Anchoring When You Have A Bowsprit Bobstay?

[CaptainBob]

Our bobstay will be very close to our anchor chain when we're at anchor. It'll be fine when the chain is hanging vertically, or when it's sticking out forward when in a bit of a blow, but if we start to yaw about, I'm near sure the chain is going to press against the bobstay.

Is this a common problem? Is it a big problem? (We intend to anchor a lot)

Here's a couple of pictures but I don't think they show the situation very clearly...

 

[claudio]

fasten a shackle to the bottom bobstay mount and attach your snubber line to that

 

[sarabande]

not too happy with that idea, C. Some recent work on tensions in anchor chains has given snatch loads of around 8 tonnes on a 12m sailing boat.

Can't give an answer, except to suggest that the boat is made to lie to a gentle sheer so that the warp lies out at 5 to 10 degrees - perhaps by a chain hook and snubber led back to near the shrouds ?

 

[Pye_End]

Use a snubber line that is well protected (eg plastic pipe) so will stand rubbing against the bobstay.

 

[claudio]

Seen lots of boats, certainly circumnavigators and long distance cruisers rigged that way. The snubber should take care of the snatch loads. Obviously a substantial bottom mount is required. The other option as you suggest is to rig a bridle system.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Perhaps the only time that chain and bobstay will come in contact the chain will be slack and will merely be pushed to one side by the bobstay? It may make some irritating "twangs" for anyone sleeping in the forpeak, but no serious forces will be involved.

Perhaps? Possibly? I don't really know!

 

[claudio]

I suppose the setup may vary depending on whether the boat is heavy displacement or a lightweight

 

[CaptainBob]

I suppose the setup may vary depending on whether the boat is heavy displacement or a lightweight

It's about 13 tonnes I think. Nauticat 38. Motorsailer.

 

[Seagreen]

For what its worth, I don't think you need bother about it on quiet nights, but in any other circumstances, I'd set up a strong bridle to cleats either side of the bow and slacken the chain. Good stretchy nylon rope will act as a snubber anyway and you can have the parts where the bridle chafes at the fairleads protected by plastic pipe.

 

[barnaclephill]

Perhaps the only time that chain and bobstay will come in contact the chain will be slack and will merely be pushed to one side by the bobstay? ...., but no serious forces will be involved.

Perhaps? Possibly? I don't really know!

I believe that is rubbish, to be frank.
At anchor in a blow, some boats will yaw about all over the place and the rode will have some strain on it, especially when it is brought up to a stop on one of its tacks. In such a situation, the bobstay will be pushed sideways between the anchor roller and the anchor.

I don't have a bowsprit yet- I've made my temporary one, but not had the occasion or long-distance sail to experiment with it - but I've been thinking about it and observing every other boat's set-up to see what they do. From what I see, they mostly use a bridle system, with 2 fairleads near the stemhead. That takes care of the tacking under anchor. Or so I think. I need more than a weekend trip to find out. Summer's coming...

 

[Salty John]

We cruised for two years or so on a boat with a 5' bowsprit, bobstay and dolphin striker. We anchored out most of the time.

Although I'd anticipated some problems, they never materialised. We always used a nylon snubber and this would at times rub against the bobstay. I considered putting a piece of split waterpipe on the lower section of the bobstay as I'd seen others do but never got round to it and the chafe on the snubber was never excessive.

If you do run the snubber through a snatch block at the end of the bowsprit, and I think this is a good system, attach the block to a line that allows you to lower the block from on deck. This way if you get caught in a blow, and you don't like the load on the bowsprit, you can lower the block so the snubber takes the load directly to the deck cleat or sampson post. This always struck me as a sensible system, although the bowsprit is actually very well supported by forestay, bobstay and whisker stays.

When anchoring in heavy weather we always used two anchors, one taken out through each bow fairlead, and this worked well.

 

[westernman]

I slacken off my bowsprit stay and haul it up out of the way. Not relevant for your case though.

I think the recommendation above about using a piece of stretchy nylon warp hooked on to the chain and lead back to a fair lead is on the money.

 

[prv]

My bobstay has a purchase which can be slackened off and the whole thing tied out of the way. It's very necessary to do this, otherwise the anchor chain and bobstay chain graunch and twang against each other all night, echoing through the boat.

A rope snubber seems like the best bet if you have a fixed bobstay. Chafe protection may be needed.

Pete

 

[flipper]

I think the recommendation above about using a piece of stretchy nylon warp hooked on to the chain and lead back to a fair lead is on the money.

The bowsprit on my boat was pulled out of the deck by anchor 'kick' under previous ownership. That means big trouble as the forestay is attached to it of course. I have repaired the deck now and given this problem a lot of thought. Although I haven't tried it yet I plan to use a bridle of nylon warp with a stopper knot (or maybe a hook) on the chain and take it either side to the fwd cleats. Seems to work in theory...

 

[charles_reed]

I slacken off my bowsprit stay and haul it up out of the way. Not relevant for your case though.

I think the recommendation above about using a piece of stretchy nylon warp hooked on to the chain and lead back to a fair lead is on the money.

I do the same, but the length of textile snubber with a large bight of chain after it has made a world of difference to the way my boat lies - about 3-5m of textile rode and 10-20m of chain bight.
Sorry for the drift into anchoring

 

[catalac08]

I normally slackened off the bobstay when anchored to avoid the anchor chain running across the tight bobstay and did that for years. One occasion I did not slacken it off and it then quickly blew up and whilst I was securing things on the boat the tension of the anchor chain bearing on the bobstay broke the heavy galvanised fitting at the end of the bowsprit. I think a bridle is a must if your bobstay is fixed.