Anchor swivel maintenance

[Dr. D]

My anchor swivel, a Kong, had worked fine for years. A few weeks ago after anchoring several times in a mud bottom, the swivel developed bad behavior.

The worst was the anchor (a 15 kg Vulcan) would come up twisted backwards and the swivel refused to turn around. I had to grab a boat hook and force the anchor into the correct orientation.

I ended up taking the swivel apart and cleaning out the residual mud. Haven’t tested it yet.

How often does an anchor swivel need to be serviced? Just when it stops swiveling, or sooner?

[JPA Cate]

If you are anchoring in thick mud and shell bottoms, carefully hose the swivel, at the same time you wash down the boat. If you are in a water use restricted area, you can motor slowly, with the swivel submerged in the sea water till the mud comes off (comes off more easily when wet). Or, consider installing a wash-down pump, to hose down all the chain and the swivel before it comes back aboard.

Ann