Anchor Snubbers

Tim R. · Feb 2, 2011

Much quieter if you have all chain rodes. You can also benefit from bringing the rode off the bow sprit/roller and back to a cleat that is usually lower to increase scope.

Stu Jackson · Feb 2, 2011

POTL,

A friend of mine does this: 100 ft of chain, with rode attached. He lets out all of his chain and 10 to 20 feet of rode. That way he doesn't have to use a separate snubber, it's kinda built right in!

If you're anchored in a tighter spot, and need to use less chain, then you need a snubber, whether it be one of those rubber things or just plain rode with a chain hook.

In any event the boat end of the anchor system should always be connected to cleats on the bow, and never depends on the windlass to hold the anchor line. It's not fair to the windlass!

The snubber should be between the bow cleat and the chain outside the bow roller.

gettinthere · Feb 2, 2011

Many anchor rollers can chafe the anchor rode, not when pointed straight down but when veering to the sides. I would rather wear out a snubber than wear out the anchor rode. maybe your setup does not chafe the rode at all so no worries. But...

Chuckbear · Feb 2, 2011

Stu Jackson said:
POTL,

A friend of mine does this: 100 ft of chain, with rode attached. He lets out all of his chain and 10 to 20 feet of rode. That way he doesn't have to use a separate snubber, it's kinda built right in!

If you're anchored in a tighter spot, and need to use less chain, then you need a snubber, whether it be one of those rubber things or just plain rode with a chain hook.

In any event the boat end of the anchor system should always be connected to cleats on the bow, and never depends on the windlass to hold the anchor line. It's not fair to the windlass!

The snubber should be between the bow cleat and the chain outside the bow roller.

This is exactly what we have done with the new trawler, and to Ed's concern, the design of the roller prevents any chafe. One could use some chafing gear if that were a concern. So far we are pleased with this set up. Our previous sailboat was all chain and we used a snubber for many years. Chuck

Ed Schenck · Feb 2, 2011

I have all chain also. If I don't use a snubber I am awakened at night by what "gettin" was addressing, the chain rubbing on the roller side plates. Makes a terrible noise as the boat swings on the anchor. With slack in the chain and my plain rope snubber through the hawse hole I don't hear it. But I think you swing more than if the rode goes straight off the bow roller. Or is that my imagination?

Craig Smith · Feb 2, 2011

PrincessoftheLake said:
I have had occasion to wonder if using an anchor snubber makes sense or not. On Emmanuel when I set the anchor I take the rode (which is about 50 ft of chain and 150ft of rope) completely off the windlass and cleat it on the bow. It seems to me snubbers make the most sense to take the load off the windlass. Is there any other reason to use one?

If you have sufficient rope deployed, well - do you need a snubber? You tell us.

Even with rope deployed, it may not be a long enough length, or if it's polyester you may want a length of smaller nylon to provide more shock absorption... or you may want a bridle for practical reasons.

www.rocna.com/kb/Snubbers

shemandr · Feb 2, 2011

A boat near us at BI last summer chafed through his rode - I don't know what it was. What I do know is that the family came back to the boat, and within minutes, as they passed us while adrift, I heard the wife on the fordeck saying "It's gone. There's nothing to pull in." It was not a happy moment for that family. Shortly thereafter I heard a call to the harbormaster asking for a mooring. This is a situation you don't want with your family or even by yourself.
Noise be damned. Its the sound of safty and welcome. We do use an anchor hook and a nylon "Snubber" to remove the force of the rode from the windlass. But I like the chain to rub on the bow roller. You can do garden hoses and all that but I think the more simple the rode the better. If you have to re set it at night or whatever I don't think you want all of these complicated auxillary systems.

timvg · Feb 2, 2011

We have a 40.5 and we used to have only 75 feet of chain, so most of the time we would have the road cleated off. This meant there was no nead for an anchor snubber. We now have 175 feet of chain, so often when we anchor, we are only using chain. I hook an anchor snubber up to the chain and and then cleat it off. This takes ALL of the pressure off of the windlass.

njsail · Feb 2, 2011

We use all chain but this year I'm going to start using a snubber. Last summer we were anchored peacefully and the wind started to whip up 20-30kts and as we were hobby horsing and swinging the chain went taught and really started to beat up the bow roller. Bent it slightly. I think a snubber would have helped in that situation. Plus I'm tired of getting the slack taken out and jerking the boat when it's windy. Most days in NJ seem to have nice 15-20kt breeze. Depending on the wind direction we either have a quite anchorage...or an amusement park ride.

