Comments on: Taking The Strain

By: Bob Tetrault

Bob Tetrault — Thu, 19 May 2011 00:14:53 +0000

Hello to all, I have used snubbers for years and will now lengthen my storm snubber based on what I have read here. Regarding the attachment; we used rolling hitches for years but often needed to cut the line due to severe drying of the hitch. The cut adds to the time needed to clear the snubber always when the weather is at its worst. We have gone back to a 1/2″ galvanized chain hook. To prevent it from falling off we use heavy elastic bands, the ones you use around the leg of your oil pants to keep out the green water on a bad day. I load them on the hook doubled over and then once deployed over the tip of the hook and down the backside a ways until snug still doubled. I keep several loaded on the hook as spares. When retrieving the hook I bring the hook to the roller and either cut or slip the band back off the tip of the hook. I’ve used this method for a couple of years now with 100% success. The breaking strength of the other hooks on the market is quite scary compared with the simple chain hook. For those who do not know, Sea Return is a Pearson 530 at approx 52,000 lbs. Our primary anchor is a Rocna 55, our chain is Acco 7/16″ G4. The other tactic I use in a blow is a deeply reefed mizzen fully battened and very flat. The boat will sit head to wind and quiet in a big breeze. I had my sailmaker custom build the mizzen with this use in mind, the thing is bulletproof. Minimizing the shock loads is key to successfully hunkering down. Bob Tetrault S/V Sea Return

By: Norris

Norris — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:28:04 +0000

Hi Colin,

Interesting ideas on snubbers. We always use a snubber (aprox 40 ft), usually with 10 ft let out in light to normal winds. If it starts to blow hard, we put out more. The double rolling hitch is our choice – it never falls off, plus any reasonable line will do the job in a pinch. Years ago we had a hook fall off (again) while anchored in a blow at Shelburne while on our way home to Newfoundland. It was not nice. I’ve never trusted the chain hook since.

By: Colin Speedie

Colin Speedie — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:28:07 +0000

Hi Paul; I’d agree that a longer line might be better, especially if you ever use it from (say) a spring cleat to shear the boat. It might also be the case that a heavier (14mm 0r even 16mm) might stretch less – we reckon ours is about right for the 435.

The standard bow rollers are too narrow for the cheek plates, and so ‘knock’ when the boat swings and the load comes onto the snubber. We had a new, larger diameter roller made for the port channel, the same radius as the inside of our Rocna anchor, and had it made wider to fit the cheek plates better. We have sacrificial elastic line between the sides of the starboard roller and the cheek plates, and so there’s no noise from it now. Hardly engineering, but it’ll do fine until we are stopped for long enough to have another roller machined!

Victor, sounds like a good set-up, but as Paul notes it’s amazing how these lines can stretch, so longer might be good. We don’t put eyes in our lines, simply so that we can adjust them to suit. In normal conditions we probably would put 10ft or so out, but as the wind gets up we progressively let out more.

John’s solution is simple and elegant, but I take note of his point of double rolling hitches – singles can come undone when not under constant load. But I still like hooks!

Best wishes

Colin

By: Victor Raymond

Victor Raymond — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:00:33 +0000

Colin,
I recently made an anchor bridle out of 40 ft. of 3/4 inch 3 strand. In the middle I placed my hook and made it permanent with whipping line. I placed a bowline at both ends large enough to fit through and around my bow cleats which are about 8 ft. from the anchor roller. I pass the bridle around and under the chain through fairleads on either side of the bow roller assembly and then to the cleats on port and starboard. After all is assembled I let out the chain sufficient to put all the load on the bridle and then some. In addition I put a short snubber on the chain just past the windlass just in case.

I, too, have had the hook fall off the chain and was interested in the Wichard hook. I also think Steve Dashew recommends using knitting twine that would hold the hook in place but would fail if you needed it stowed quickly.

I used now about a half dozen times and it works quite nicely. Eventually I plan to replace the bowlines with properly spliced loops at the two ends.

I am intrigued by John’s even simpler solution and the length of line that you use. I have not experienced such conditions as you describe so I am not sure if I have enough or too little line.

By: John

John — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:15:42 +0000

Hi Colin, Great post. On chain hooks, we used to use one, but found that from time to time it would drop off. For the last 10 years we have just attached the snubber with a double rolling hitch and never had a problem.

By: Paul Mills

Paul Mills — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:13:14 +0000

Hi Colin,

We also anchor a lot – in fact 9 of the last 14 nights. I too use a snubber, ours is 12mm and appropriately stretchy. Unfortunately there are two issues with it. Firstly I made it too short at 15 metres, which means in strong gusts it can ‘run out of stretch’. Secondly we have the same hook as you have just replaced – and ours too ‘drops off’ at times – which is a real pain. Whilst the Ovni roller system is very strong – being all aluminium and welded it is also noisy in the forecabin! So, I am looking for a replacement hook and will keep an eye out for the Wichard one; when I find it, some longer rope will also join our selection.

Enjoying the best summer weather for years in the Solent