Prusik cord

[jclays]

Can I us a Prusik cord found at West Marine to secure a bridle or snubber to my anchor line?

 

[3rdOrderEffect]

I’ve done so in the past when I needed to secure my bridle snubber to the rope portion of my combined chain/rode anchor rode due to depths. Make sure you are trying a tight prusik and not a klemheist.

 

[dhays]

Using a dynema spliced loop for a prusik and and attach your bridle or snubber to that. If you use a dynema line that is smaller than your rode, then it will hold well.

 

[Shrew]

It's spelled Prusik (I corrected the title and post).

Any line tied into a prusik knot can be used as a prusik loop. It's better to use static line.

The only use I would have for a prusik loop is if you're attempting to hitch a bridle or snubber to an anchor rode made of line . If you're hitching a line to a chain rode, I would use a rolling hitch. I would prefer to use a chain hook on my bridle with a chain rode, but lacking a chain hook, I would use a rolling hitch.

 

[Caballero II]

It's spelled Prusik (I corrected the title and post).

Any line tied into a prusik knot can be used as a prusik loop. It's better to use static line.

The only use I would have for a prusik loop is if you're attempting to hitch a bridle or snubber to an anchor rode made of line . If you're hitching a line to a chain rode, I would use a rolling hitch. I would prefer to use a chain hook on my bridle with a chain rode, but lacking a chain hook, I would use a rolling hitch.

Not sure why you would, so please illuminate me. My studies have suggested the prusik on rope or chain was very dependable, and stronger than a rolling hitch. I dp have chain hooks in the arsenal, but find hitches on the rode more eloquent and dependable. I have had my snubber drop a chain hook to the bottom (where I dove and retrieved it).

 

[Shrew]

Just my opinion. Prusik knots are common in climbing and great for hitching to a line. Rolling blocks are traditionally used for hitching a bridle to chain. The bitter end of a bridle makes it easy to tie a rolling hitch, which is breakable after being on tension.

How are you affixing a bridle to a prusik?

I've heard of generic chain hooks dropping from he chain. I've never heard of a chain hook falling off of a bridle. How was the chain hook attached to the bridle?

 

[Caballero II]

Just my opinion. Prusik knots are common in climbing and great for hitching to a line. Rolling blocks are traditionally used for hitching a bridle to chain. The bitter end of a bridle makes it easy to tie a rolling hitch, which is breakable after being on tension.

How are you affixing a bridle to a prusik?

I've heard of generic chain hooks dropping from he chain. I've never heard of a chain hook falling off of a bridle. How was the chain hook attached to the bridle?

Shrew, I had a Mantus 1st generation chain hook fall off the chain some years back. That one was the flat plate with a t-shaped cut out for the chain, with a shackle to attach to the bridle. They have moved on to a different chain hook. They now make a "snubber pendent" of 4-5' of UHMWPE line that has eyes at both ends. You can build a prusic know out of bight of that line, and use a good shackle to attach that line to the eye of the snubber. It cannot fall of the line or chain. I know I sound like a Mantus salesman but I have no connection to the company. I'm a big fan of the rolling hitch as well as other hitches like the Icicle hitch and there has been good testing done on their strengths and weaknesses by Practical Sailor (I think).

 

[Caballero II]

Can I us a Prusik cord found at West Marine to secure a bridle or snubber to my anchor line?

Fer sure. Depending on what's it made of. I use mine (Mantus, Spectra I believe) all the time. Very safe and easy to attach.

 

[twistedtree]

I can’t believe people are still using chain hooks on their snubber. I find a soft shackle works so much better. My snubber has a spliced loop on the end, and I use a soft shackle run through the loop and through a chain link. It’s stronger than the chain, quick to attach or remove, goes over the bow roller just fine, and never falls off when deploying or recovering the chain.

 

[Mac2]

I can’t believe people are still using chain hooks on their snubber. I find a soft shackle works so much better. My snubber has a spliced loop on the end, and I use a soft shackle run through the loop and through a chain link. It’s stronger than the chain, quick to attach or remove, goes over the bow roller just fine, and never falls off when deploying or recovering the chain.

I am that guy: still using a Mantus M2 chain hook. It has the rubber retaining band that keeps it from falling off the chain. Would love to hear the specifics of your system-soft shackle make/size, snubber material/size.
Any concern with chafe to the soft shackle?

 

[twistedtree]

I am that guy: still using a Mantus M2 chain hook. It has the rubber retaining band that keeps it from falling off the chain. Would love to hear the specifics of your system-soft shackle make/size, snubber material/size.
Any concern with chafe to the soft shackle?

