 knots.
Same reason on similar sized tugs anchored out with a tow behind them.
This link illustrates the forces:
Rode - Dynamic Behavior

[Lagoon4us]

A poll such as this may show a high usage of a particular brand, method or style but at the end of the day all items other than a hitch are subject to availability.

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by Ram

......So this was the plan- anyway we dropped the first anchor rode off and let it clear the boat, then I freed the chain and let it run free and ran back to the helm both engines were running and as luck would have it we pulled forward about 20 feet.
Then one prop got caught in a small mooring line and hung us up and we lost power and steerage as the wind now caught us on the side and within seconds we would be in the rocks , I looked down and we were within 10 feet of the rocks now and I managed to pull the Jib out and it caught the wind with a bang that sounded like a shot gun - we shot out of there like a cannon ball, all the time keeping the wind close to the sail as not to blow it out- I made it – I was very did I say VERY lucky- that mistake cost me a few thousand in chain and anchor and dingy but that was a price I happily paid- the locals said they never seen a storm come up from that direction with that severity in 50 years-

Great recovery Ram….. Murphy definitely had your attention that day.
I have been caught in a Santorini blow as well.
Finding a safe anchorage when ordered to get off the pier by Harbor Master is not easy, as all of them are too deep and open from at least one direction.
Beautiful, but shitty place for a sailor!

Big reminder here for everyone, is to be ready to let everything go without tearing up the foredeck and making sure your weak-link at the bitter end of chain, will part easily as you may not have time to cut or buoy-off ground tackle.

Never thought about Multis anchoring in such shallow water being a problem with keeping chain grabbers on.

But I guess the anchor bridal is needed more as a normal system because of wide beam. However, if on a mono, I felt I needed a bridle snubber because of weather, I would not be in shallow water.