Anchor swivel

[Hurricane]

About 50% of the time our anchor comes up perfectly.
The rest of the time, SWMBO has to "flip it over" by rotating the chain until the anchor presents itself correctly and she can then finish recoving it.
This procedure often takes a few minutes and whilst we are normally "chilled out" so to speak, I wonder what we would do if we needed to get away quickly sometime and it miss behaved itself.

The other day, we asked Princess and they suggested a swivel. Apparently the anchor is balanced so that it will spin on a swivel in the correct alignment.

What are people's views on these? - are they strong enough?

What do others use?

 

[Richard10002]

Once you're anchor is out of the water and close to the roller, you can go, albeit not as fast as you might like. You can then sort it out when you get to safe water.

Kong seem to be the dogs danglies of the anchor swivel world. Plenty strong enough.

 

[MYAG]

I have a 25kg Delta fitted to a Man 50. It came factory standard with a swivel but I had to upgrade to the next size up as it got a little bent during the first season. The new swivel has lasted 3 years since with no problems, so I guess its better to fit the biggest size you can. A good quality ss swivel should be safe but you should wire the screw bolt securely to prevent it coming undone.

However, even with the swivel inline, I also eventually experienced what you describe and at about the same rate as 50% of the time. I found that the swivel was sticking and that by often applying a liberal amount of grease to its workings the problem was cured.

 

[mjf]

About 50% of the time our anchor comes up perfectly.
The rest of the time, SWMBO has to "flip it over" by rotating the chain until the anchor presents itself correctly and she can then finish recoving it.
This procedure often takes a few minutes and whilst we are normally "chilled out" so to speak, I wonder what we would do if we needed to get away quickly sometime and it miss behaved itself.

The other day, we asked Princess and they suggested a swivel. Apparently the anchor is balanced so that it will spin on a swivel in the correct alignment.

What are people's views on these? - are they strong enough?

What do others use?

I have never needed one of these with the Delta, always comes up properly and never 'cock o bill'.

Maybe because we always leave the anchor just in the water once its aweigh to clean any **** off whilst we manouver slow out of the anchorage spot - then once we need to get some serious way on we stow it and up it comes straight into the bow roller ready to be secured for sea.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Recent useful discussion about anchor swivels here:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212661

I wanted to fit one of the twist swivels to the T40 - but there wasn't enough room between the back of the anchor and the windlass, so I've made do with a conventional swivel instead (Nick_h alludes to this problem in the thread).

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[Hurricane]

Thanks everyone.

And thanks, Jimmy for the link.

I'm now even more concerned about their strength.

Do you think that JW is too heavy for one of these swivels?

As jfm says, I dont think its the strength actually at anchor as most of the load is taken on the chain which runs along the sea bed.
Its the recovery and perhaps the "digging in" that worries me.

There have been times when the anchor has dug itself well into clay and needed a good pull to recover it. I dont really want to loose an anchor for the sake of a little fiddling when we recover.

We've always fitted an anchor strop when the anchor is stowed so there would be no chance of it coming loose under way anyway.
Maybe mjf has the right idea - most of the time the anchor comes up dirty anyway.

 

[MapisM]

I use a quick and easy trick to flip the anchor over when necessary.
But I'm afraid it only works with horizontal windlasses. Yours is vertical, innit?

PS: personally, I'd never even consider a swivel, anyway.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

About 50% of the time our anchor comes up perfectly.
The rest of the time, SWMBO has to "flip it over" by rotating the chain until the anchor presents itself correctly and she can then finish recoving it.
This procedure often takes a few minutes and whilst we are normally "chilled out" so to speak, I wonder what we would do if we needed to get away quickly sometime and it miss behaved itself.

The other day, we asked Princess and they suggested a swivel. Apparently the anchor is balanced so that it will spin on a swivel in the correct alignment.

What are people's views on these? - are they strong enough?

What do others use?

I've used Kong swivels http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/windlasses-chain/Kong/stainless-steel-anchor-connectors1191-119297.bhtml?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_term=Kong_Stainless_Steel_Anchor_Connectors_&utm_campaign=postage on a few boats now and they work up to a point ie not all the time. A good tip with a swivel is to go astern with the anchor just below the surface of the water which tends to turn the anchor the right way round. One thing to watch though is that I find that the Kong swivel tends to splay at it's ends after a few seasons of regular anchoring so it needs replacing from time to time.
Last season, I used one of these http://www.chandlerysupplies.co.uk/html/the_twist.html and this pretty much solved our misaligned anchor problems. The way the thing works when it has to rotate the anchor is quite aggressive so you need to go easy on the windlass as the Twist thingy engages with the bow roller

 

[Hurricane]

Thanks everyone.

I'm still not convinced that they are strong enough so I will probably try and find a way of perfecting the job without any gadgets.

At the moment, SWMBO twists (sort of rolls) the short length of chain between the windlass and the roller but we have a heavy old anchor (I can only just lift it) so it can be a little difficult.

 

[sarabande]

Hurricane

there are lots of swivels used in the lifting and fishing industry, as you would expect. Warranted breaking loads far above what you will encounter.

