20mm nylon snubber failure - well not quite.

[Hippocampus]

I think it's a point load thing

Think you’re right. If so perhaps the cover isn’t needed and then you could see when to replace before the 2am snap and wake up call :-).

Would a larger diameter roller decrease point loading? I’ve only use two snubbers with neither over a roller. Is that another way to avoid this?

[Capt Ray]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Noticed the 20mm nylon anchor snubber looking a bit weird.
This is the short daily use one, not the rarely used storm snubber.
Slid the protective chafe tube back and found this.
Rope is still clearly in good condition appearance wise, protected from sun and hose has not chafed through.
It's a new one for me, never seen Nylon do this before.

I spliced this one in Feb 2021
Need to replace more often it would seem.

IMO:
Tension on an anchor rode at the bow will vary widely.
As the boat swings left and right, the extreme maximums will be met.
Then the minimum will be in between the two.

Whether we are trying to reduce:
- chafe on the line, OR
- "temperature" of the rode (wet or dry) taking a sharp turn
- loads upon the cleats or windlass and rode (which fail at extreme maximums)

... The concept of increasing "stretch" (to me) has merit... it should not be discounted. The "average" load over time (minutes or hours) is the same... however the variability between measurable minimums and measurable maximums will be reduced significantly, WITH the presence of some stretch.
I think in some circles this is called DAMPENING effect.

Similar to a fuel gauge that is radically going up and down as the boat pitches and rocks... [physical or electronic] dampening makes the actual fuel gauge show the more accurate "average" level. Elasticity in the rode, similarly, brings the stresses and loads more to the "average" load than the extremes as a boat is swinging left and right due to current or wind or both.

I am not personally aware of any truly scientific research that compares the "all chain" rode WITH a stretchy snubber VS A some chain with some nylon rode (at different proportions to evaluate best case scenario).

The heavier catenary of all-chain rode to me introduces the equivalent of shock absorber characteristics, while also maximizing the chance that the anchor stays completely horizontal in its "angle of attack".

So, a snubber design with additional "shock absorption" characteristics has great merit, IMO.

The *most* important purpose of a snubber, most would agree is to "baby" the strains and stresses on the windlass. They are expensive to replace, and good examples of pain in the ass projects as well!

But, I say, let's not think adding elasticity "somehow" does not have value to minimizing the stresses on our vessel and its ground tackle system.

https://shellerina.com/2020/09/21/splicing-8-plait/

Ray

[Fishsail]

That happened to us once. We had 2 5/8’ lines running thru the hawsers with no chafe protection, but the sharp bend split on of the lines. I switched to 3/4’ lines and went direct to the cleats bypassed the sharp bend of the hawsers and haven’t had any troubles since.

[Hippocampus]

Have put those silly expensive SS adhesive backed rectangles on the rails. Even going directly to the cleats you can get chafe

[GoneFarrell]

Capt R,
Thanks for that. My thoughts:
Reducing the tramping at anchor in a blow is part of what an anchor bridle can do.

Reducing tramping reduces the load put to the catenary anchor chain at the end of the boat's swing. So I am working on a solution for that, some sort of riding sail that will suit my boat. The goal being to keep some catenary in the chain during those 35/40 knot blows, which is a big part of the damping effect you mention. And deploy more chain when I can (duh!)

Another thing that might work to improve damping would be deploying an "Alaska sleeping pill" along the chain to maintain catenary damping. I haven't tried that yet, my concern being retrieving another piece of hardware from over the bow in a blow if my anchor drags anyway.

I've seen some reference for use of weights on anchor rode, it effectively improves apparent scope for a given length of deployed chain. That could be useful where I anchor up here in the PNW as some anchorages don't really allow me to deploy to a large scope number.

[SteveK]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Noticed the 20mm nylon anchor snubber looking a bit weird.
This is the short daily use one, not the rarely used storm snubber.
Slid the protective chafe tube back and found this.
Rope is still clearly in good condition appearance wise, protected from sun and hose has not chafed through.
It's a new one for me, never seen Nylon do this before.

I spliced this one in Feb 2021
Need to replace more often it would seem.

Over the years your picture resembles others I have seen usually from dock ties with a sleeve. AS others have said it is the sleeve wearing on the line and doing what it is supposed to prevent. Don't use sleeves so never had this.

[Hippocampus]

Kellets may improve holding and mild surge but tend to have limited effect on hunting. Hanging a length of chain from the bow so it drags on the bottom or a modest sized mushroom with just enough line to drag but not set tends to work better.

Unfortunately even with a well set up bridal some boats hunt more than others. Do what you can.