Anchor Bridles & Snubbers

[lipets]

My previous boats didn't have chain, this one does and the roller hight to the water is about 6'+


Think to have the boats windless do the holding isn't the best solution.


Besides there stress maybe better handled by the cleats.




Was looking at a G70 hook with two nylon 5/8" X 15' perhaps


What are you using?

 

[jleonard]

I use a single 1/2 x 20 snubber with a cheapo depot grab hook over the anchor roller next to the chain wrapped around the Sampson post 2 times then cleated.

 

[Comodave]

I use a flat plate that goes over the chain with two 1/2” lines going up to the boat. I have a mooring compensator on each line to give it more stretch.

 

[O C Diver]

I've tried several different ways including an anchor chain knot, a chain plate with a double bridle, and a simple stainless steel chain hook. Have been using the chain hook for the last couple of years and been very happy with it and 3/4" 3 strand twisted nylon rope. Defender carries a very nice Suncor 316 stainless steel hook ($30 for 3/8" chain). With some slack between the hook and the bow roller, the chain never comes off the hook. Running a single line over the bow roller as opposed to a double bridle through the hawser pipes, has eliminated the stretching and popping as the strain switches from one side of the bridal to the other.

https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|2276108|2276124|2226887|2276131|2276134&id=3467506

Ted

 

[Nomad Willy]

But Ted,
In strong winds when you need shock absorption the most it would be the least.

They say that in high winds an all chain rode will go perfectly straight. But a little bridal will go straight far far sooner that the whole rode. So why would one use it?

 

[GregBrannon]

If you can find the manual for your windlass, I'm sure it will say in several different ways that it is not designed or intended to be used to counter the force of the boat pulling on the anchor, towing other boats, delivering logs to market, etc.

 

[O C Diver]

But Ted,
In strong winds when you need shock absorption the most it would be the least.

They say that in high winds an all chain rode will go perfectly straight. But a little bridal will go straight far far sooner that the whole rode. So why would one use it?

They're wrong.
I anchor 7:1 with all 3/8" chain. Takes a lot of wind to lift all the chain. My boat weighs 40,000 to 50,000 pounds and can stretch 3/4" TWISTED nylon. Remember, twisted stretches a lot more than braided. The snubber rope is 40' long, so I can add more stretch by putting out more rope. Finally, I can add more chain between the chain hook and bow roller which gives the added effect of a kellet. An extra 20' hanging down from the chain hook, makes it that much tougher to straighten the rode out.

Ted

 

[boathealer]

250ft of 5/16" all-chain rode. 37ft 50,000lb boat.

40ft 3/4" three-strand single-line snubber with a Tylaska snap shackle through a chain link - 75% of the time.

Mantus bridle with captive chain hook the other 25% of the time, based on conditions.

 

[psneeld]

Plus....strong winds? sure they happen...but a lot of us seek better shelter or marinas if it's really gonna blow.

So 99% of my anchoring is in less than 25kt winds and most of the time, even with tidal current my chain partially stays on the bottom.

IF.... I expected more wind I would use a different snubber or a bridle. But haven't yet in 8 years of snowbirding. tween Jersey and Florida.

Just got back from 12 days at anchor in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Breezy from summer storms and medium tidal current. Used a braided 1/2 inch...20' dockline as a snubber.

 

[fgarriso]

My previous boats didn't have chain, this one does and the roller hight to the water is about 6'+


Think to have the boats windless do the holding isn't the best solution.


Besides there stress maybe better handled by the cleats.




Was looking at a G70 hook with two nylon 5/8" X 15' perhaps


What are you using?

How big of boat, what is the displacement, what is the sea conditions?

 

[caltexflanc]

Here was what we used:

Here's what it looked like deployed. Note in the second pic the phenomena Ted mentioned, when winds were light and boat affected by current. No "popping" issues though, whatever that meant. I sized the lines as if each were the only one. I have done the single line through the roller, attached by a rolling hitch, for short quick stops, but a)didn't like the chafe induced by chain being there and b) it was a little more complicated come retrieval time. though I have to say it held well a couple times when the stay got extended and the conditions very sporty. Rather run it out of hawse if practical.

 

[dhays]

We usually a bridle made up of two 1/2" three strand with a nylon eye spliced into the end of each. The lines are each 25' long. I don't use the entire length unless I am expecting a lot of wind.

I don't like chain hooks I use a dyneema loop wrapped around the chain and then connect each end of the bridle lines with a soft shackle. Won't slip, easy, cheap, and no hard metal bits to wear the chain or mar the boat.

 

[psneeld]

My single, through the roller snubber is 5 years old with no appreciable chafe and just takes seconds to tie on and undo. No leaning over the bow checking hooks or plates which I have tried and gone back to the simplicity of a tied on single snubber.


