Our bridle is about 60 feet...

[InsuredApple]

We've got a Fountaine Pajot Eleuthera 60 (very happy with it).

One thing that I'm scratching my head about is the bridle -- it's very long. We have 200 feet of chain. The bridle eats up about 60 feet.

I can't figure out if the bridle needs to be that long for load distribution, or if the bridle is that long to make attaching the bridle easier (from the chain locker almost mid-ship).

I've thought about running a line from the chain locker to the roller on the bow, then back over the catwalk to the winches. Then, once our anchor chain is out...

(1) attach the line to the chain,
(2) let it out some,
(3) use that line to pull up the chain to the bow, and
(4) attach a shorter bridle from the bow

Thoughts on the matter?

[Dsanduril]

One train of thought on bridles/snubbers is that they absorb shock loads by stretching (something the chain can't do). The longer the bridle the more stretch you can get out of it. Our own bridle legs are about 30' and we generally find that adequate.

What you mention is one way of having a longer bridle/snubber - running it aft - without having it all out in front of the boat. You have to be aware of chafe issues that may arise, but it allows you to put something like 40' of your bridle up on deck.

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by InsuredApple

We've got a Fountaine Pajot Eleuthera 60 (very happy with it).

One thing that I'm scratching my head about is the bridle -- it's very long. We have 200 feet of chain. The bridle eats up about 60 feet....

...

Please clarify: Is the bridle 60 feet or is the snubber 60 feet? If the bridle is 60 feet then the line that makes up the bridle is 120 feet. Is this correct?