Different sized boats on one mooring buoy

[MedMilo]

I do the same but with chain hook spliced to a single 10m length of anchor plait which I cleat off on one of the forward cleats only, usually at about 3-5m. When I want to leave I simply untie the line from the cleat and when not under tension the hook just drops off the chain before I use the windlass to bring up the ground tackle. This all but eliminates 'grinding' noise of chain on bow roller which is very loud at night. When it's very windy I would usually use the full 10m of anchor plait as it acts as a very effective spring and reduces the snatching effect of the chain which can sometimes unset the anchor - this is particularly effective when anchoring in sub, say, 6m of water and there's not enough chain out to get sufficient catenary effect. As I'm only attached to one cleat I don't get the reduced yawing though, in fact I might even be making the yawing marginally worse by being slightly lopsided!

 

[Hurricane]

First some important advice that I feel strongly about.
According to his post, JFM already has this covered.
The winch/windlass will NOT take the load on the chain itself.
I'll explain.
The shaft that drives these windlasses is connected vertically to a bronze gear in the gearbox.

(Please excuse the beer cans!!)

This gear is driven from a worm gear.
Unless you make provision for taking the load off the windlass, the entire boat will be held on about 4 teeth in the gearbox.
So, it will eventually strip the teeth and ?ugger the gearbox.
Believe me - it does.

JFM has it covered on his installation with his "chain lock (non return valve) device"
But I don't think that many boats out there have them fitted as standard.

So, a simple solution is the bridle that we (now) always deploy.

Actually, I'm a great believer in a bridle for another very good reason.
A chum is a weight that many yachties will slide down their anchor lines to "lower" the catenary effect of the line.
We don't carry a chum but we DO have lots of chain in the locker.
So, we rig a bridal using a chain hook and then let out extra chain.
This extra chain creates a huge loop.
We make sure that this loop doesn't touch the bottom.
Now, the whole anchor rig and its catenary is lower than it would be it if it were connected to the bow roller.
In our case, it is as though the anchor was trying to hold a boat about 2m below the surface.
We are often in tight anchorages where yachties don't like our swing so reducing the amount of chain for the equivalent hold is a definite advantage.
Also this extra weight (pulling the chain down) creates extra damping making it more comfortable.

Hopefully, you can see from this pic

Somebody will probably shoot my theories down but it definitely works for us.

Actually, if you design your bridle carefully, it can be no trouble lifting it in a hurry.
We use a simple chain hook and some rope with soft eyes and some rubber snubbers.
Takes a short time to rig it but it comes off immediately as we wind in the windlass.

 

[alt]

I'm never anchored in much of a breeze, but good point and noted. I'm going to get a hook with some rope to take the load off the windlass for this upcoming season