Is it right for everyone or situation? No....but you don't know till you try.


Here is my usual....letting the rain clean off the mud

 

[caltexflanc]

We usually a bridle made up of two 1/2" three strand with a nylon eye spliced into the end of each. The lines are each 25' long. I don't use the entire length unless I am expecting a lot of wind.

I don't like chain hooks I use a dyneema loop wrapped around the chain and then connect each end of the bridle lines with a soft shackle. Won't slip, easy, cheap, and no hard metal bits to wear the chain or mar the boat.
View attachment 92057

Sounds great, but somewhat labor intensive. Has that knot been tested under strong load for any amount of time; that's a new approach to me.

 

[syjos]

For a riding chain stopper, I use a SeaDog chain gripper plate, shackles and two 1/2" three strand soft lay nylon line, 12' long with thimbles. The 3 stage soft lay nylon rope stretches more than the 4 stage hard lay three strand line and springs back quicker.

The two lines are brought in through the hawes holes on either side of the bow and cleated to individual cleats. Two lines allow line adjustment, which help control wandering and boat angle to wind or current.

Takes less than a minute to affix the chain stopper.

After anchoring in strong wind overnight, the two lines usually need to be shortened slightly to compensate for the stretch and provide for the chain lazy loop lost by the stretched rope.

 

[Nomad Willy]

Interesting reading as I’ve not needed a snubber using almost 100% nylon line for my rode.

The bridal I could use but don’t have any good ideas how to attach the bridal ends to the nylon anchor rode. My boat (Willy) is a swinger. Thought about a pair of those things (jam cleats?) but how would I keep them from coming loose? Some sort of spreader bar to substitute for a deck? Haven’t tried anything so it would seem not high on my list of things to do. But the moving scenery through the windows can almost make one dizzy.

caltexflanc,
In the lower pic it appears your boat is broadside to the wave and wind.

 

[Bigsfish]

I use a single line snubber as it is easier and very quiet as the boat sails around the anchor, I attach to the chain with a chain hook. Goes on and off easily but can’t fall off. I do have a bridal for heavy blows but only used it once.

 

[syjos]

Interesting reading as I’ve not needed a snubber using almost 100% nylon line for my rode.

Riding chain stoppers are for all chain.

If your rode is nylon, there is no need for a stopper. The whole length of your line is a shock cord. I am curious how you secure the rode. Center line cleat? Sampson post?

The reasons I use a stopper:

Remove the strain off the wildcat and windlass

Add stretch to the rode, softening the effect of the wind lifting and pulling on the catanery. I use 5/16" HT which weighs around 100#/foot compared to 150# for 3/8". 50% less weight.

Reduce the noise transmission from the chain see sawing on the bow roller and being dragged around the seafloor.

 

[caltexflanc]

I too have a bridal, but for entirely different purposes.

 

[syjos]

I too have a bridal, but for entirely different purposes.

What reason?

 

[jleonard]

I also have a heavy snubber but have not used it in many years. The most I’ve been anchored in is 45 knots and the 1/3 line does fine. It actually stretches as it should. Probably been used a hundred times at least.

 

[Bigsfish]

Syjos

That’s some heavy chain you got there. You sure?

 

[BruceK]

What procedure do people use to set a bridle with a SeaDog plate? The plate just holds under a link, how to keep it in place while setting up the bridle?

 

[Bigsfish]

Not sure how the sea dog works but we just apply some pressure on the snubber while letting out the chain until the snubber is holding the boat. Pressure keeps the snubber attachment device attached to the chain.

 

[markpierce]

Use a double snubber, like that pictured in post #11. Don't use it in calm conditions if just stopping for lunch, however.

 

[caltexflanc]

What reason?

Lifelong companionship and affection, to name a couple.

 

[caltexflanc]

My single, through the roller snubber is 5 years old with no appreciable chafe and just takes seconds to tie on and undo. No leaning over the bow checking hooks or plates which I have tried and gone back to the simplicity of a tied on single snubber.


Is it right for everyone or situation? No....but you don't know till you try.


Here is my usual....letting the rain clean off the mud

Like batteries, it's not so much number of years but number of cycles and amount of stress put on them.

 

[psneeld]

True.....but......

My point being that a single snubber going over the roller isn't always going to see more wear and tear than a bridle chafing and stretching too going through hawse holes or chocks.


Not saying that one is better in general, but if simicity is a desirable thing, one should at least try both methods.


How long one keeps any of them in service is really just a guess unless one keeps some sort of instrumentation on the line.

 

[Nomad Willy]

syjos,
"stopper"?
Another word for snubber?

 

[syjos]

Syjos

That’s some heavy chain you got there. You sure?

Oops. Forgot to divide by 100.

Thanks for catching that.

To late to correct post.