I’ll be back across the canal in a few days and you come check it out if you like. I had the snubber made my Ropes Inc with spliced eyes in each end, and appropriate length for my boat. Both loops have chafe protection, out of an abundance of caution. I drop one end loop over a deck cleat, and shackle the other end to chain. The attached picture is my spare shackle, but identical to the one I use every day. I don’t recall the exact dimensions but would estimate 3/4”. I have used it with both 1/2” G4 chain, and 12mm Cromox. These dyneema shackles are amazingly strong with breaking limits well higher than the chain. The one I have in service is between 2 and 3 years old, and we anchor 50-70 times per year so it gets some use. No signs of wear so far. The stuff is amazingly durable. I bought the pictured shackle at Fisheries and I think it was about $30, so also much less expensive than a chain hook.

 

[NoRain]

Don’t mean to hijack - I’ve never used a soft shackle but am intrigued. Been doing some searching and reading but having trouble deciphering what “size” soft shackle would I need for my 5/16” G43 anchor chain? The large ID of a link is 1/2”, the small ID is 3/8”.

 

[twistedtree]

Don’t mean to hijack - I’ve never used a soft shackle but am intrigued. Been doing some searching and reading but having trouble deciphering what “size” soft shackle would I need for my 5/16” G43 anchor chain? The large ID of a link is 1/2”, the small ID is 3/8”.

There is some info starting here help with anchor swivel ideas

And look at the Marlow soft shackles on the Fisheries web site. Keep in mind that the shackle loop is folded back on itself so it fatter than the specified line size. You need to fit the whole line through a link.

 

[NoRain]

Thx Peter. I read that thread (I read all almost all threads on the forum ), and the Marlow info on Fisheries’ site, and other Googling. But can’t find the specific answer I’m look for - what “size” soft shackle will fit through the link of my 5/16” G43 chain. Thought someone here might have first hand experience.

Keep in mind that the shackle loop is folded back on itself so it fatter than the specified line size. You need to fit the whole line through a link.

This is crux of it. At face value, it would seem I could only use a 1/4” soft shackle (doubled would be 1/2” which is the largest dimension of the opening in the link). That raised potential concern in strength - intuitively 1/4” seems wayyy too light. But then just this morning I found this supplier that looks encouraging Soft Shackle 1/4” | Afraid Knot Ropes. Also in Canada so I don’t get caught up with duties etc. I’ll call them tomorrow to confirm sizing, and to ask what “extremely high strength and durable fiber” is Their stated WLL of 7900 lbs is well beyond the WLL of my chain, and their stated breaking strength of 21,000 lbs is equally reassuring.

 

[twistedtree]

Thx Peter. I read that thread (I read all almost all threads on the forum ), and the Marlow info on Fisheries’ site, and other Googling. But can’t find the specific answer I’m look for - what “size” soft shackle will fit through the link of my 5/16” G43 chain. Thought someone here might have first hand experience.


This is crux of it. At face value, it would seem I could only use a 1/4” soft shackle (doubled would be 1/2” which is the largest dimension of the opening in the link). That raised potential concern in strength - intuitively 1/4” seems wayyy too light. But then just this morning I found this supplier that looks encouraging Soft Shackle 1/4” | Afraid Knot Ropes. Also in Canada so I don’t get caught up with duties etc. I’ll call them tomorrow to confirm sizing, and to ask what “extremely high strength and durable fiber” is Their stated WLL of 7900 lbs is well beyond the WLL of my chain, and their stated breaking strength of 21,000 lbs is equally reassuring.

Any chance you are near Fisheries? You could go in and try the different sizes.

 

[NoRain]

Nope, Vancouver BC. There may be a retailer close at hand that has some, but I’m in online mode now trying to slash into the never ending to-do list to get away by mid-late next week. Already 6 weeks delayed due to med issues….so no time to do store shopping. Phone call to AfraidKnot tomorrow may solve it. Worst case this a fall/next year task. My Wichard chain grabber works fine, but can be a pain to hang over the bow roller to undo when retrieving. And a little fiddly to hook up and run over the roller gently when deploying. The soft shackle looks great so my crew (wife) can just connect it from the comfort and security of standing upright on the bow and letting it roll-at-will over the roller. And then let it scoot back up over the roller to a convenient location to disconnect it when retrieving.

 

[rgano]

My personal preference was to do away with any metal on my snubbers. Stainless chain hooks I found had no WL rating (plus the danger of crevice crack corrosion), and galvanized ones were rust catchers, and there was always that potential for metal parts to break under extreme strain and end up imbedded in something (maybe me) when the nylon line used for the snubber recoiled back to the boat with whatever was left of the hook. Nowadays, I use a length of triple-strand twisted nylon (pick your size and length) with the last several feet untwisted with the three strands hand braided as hair is sometimes worn. An icicle hitch tied with this braided section holds equally well to fiber or chain rode and can be easily dragged in over the bow roller for detachment. It seems a bit old school, but simplicity often rules.