Anchor chain stoppers

[MapisM]

I'm considering to fit a chain stopper, and the models I came across are the following three:

The thing called "standard" in the above pic is obviously cheaper than the Lewmar and Quick models, but I wouldn't mind the more basic appearance, if it does its job.
Thanks in advance for any experiences/suggestions!

PS: let's not go into the "winch is strong enough without it" debate.
It ain't the reason why I'd like to have a chain stopper, 'cause for overnighting I have the habit of deploying a snubber anyway, to avoid the grinding noise.
Trouble is, I was spoilt by the double security of my previous horizontal winch (motor friction+brake), so I'd rather get rid of the steel cable with a carbine hook for securing the anchor under way.
Worth mentioning in petem thread about 1st world problems, I suppose... Hey-ho!

 

[BruceK]

I have one similar to your image of standard. Used mainly to lock the anchor in place as I have a snubber. I used it once instead of the snubber and forgot to release it before winching in. Bent that pin a good 20 degrees as the chain snatched and I had to cut the chain free with a hacksaw. It also twisted in the fibre glass decking by about 5 degrees. Total waste of time imo and dangerous if that should happen because of a storm and then you want to bail. I know snubbers here stir mixed emotions but it will take some convincing to get me to use a chain lock for anything more than securing the anchor underway

 

[MapisM]

Geez...! Isn't it supposed to self-open when winching in?
I half remember to have used the Lewmar thing above in Deleted User boat, and that it doesn't restrict the anchor recovery in any way, because it's just a one-way lock, so to speak.
Anyway. That counts as one vote against the "standard" model, I reckon!
Any other views?

 

[Andy Bav]

Our Bavaria had the Standard Chain Stopper fitted, never had a problem. The Princess has a cable and caribiner (?) and it is more of a faff, as the diameter of the caribiner metal is only 1/2 - 3/4 mm less that the size of the hole in the chain i try to thread it through.

 

[Portofino]

My old Sunseeker had the standard one .
You could flip the latch easily to let the chain out .
It would self open as you infer when locked ( as in the pic if chain lets out L to R ) when recovering.
We still tied the chain off in the locker incase of a bounce flying over waves or some other accidental reflip situation .
In other words did not rely on it to prevent accidental deployment.

Current boat as you know has a pocket anchor with everything hidden away ,no chain stopper we use a simple hook and ligature to secure agist accidental deployment.
Just anchor on the winch only ( which is massive btw ) can’t really tie off the chain either ,take the strain off the drum .
2001 - still works fine .
Although with 1/2 decent Met on your devices theses days - ,sheltered anchorages and the confidence to be able to bug out and go far in a short space of time ,we have not had a rough night - thus far , rough enough so to speak that I felt the need to protect the gearbox .
How ever should the need arise we could leave the locker door open and loop a line through a link and attach that to bollard ( behind the locker ) to take the strain .

I,d be more worried at this stage - retro fitting if I was you- of weakening the area where you dril holes potentially star cracking the grp because of the extra strain .
Working on the basis if it was designed in OEM ish they would extra lay up ,add reinforcement to said “ stopper “ position.
Or some miss alignment issue a mm or so high or low or what ever .
Saying all this blind of the proposed site .

 

[jrudge]

I know someone who trashed a windy with accidental anchor deployment and the guy who looks after my boat had the same thing happen but with no show stopper damage.

The s65 had a stopper and the Caribina. I would personally not rely on the stopper alone.

 

[petem]

Worth mentioning in petem thread about 1st world problems, I suppose... Hey-ho!

Nah this is way too functional to be a proper first world problems Whereas, the ability to clean fish via a pump dispensing salt water is right up there with the best first world boating problem.

Anyhow, I wonder if this might work for you...

https://coastalrides.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=18156&search=chain

Pete

 

[MapisM]

I,d be more worried at this stage - retro fitting if I was you- of weakening the area where you dril holes potentially star cracking the grp because of the extra strain .
Working on the basis if it was designed in OEM ish they would extra lay up ,add reinforcement to said “ stopper “ position.

Good point.
Gut feeling while walking on the deck is that it's as solid as a sidewalk, but it's one of those cases where it's convenient to have the builder phone number in your contacts! :encouragement:

 

[MapisM]

The s65 had a stopper and the Caribina. I would personally not rely on the stopper alone.

Interesting. Was the stopper one of the above, and was it standard installation?
Besides, why wouldn't you trust it? Was it so unstable?

 

[MapisM]

Anyhow, I wonder if this might work for you...
https://coastalrides.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=18156&search=chain

Thanks for the pointer P, but I'm afraid the boat is 56 feet, not 96. That stopper is for 14mm chain...

 

[BruceK]

Geez...! Isn't it supposed to self-open when winching in?
I half remember to have used the Lewmar thing above in Deleted User boat, and that it doesn't restrict the anchor recovery in any way, because it's just a one-way lock, so to speak.
Anyway. That counts as one vote against the "standard" model, I reckon!
Any other views?