Worth having a look at these ?

http://www.cosalt.com/products-serv...620832C-B433-4FC7-A07B-A2D41CA01502&pr_id=136

 

[Hurricane]

Hurricane

there are lots of swivels used in the lifting and fishing industry, as you would expect. Warranted breaking loads far above what you will encounter.

Worth having a look at these ?

http://www.cosalt.com/products-serv...620832C-B433-4FC7-A07B-A2D41CA01502&pr_id=136

Thanks

There's a good fishing supplier (co-operative) close to our marina - I think I'll have a look in there when I'm next down on the boat.

 

[benjenbav]

Maybe because we always leave the anchor just in the water once its aweigh to clean any **** off whilst we manouver slow out of the anchorage spot - then once we need to get some serious way on we stow it and up it comes straight into the bow roller ready to be secured for sea.

We follow this method since the time I brought the anchor up slightly too quickly and it wedged itself at 45 degrees in the stowing mechanism - requiring the assistance of a strong man with a large crowbar to dislodge.

 

[LittleShip]

I'm still not convinced that they are strong enough so I will probably try and find a way of perfecting the job without any gadgets.

When my boat was surveyed, the surveyor questioned me on the use of a swivel, at the time I had no idea how old it was and he passed comment on the survey that he had asked me to remove it. I have never had the will to replace it, he didnt like swivels and for me that was good enough reason not to replace it.

That said, I think I would be looking at fitting a new one every year if SWMBOS hands were near the anchor just as a safety device.

Tom

 

[RogerRat]

To swivel or not?

Hi Mike, interesting question. I don't think you need a swivel either. Derek (djefabs) always flips his Delta by nudging back astern and my standard 'Delta' flips if required by nudging ahead. I would you recommend that you try both ways and see which yours prefers.

The logic of the balance and hydrodynamics suggests going astern first at 1-2 knots with the anchor just below the surface. Lift the anchor clear while making way. Provided your chain is not badly twisted, you should recover it the right way up 80% of the time anyway.

Let us know what you find.

 

[Hurricane]

Just dug this old thread up.

OK then - we seem to be getting the anchor up the wrong way more times than the correct way.
Bit concerned because SWMBO's technique is to twist the chain with the anchor hanging just above the water and this is a big anchow - I can only just lift it.

So - I'v'e managed to track down a "the twist" (the bigger one) - as Nick_h's post above.
And before I take it out to the boat, here's a few pics.

Its really much more substantial than I'd thought it would be (the rule shows how big it is) - great piece of engineering. (Alan - if you read this - something you can REALLY fondle)

 

[mjf]

Just dug this old thread up.

OK then - we seem to be getting the anchor up the wrong way more times than the correct way.
Bit concerned because SWMBO's technique is to twist the chain with the anchor hanging just above the water and this is a big anchow - I can only just lift it.

So - I'v'e managed to track down a "the twist" (the bigger one) - as Nick_h's post above.
And before I take it out to the boat, here's a few pics.

Its really much more substantial than I'd thought it would be (the rule shows how big it is) - great piece of engineering. (Alan - if you read this - something you can REALLY fondle)

and.........a proper anchor shackle too I see!

 

[PaulGooch]

My boat is only a small un, 27 feet and about 4.5 tons. It's fitted with a 13kg CQR style anchor, 8mm chain and 14mm rope. Often, the anchor will come up upside down, as soon as the shank pulls over the rollers, it flips over, due to the swivel. I use a swivel like this one :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HEAVY-DUTY-ST...tEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item20b0413697

Recently, i attempted to haul an old wreck up from the bottom. After much shunting around, tugging at hauling with the windlass and engine (the rope looked like it might snap) the actual anchor broke across the jaw that the pivot pin goes through, this was a genuine CQR anchor. So, i'm happy that my swivel isn't going to let me down.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Mike, as I said in my previous post, I have been using the Twist for a couple of seasons now and it works well but be a bit careful when you lift your anchor into the bow roller. The Twist has quite an aggressive action and it's easy for the anchor to clout the bash plate on the bow, at least on the 2 boats I've had it on. Also only yesterday, my hamfisted son managed to lift the chain clean off the bow roller and jam it on the side of the bow roller structure because he wasnt careful enough when feeding the Twist through the bow roller. The air was blue after that!

 

[Hurricane]

Mike, as I said in my previous post, I have been using the Twist for a couple of seasons now and it works well but be a bit careful when you lift your anchor into the bow roller. The Twist has quite an aggressive action and it's easy for the anchor to clout the bash plate on the bow, at least on the 2 boats I've had it on. Also only yesterday, my hamfisted son managed to lift the chain clean off the bow roller and jam it on the side of the bow roller structure because he wasnt careful enough when feeding the Twist through the bow roller. The air was blue after that!

Thanks for that, Mike, I will pass the message on to the foredeck crew!!

 

[Wiggo]

Mike, we've used a Twist for years and anchored loads with no problems. Just mark your chain at 1 and 2m so you know when to slow down to stop it bashing about. It's worth doing for two reasons: first, it stops the anchor thrashing about, but also because the Twist will spin the anchor really quickly and if the windlass is running flat out the anchor can actually twist slightly too far and jam in the pipe 45 degrees over.