Craig Smith · Feb 3, 2011

shemandr said:
A boat near us at BI last summer chafed through his rode - I don't know what it was. What I do know is that the family came back to the boat, and within minutes, as they passed us while adrift, I heard the wife on the fordeck saying "It's gone. There's nothing to pull in." It was not a happy moment for that family. Shortly thereafter I heard a call to the harbormaster asking for a mooring. This is a situation you don't want with your family or even by yourself.

Chafe protection folk!

Perhaps Maine Sail has his photos on hand. It's amazing what you see on boats which the owners must surely value.

www.rocna.com/kb/Chafe_protection

shemandr said:
Noise be damned. Its the sound of safty and welcome. We do use an anchor hook and a nylon "Snubber" to remove the force of the rode from the windlass. But I like the chain to rub on the bow roller. You can do garden hoses and all that but I think the more simple the rode the better. If you have to re set it at night or whatever I don't think you want all of these complicated auxillary systems.

Attaching and removing a snubber is not hard when you're used to it, if it's properly rigged up you can just use the windlass as normal, remove the snubber from chain when it approaches the roller, chuck it to one side, and continue. If you need a snubber then you need one - you can't avoid it for the sake of convenience.

njsail said:
We use all chain but this year I'm going to start using a snubber. Last summer we were anchored peacefully and the wind started to whip up 20-30kts and as we were hobby horsing and swinging the chain went taught and really started to beat up the bow roller. Bent it slightly. I think a snubber would have helped in that situation.

It definitely will help.

RichH · Feb 3, 2011

njsail said:
We use all chain but this year I'm going to start using a snubber. Last summer we were anchored peacefully and the wind started to whip up 20-30kts and as we were hobby horsing and swinging the chain went taught and really started to beat up the bow roller. Bent it slightly. I think a snubber would have helped in that situation. Plus I'm tired of getting the slack taken out and jerking the boat when it's windy. Most days in NJ seem to have nice 15-20kt breeze. Depending on the wind direction we either have a quite anchorage...or an amusement park ride.

Suggest you look at the "Sailing when at anchor" thread. http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=123242&highlight=Swinging+anchor

Look for the discussions on the use of a snubber/BRIDLE ... a very good way to stop "swinging at anchor".

njsail · Feb 3, 2011

RichH said:
Suggest you look at the "Sailing when at anchor" thread. http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=123242&highlight=Swinging+anchor

Look for the discussions on the use of a snubber/BRIDLE ... a very good way to stop "swinging at anchor".

Thanks for the link - I'll give it a try this season. If only I had a launch ramp like the English Lifeboats for the first nice day. Now that would be a sight.

Barnacle Bill · Feb 7, 2011

I was anchored on a 47' ketch off of Mackie Shoals on the Bahama Bank one evening a few years back and had the anchor tackle around the windlass without a snubber. In the middle of the night a huge front came through and seas got huge too. The Ideal windlass broke at the shaft and went overboard. A snubber would have been a good idea. Parts were available for the windlass which was later rebuilt.

Stu Jackson · Feb 7, 2011

njsail said:
Thanks for the link - I'll give it a try this season. If only I had a launch ramp like the English Lifeboats for the first nice day. Now that would be a sight.

Please note that there are two different "bridles" mentioned in that thread: the one at the bow and the "sideways" bridle that Chuck and I mention on page 3. Try 'em both, but ours is easier. Much easier.

RichH · Feb 7, 2011

Stu Jackson said:
Please note that there are two different "bridles" mentioned in that thread: the one at the bow and the "sideways" bridle that Chuck and I mention on page 3. Try 'em both, but ours is easier. Much easier.

and with tongue firmly placed in cheek .... but requires adjustment as the wind/waves changes direction.
The 'other' method is 'self adjusting' and doesnt become a problem at those times when the wind 'almost totally reverses' such as during a 'deep frontal passage', etc. or when in varying strength winds and leftover or 'confused' waves from different direction. But the 'other' method requires an anchor that reliably re-sets (Rocna, Manson, Spade, etc.)

Try them both then youll have two methods in your inventory.