Possibly because under tension chain rises above pin? Any way whats left. Excuse last weekends mud still on the pulpit

https://imgur.com/NUXQXHq.jpg

 

[MapisM]

Aha, I see, thanks. I suppose it's designed to work aligned with the chain - i.e. an inch or so higher, in your case.
Makes me wonder, how did you use it till it worked?
I mean, did you have to pull out the pin before dropping the hook, or was it sufficient to raise the locking bit?
If the former, that's as cumbersome as the carbine hook if not worse, I reckon...

 

[Eren]

May I contribute to Petem’s list of 1st world problems by asking for possibility of adding an power actuator for this chain locker to deploy it on and off from the helm? It is a hassle to walk to the front to lock/unlock it each time.

As an answer to OP’s question, it looks like the standard version looks more prone the getting locked when taking the chain in as it has a deeper groove.

Just a slight drift from the thread but, do you think that it is possible to lock the chain with this stopper during laying the chain and motoring backwards kindly to dig in the anchor better? This cannot be done without the chain lock as the gearbox will not be able to stand that kind of load.

 

[MapisM]

As an answer to OP’s question, it looks like the standard version looks more prone the getting locked when taking the chain in as it has a deeper groove.

I didn't think about it, but it's a point that makes good sense.

do you think that it is possible to lock the chain with this stopper during laying the chain and motoring backwards kindly to dig in the anchor better? This cannot be done without the chain lock as the gearbox will not be able to stand that kind of load.

You could use it for that purpose I suppose, but if the windlass g/box can't stand that load, either you are reversing in a way that can't be called "kind" by any stretch of imagination, or you'd better replace the windlass altogether. 'Fiuaskme, reversing to dig in the anchor is a fairly overrated maneuver, unnecessary in most cases.

 

[Portofino]

Just a slight drift from the thread but, do you think that it is possible to lock the chain with this stopper during laying the chain and motoring backwards kindly to dig in the anchor better? This cannot be done without the chain lock as the gearbox will not be able to stand that kind of load.

We tend to go back anyhow when deploying , and the boat just settles drifts fwd when engines off as the catenary effect of the arc of chain works . strains the winch sure I,am not worried as how can you wrap them up in cotton wool ?
Personally I would not then after the above “ motor back “ any more than normal .
Even with a stopper holding as have you seen how small the screw holes are in the relative small stopper base ?

 

[BruceK]

Aha, I see, thanks. I suppose it's designed to work aligned with the chain - i.e. an inch or so higher, in your case.
Makes me wonder, how did you use it till it worked?
I mean, did you have to pull out the pin before dropping the hook, or was it sufficient to raise the locking bit?
If the former, that's as cumbersome as the carbine hook if not worse, I reckon...

I had to remove pin. Yes it was a PITA

Edited to say removing and replacing pin was dead easy SO LONG AS the chain wasnt under tension. Once the windlass slacks off the chain obviously drops. You can see why I said in a storm or wind its dangerous imo

 

[MapisM]

Mmm... That definitely counts as one STRONG vote against the "standard".
Shame, I sort of liked (on top of the lower price tag) its understated simplicity...

 

[Portofino]

P see my post #5 and revisit the 2nd to last line .
I used “ mm “ deliberately.——- In terms of lining up the thing retro fitting sans OEM .

 

[MapisM]

Yup, point taken, though I'm confident that placing the thing in a proper and solid enough position wouldn't be a problem.
Otoh, if in practice the stopper is more cumbersome than the carbine hook, I might as well not bother at all...

 

[jfm]

Mapism, a few thoughts on this. I have one OEM on sq78, as well as a carbine hook thing.

1. The posts above talk of the carbine and the stopper as alternatives. I don't think they are and I have *both* OEM. Carbine in my book is only for holding anchor underway to stop it falling in sea if something broke/clutch loose. It is definitely not to act as anchor snubber. The stopper is for that. The wire crimps on 5mm steel wire in the carbine set up, and the carbine hook itself even if it has a dovetailed closer, are just not strong enough in my book.

2. They should work as "one way" as said above. But they want the links to be vertical and horizontal only. Bruce's imgur pic shows a badly twisted chain and that encourages jamming. They don't jam imhe if the chain is untwisted.

3. I hate the "standard" because its footprint is too small so it will impart more crushing load on your deck and more pullout load on the aft bolt, and also you have to raise the pawl directly so putting fingers where chain is. Two sins, urgh. The Lewmar and quick have a nice lever to raise the pawl and better footprint.

4. You need to understand how they hold the pawl up, which is needed to drop anchor. My pawl stays up with gravity ( over centre) AND has a lock pin to hold it there if you want. These all seem to use gravity only which is a shame but not the end of the world I suppose. I like the pin because in light weather I lock the pawl up and don't use the thing at all, which means I can let out more chain while anchored without having to fiddle with the thing, but that's a small point I guess

Mine is custom- an extension to the cheeks of one of the rollers- so I can't link to a catalogue. I'll find a pic sometime. Anyway, my €0.02 is that the lewmar and quick are MUCH better than the standard. And forget about carbines as an alternative.