Flopper Stoppers.

[hlb]

Since my anchor winch went baserk at Glasson last year, I've taken to useing a chain stopper. It's a hook on the end of a rope for them that dont know.

I leave some slack in the chain, so the weight is firmly on the hook and rope.

But each morning it has detached it's self. Luckily I found the problem with the winch, a bit of crud on the clutch thingy, so no big deal. However.........

 

[LittleShip]

Since my anchor winch went baserk at Glasson last year, I've taken to useing a chain stopper. It's a hook on the end of a rope for them that dont know.

I leave some slack in the chain, so the weight is firmly on the hook and rope.

But each morning it has detached it's self. Luckily I found the problem with the winch, a bit of crud on the clutch thingy, so no big deal. However.........

and your question about flopper stoppers is........?

Tom

 

[hlb]

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[LittleShip]

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Flopper Stoppers.......

Items that hang over the side to stop the boat rolling when either underway or at anchor. As found on many Trawler type vessels but alas not Little Ship, although they would have been handy on Saturday night

Tom

 

[hlb]

Yes I remember now. So whats my thingies called.

 

[Salty John]

Its called an anchor snubber. I dont like the open chain hooks because, as you have found, they fall off when the chain rotates. I just tie the snubber onto the chain with a rolling hitch - doesn't slip off and no clunky hardware to bang your deck or toes.

The snubber stops the chain banging around in the bow roller and keeping you awake. Also, if the wind is causing you to lie broadside to the swell, like when the swell in bending around a headland so it's coming from a different direction than the wind, you can take the snubber to an aft cleat and pull the bow round into the swell so it's less rolly. Great things, snubbers.

Flopper stoppers, on the other hand, look like a pile of road works cones hanging into the sea off a pole on each side of the boat to limit the roll at anchor. There are more sophisticated versions, but you get the idea.

 

[LittleShip]

Its called an anchor snubber. I dont like the open chain hooks because, as you have found, they fall off when the chain rotates. I just tie the snubber onto the chain with a rolling hitch - doesn't slip off and no clunky hardware to bang your deck or toes.

The snubber stops the chain banging around in the bow roller and keeping you awake. Also, if the wind is causing you to lie broadside to the swell, like when the swell in bending around a headland so it's coming from a different direction than the wind, you can take the snubber to an aft cleat and pull the bow round into the swell so it's less rolly. Great things, snubbers.

Flopper stoppers, on the other hand, look like a pile of road works cones hanging into the sea off a pole on each side of the boat to limit the roll at anchor. There are more sophisticated versions, but you get the idea.

As John said.......

H, I did notice that yours had come off on Sunday morning, as you probably could see mine is a shackle, which I always worry about if I need to remove it quickly.

John good tip on moving the snubber to the rear to make the boat lay into the wind/waves ect next time instead of wedging everything in I'll try that actually I did know about it but was just too erm..... tired on Saturday evening to get up

Tom

 

[PaulGooch]

<snip> you can take the snubber to an aft cleat and pull the bow round into the swell so it's less rolly. