Attaching Anchor to chain

In a professional capacity, some time ago, I used to use "cable shackles" for joining or coupling chain. This type of shackle has no protrusions. The pin is shaped so that it can be entered only one way, and is held in with a taper pin, which in turn, is held in with a lead pellet, hammered in to a recess. OK, all that sounds like a hassle, but it's strong and secure. I do not know if they are even available in the sizes that would interest us.
 
alahol2 said:
We'll have to agree to disagree. The possibility of cross loading on a maillon used as an anchor/chain joint is virtually nil, the physical layout doesn't allow it. It's actually far more likely with a shackle. I've never yet pulled up the anchor with the maillon anything other than inline. If the nut is tightened with a spanner it will not come undone, use Loctite if there's a doubt. If, by applying some incredible force, you did manage to strip the thread on the nut, the maillon is, to an extent, 'failing safe' which a shackle will not do.
Carabiners, I agree, are for climbing not mooring.
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Its up to you of course but for the sake of a few pounds versus the value of your yacht and/or whatever damage/injury could be done if it failed it seems more sensible to me to err on the side of caution and use a marine grade connection specifically designed for anchoring. Just because something has not failed so far doesn't mean wouldn't fail in future and insurance companies might take a view on this too particularly if its the incorrect application. I do notice that the one you cite is a 316 rigging grade component and not specifically a climbing or sailing product and no cross loading operational limit is cited hence it may or may not be okay to use for anchoring. Perhaps Mark in the rigging department at 3Si could advise you regarding that specific product.

I do however totally agree with you that most shackles are far from perfect in these respects too and are rarely marked with breaking forces so for the most part we sailors have to use a great deal more guesswork/intuition than climbers or industrial riggers.

Perhaps I'm overcautious as I have witnessed the failing of devices rated to 22kn with a 80kg test mass falling no more than a couple of meters. Snatch loads on anchor connections in extreme conditions are presumably vastly higher than this though I don't have any specific test data to confirm it either way. That particular mallion is SWL rated at 980 kg static load. In a dynamic situation that's roughly equivalent to 1000Kg falling under the influence of gravity just 1m ie approx 10kn, or to put it another way, ie comparable to the force a 1 tonne boat pitching 1m onto a tight chain. If cross loaded the breaking strain could be considerably less. All that's academic though as the anchor would likely be dragging along the seabed long before those kind of forces were present but it never ceases to amaze me how much force can be generated by simple dynamic systems.
 
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Ric said:
View attachment 33732I fitted an Osculati banana - beautifully engineered streamline swivel which also turns the anchor the right way round as it comes through the bow roller.
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Mine is similar, but with no swivel, and galvanised, not stainless.
Pardon me if I'm wrong, but yours looks as if it would turn the anchor onto its side, rather than the right way up. Also the eye end of the shackle pin is going to hit the roller. Although not obvious in the photo, is there a swivel at the chain end of the banana?
 
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