Anchor Swivels, Just Say No
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More Articles From Online Book: Anchoring Made Easy:
- Introduction
- 4 Vital Anchor Selection Criteria and a Review of SPADE
- SARCA Excel Anchor—A Real World Test
- SPADE, SARCA Excel, or Some Other Anchor?
- Rocna Resetting Failures and Evaluation of Vulcan and Mantus
- Some Thoughts On The Ultra Anchor, Roll Bars and Swivels
- Specifying Primary Anchor Size
- Kedge (Secondary Anchor)—Recommended Type and Size
- Third Anchors, Storm Anchors and Spare Anchors
- Anchor Tests—The Good, The Bad, and The Downright Silly
- Making Anchor Tests More Meaningful
- We Love The Way Our Anchor Drags
- Things to Know About Anchor Chain
- Selecting a Chain Grade
- Anchor Chain Catenary, When it Matters and When it Doesn’t
- Anchoring—Snubbers
- Anchor Rode Questions and Answers
- Q&A: Hybrid Rope And Chain Anchor Rodes
- Anchor Swivels, Just Say No
- A Windlass That Makes The Grade
- The Perfect Anchor Roller
- Install A Wash-down Pump—And Save Money!
- Anchoring—Kellets
- Anchoring—Chain: Stoppers, Termination and Marking
- 20 Tips To Get Anchored and Stay Anchored
- Choosing an Anchorage
- Choosing a Spot
- 15 Steps To Getting Securely Anchored
- One Anchor or Two?
- Two Anchors Done Right
- It’s Often Better to Anchor Than Pick Up a Mooring
- Yawing at Anchor, The Theory and The Solution
- Yawing at The Anchor, an Alternative Cure
- How To Use An Anchor Trip Line
- ShoreFasts—Part 1, When to Use Them
- ShoreFasts—Part 2, Example Setups Plus Tips and Tricks
- ShoreFasts—Part 3, The Gear
- Gale And Storm Preparation, At Anchor Or On A Mooring
- Storm Preparation, All Chain On Deck
John
Perhaps the problem is due more to poor design rather than the swivel itself. What think you of the WASI?
A quick look around my marina revealed all boats with high test chains using standard half strength shackles. Just an observation not an excuse.
Your recommendation might be better stated as an appropriately sized high test strength shackle.
I always enjoy your thoughts and ideas. Thanks
Hi Carter,
Thanks for the comment and link.
I can’t say I like the WASI much either. While it would seem to be very strong and an improvement on the swivel that failed, it will still be subjected to the same forces and potential failure when the ball joint reaches the limit of its travel.
The bottom line is that I just can’t see a good reason to use any swivel in an anchor rode. A good quality galvanized bow shackle will always be stronger, size for size, and in addition costs a small fraction of the $200-400 that these swivels will set you back.
In over 100,000 miles of sailing including a circumnavigation and a recent trip to Greenland we have never used a swivel. I have never found a need for one and as John points out it is just one more expensive piece of equipment in the long chain of items that can fail. It won’t fail if you don’t have it. Also, if I search really hard I am sure I can find another more reliable and utilitarian item on which to spend that elusive $400.
I always thought these things looked untrustworthy, unnecessary and ridiculously overpriced. My chain gets twisted all the time, and it never causes a problem- just let it hang and straighten itself out for a few seconds before hauling the rest of it in.
An extra $300 gets you a bigger anchor…or more rode…or a better windlass…any of which would do a lot more for anchoring securely than a swivel fitting.
An interesting post but consider this; Three years back I was on the market for 200m of 1/2″ chain. I contacted a British manufacturer who claimed to make their chain in the UK, (and is a big name here). I asked for a sample of their chain that was supposed to be 100% proof tested to 4t. I had it independently tested as I am a paranoid skeptic and guess what? It yielded at 3.5t failing totally just over 4t, when its supposed minimum break was over 8t. When I told the company they just said;” Oh do you still want to place the order?”. They did not even bat an eyelid or ask to see the results; the sales assistant even admitted that they just brought it in. (And guess from which part of the world?) You need to be very careful with everything even if it meets all the specs and costs proper money.