The Grapnel anchor...if everyone depises them, why are they sold by every chandlery?

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Greenheart

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At last, could this be an anchor thread which doesn't divide opinion? (Fat chance...)

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Heaven knows what the inventor of the grapnel had in mind...possibly it was a hook to help POWs escape over camp walls? But after years of interest in anchors, I've never come across anyone who favoured this design; it seems to be universally panned by everyone who has written anything about anchoring any boat...

...yet every chandlery still sells them. Are they just sold to newbies, as foldable lunch-hooks which won't puncture an inflatable tender?
 
Only time I've ever seen one used was on a hard dinghy that my uncle used as a tender and general messing about in shallow creeks workhorse. It had to be used like a pick to dig into a beach. It also wouldn't stay unfolded by itself. Total liability.

The only use that I can think of for it, would be to recover an anchor that had been slipped. Just drop over the side and drag it back and forward until it picks up the other chain, making sure you have a tripping line on it.
 
Something similar is popular around here for fishing. It is made of about 6mm wire (rod) hooks which will catch in rocks and reef for fishing but can be always released by simply overpowering the wires and bending them straight. Not sure about a use for what is pictured. olewill
 
I have a really neat 316 stainless steel one I use for anchoring the inflatable dinghy. I have another huge galvanised steel one that came with my boat that I have absolutely no idea what to use it for and hence it currently resides in my garage.
 
They are the perfect anchor.....

for dinghy racing, small and as light as the rules allow (if you buy the right model). They fold up nicely so can be stored nice and low down without getting in the way to much.

In the event you have to use one, well that's a different story but they fit the rules so that is fine :D
 
dancrane said:
At last, could this be an anchor thread which doesn't divide opinion? (Fat chance...)

View attachment 30589

Heaven knows what the inventor of the grapnel had in mind...possibly it was a hook to help POWs escape over camp walls? But after years of interest in anchors, I've never come across anyone who favoured this design; it seems to be universally panned by everyone who has written anything about anchoring any boat...

...yet every chandlery still sells them. Are they just sold to newbies, as foldable lunch-hooks which won't puncture an inflatable tender?
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They have their uses. I have one on the stern of Temptress. I find it perfect when anchoring bow into rocks in Scandinavia. I usually drop it in the rocks a hundred or so meters out from the 'rock' I am going to moor to and motor slowly in. It usually snags on a rock and holds my stern out. Used it in the Med also but never found a use for it in UK waters.
 
All of the tripper boats here (Crete), and there are many ranging in size from the small fishing boat carrying 6 or 8 people to small ferries carrying hundreds, end up mooring bows-to whatever quay they're going to (usually the town and Spinalonga Island) and they all use a large grapnel style anchor. The bottom in the town port and at Spinalonga is mostly sand but the grapnels seem to work well for them even in gusty conditions. The anchors of course are large (weight is probably the key factor) and made locally and whilst effective they wouldn't win many design or construction prizes....
 
I inherited a small one wih the boat. It is handy as a weight when tied up against a wall - I put it on the stern line on a shackle and it puts a little tension in the line to hold her gently against the wall as the tide goes in and out
 
Dan,

I don't despise the grapnel at all, just am aware of its' good and bad points.

I always carry one when cruising.

Being pointy - like a fisherman anchor - it would hopefully penetrate weed and give me a toe-hold on rock in an emergency situation, in a place I wouldn't normally anchor.

In peaceful times I keep it folded and use as an angel halfway down the main bower anchor warp to help keep the pull near horizontal and take the snatch out of waves.

I wouldn't rely on a grapnel under load for too long if I could help it as the flukes rely on a relatively weak hinge pin, but one way or another the grapnel is one of my favourite bits of kit, a friend in my armoury.
 
If you are heading onto the rocks in the kelp then an anchor like this can have its use.I imagine it would be useful for hooking coral heads in the same way.
Fishermen hereabouts make use of ones welded up out of concrete reinforcing wire but probably for recovery purposes.
 
When folded, it's conveniently shaped and non-pointy for carrying in a a dinghy, especially an inflatable one. Most of the time you anchor a dinghy is on the beach, so you can carry the anchor ashore and dig it in by hand. On occasions you might anchor a tender while afloat, you will be on board and awake so dragging is not as much of a concern as in a yacht.

I would have one as a tender anchor.

Pete
 
I have carried one for years, only because, as another poster has pointed out, I used to carry it to comply with dinghy racing rules. It has been used very rarely, in the tender when snorkelling from it and once on the Sadler, most memorably, on the Canal du Midi when waiting for the eclusiers to finish their lunch.
 
I've used them for mooring for a while on Windermere. Always in boats smaller than 19ft. They have worked perfectly for a few hours that I've needed to stay still.
I can't see your problem with them. If you don't like them buy a different one. Not everyone needs an anchor that will hold in a storm on a lee shore. Some people jusrt want to stay still without bother.
For the money and their small size when folded they are ideal for a small boat. Like an Osprey, for instance.
 
I use one in the Ionian on a small boat, I motor towards the beach after dropping the hook over the stern, I then swing the boat around, tie off the anchor at the bow and step off the stern and tie a sternline to a convenient tourists leg. The seabed is steep and covered in rocks, when I snorkel down, the anchor is always dug into the rocks. All the local hire boats use them. They are no good in sand, plus the pins break on them after a time, for a 10 euro shop bought hook, they are perfect for their use.
 
Lakesailor said:
I've used them for mooring for a while on Windermere. Always in boats smaller than 19ft. They have worked perfectly for a few hours that I've needed to stay still.
I can't see your problem with them. If you don't like them buy a different one. Not everyone needs an anchor that will hold in a storm on a lee shore. Some people jusrt want to stay still without bother.
For the money and their small size when folded they are ideal for a small boat. Like an Osprey, for instance.
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I've carried a small grapnel when cruising in dinghies, Ospreys or others, for years - don't know anyone who has a problem with them but keeping it secured in case of capsize and the thing self-deploying seems a good idea.
 
Halo said:
I inherited a small one wih the boat. It is handy as a weight when tied up against a wall - I put it on the stern line on a shackle and it puts a little tension in the line to hold her gently against the wall as the tide goes in and out
Click to expand...
thats what i do with mine
 
Seajet said:
Dan,

I don't despise the grapnel at all, just am aware of its' good and bad points.

I always carry one when cruising.

Being pointy - like a fisherman anchor - it would hopefully penetrate weed and give me a toe-hold on rock in an emergency situation, in a place I wouldn't normally anchor.
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OOOH! Dont use it in Studland then!

The grapnel is highlighted by Natural England as the one that does all the damage to eelgrass! In fact the ONLY one specified by these 'experts' so far.....
 
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