Anchor Thingy

A kellet?? What a strange idea?

Why making things simple when.... You can make them complicated?? :0)

They are some confusions about « kellets » . You can use them for three main different purposes.. but unfortunately not the tree at the same time..

- 1°) To increase the holding of the anchor.. then the kellet should be as close as possible to the shank of the anchor… this is perfectly mathematically demonstrated on Alain Fraysse’s web page (http://alain.fraysse.free.fr/sail/rode/forces/forces.htm) and there is no possible discussion about this point..

- 2°) To increase the “dampening” effect.. and then the ideal position will be on the middle of the mooring rode.. but what is the interest to increase the dampening effect??

- If you have an all chain rode, you MUST use any kind of snubber.. and the dampening of the snubber should be enough..

- If you are using a mixed line with Nylon rope.. then the elasticity of the Nylon will be enough.. then forget about the kellet..

- If the surge in your anchorage start to increase and to be too big.. there is only one solution.. to leave to the open sea or to a more protected anchorage.. otherwise, sooner or latter, the DYNAMIC forces will be so big that you will either drag your anchor or break something on the deck.. kellet or not..

- The last use of a kellet will be to reduce your swinging area.. and then the kellet should be attached at a length a little bit longer than the water height..
but also then, two solutions.. If you are alone in your anchorage.. you will not care.. (and no kellet) if the anchorage is packed with other anchored boats.. you will better “swing” together with others boats (and also no kellet.:0) )

Or perhaps a solution would be to use tree kellets at the same time.. :0) :0)

I think that, if you’re thinking about using a kellet or a tandem set anchors.. it is time for you to thinks first at you anchoring gear..
 
IMHO, if you seek to increase the holding power of your ground tackle, then you increase the size/weight of your anchor and the size/weight of your chain. That is, change from - say - a 35lb plough-type to a 55lb one. Same with your chain.... Why faff around with extra lumps of metal that need special lines and handling, add nothing to the ultimate strength of your ground tackle, and need separate storage?

Instead of trying to work out how to get a bit extra performance from a marginal anchor, why not simply go bigger and stronger until there's no question that the gear is sufficient? Is that what the guy who gave you this 'big shackle' is doing?

I watched a heavy 60' trawler yacht being very expensively refitted all last winter near here. The new owner fitted the neat little 25lb anchor that the 'yardies' sold to him. On his first coastal trip, he got stuck outside Padstow all night waiting for enough rise of tide to get over the Doom Bar. Of course, he dragged and dragged, so that they spent the whole night hauling up and re-setting the bl***y thing - then dragging again.

He needed a 60lb plough.

/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
Top