Anchor attachment

[chris-s]

So, once you have your anchor of choice, the next dilema is how best to attach it to your chain.

On our previous boat we had anchor->shackle->3 links 10mm->Kong Joiner->7mm chain

Our new-to-us 32' Beneteau that came with a crappy anchor was crappy anchor -> swivel->shackle->8mm chain

After finding the perfect anchor, these are the options I'm looking at..

1 . Anchor -> Swivel as original (least favorite)


2. Anchor->3/8"shackle-> 3 links of 10mm chain -> Swivel


3 Anchor -> 1/2" shackle -> 3 links 12mm chain -> Swivel


4. Anchor -> 1/2" shackle -> Swivel



The other end of the shackle will be connected to 20m of 8mm chain and 40m of 16mm Octoplait.

Thanks

Chris

 

[pyrojames]

I don't use a swivel. I have yet to see a proof tested one. It seems to me to be the weakest link.

 

[noelex]

The swivel does not look like a high quality unit. I would at least try using just a good quality rated shackle and no swivel.

KISS.

In very rare situations without a swivel you can end up with enough twist in the chain that it will not retrieve correctly, but I stress this is very rare.

 

[jamie N]

CQR (Royalty amongst anchors) onto 8mm chain, no swivel.

 

[chris-s]

Yep, I have never used a swivel before and was really just including it as a way to connect the 8mm chain to the anchor.

 

[Deleted member 478]

Another vote for no swivel, it being the weakest link.

 

[Roberto]

I use this connector, I changed two three of them during 10+ years (the one below is after about 300 nights, despite the appearance it still had the original dimensions). The anchor comes upright/rights itself/it's easy to put right... whatever, anyway no need for a swivel.

 

[NormanS]

I have never seen any advantage in using a swivel. What I do have is a "bent link", three links away from the anchor. The bent link is a short length of round steel bar, of greater diameter than the chain. It has an eye on each end, and a bend in the middle. When it reaches the bow roller, it automatically rotates the anchor into the correct orientation.

 

[geem]

No swivel in thousands of nights at anchor and a lifetime of sailing. One less thing to go wrong.

 

[mattonthesea]

5/16 maillon. Sort of long chain link with a screw gate.

 

[johnalison]

Someone we met in Salcombe had anchored with a swivel off one of the beaches, with the result that the swivel broke and there was no anchor when he pull it up. As it happened, his daughter, then quite a small child, had been playing with the GPS and had marked the position, which they didn’t find out until they were back on their mooring. They were able to go back the next day and recover the anchor.

 

[Bouba]

Rocna recommend no swivel

 

[noelex]

You should be OK with a direct attachment of a 3/8” shackle as shown in photo 2. That looks like a Crosby shackle, but it hard to be sure. Hopefully a 209A, which is the best choice.

8mm chain has a 12mm gap between the links and a Crosby 3/8” 209A shackle has an 11.2mm pin. That is a bit tight but it should work OK. You will need to try it and check it cannot bind in any position.

The 3/8” Crosby 209A has a SWL of 2t. 8mm G30 has a SWL of around 0.75 t and G40 is 1t so even allowing for some side loading of the shackle it should be acceptable as long as you are not using G70 or higher chain.

 

[Plum]

So, once you have your anchor of choice, the next dilema is how best to attach it to your chain.

On our previous boat we had anchor->shackle->3 links 10mm->Kong Joiner->7mm chain

Our new-to-us 32' Beneteau that came with a crappy anchor was crappy anchor -> swivel->shackle->8mm chain

After finding the perfect anchor, these are the options I'm looking at..

1 . Anchor -> Swivel as original (least favorite)
View attachment 152779

2. Anchor->3/8"shackle-> 3 links of 10mm chain -> Swivel
View attachment 152778

3 Anchor -> 1/2" shackle -> 3 links 12mm chain -> Swivel
View attachment 152781

4. Anchor -> 1/2" shackle -> Swivel
View attachment 152780


The other end of the shackle will be connected to 20m of 8mm chain and 40m of 16mm Octoplait.

Thanks

Chris

I have never used a swivel.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Norman_E]

I note that several people recommend having no swivel, but if doing without the swivel then the three links of bigger chain are not needed either, because they are there to achieve two things. Firstly to prevent the swivel being subjected to sideways force, and secondly to allow a larger shackle to be used to connect the anchor. My setup was bigger with 10 mm chain and the swivel I used was a very well-designed one with a breaking strain far greater than any force likely to be put on it in a straight line. Swivel failures are usually caused by being connected directly to anchors and then subjected to sideways forces that they are not designed to take. Setup number 3 above is the best one, and a setup without the swivel would rely on an 8mm shackle to connect to the chain, unless the latter had an oversize final link.

With an oversize final link simply connecting the anchor to the chain with a 12mm or half inch tested shackle would be OK if you are prepared to accept that the anchor mar arrive at the bow roller the wrong way up.

 

[lustyd]

Royalty amongst anchors.

The grand old duke of york?

 

[boomerangben]

Methods 1 and 4 can put unnecessary bending on both jewellery and anchor shank should veering cause out of plane loading. Neither are connected to the anchor the way the shank was designed.

I use an over sized stainless steel screw gate carabiner between 6mm chain and fortress, no swivel. But then I don’t have a bow roller. Launch and recovery from the cockpit.

 

[Mudisox]

No swivel, never needed one.
Oh I have -- on the dance floor!

 

[Boathook]

@chris-s chain to anchor using a decent 'shackle'.

I did have a swivel between my chain and anchor and it made no difference plus is a few more places where the system is likely to break.

 

[roaringgirl]

My boat came with 80m of 10mm chain, a large swivel and a 25kg Rocna. After many nights at anchor, I decided I knew better than the previous owner and removed the swivel which served no purpose whatsoever as far as I could see. I haven't been proved wrong yet.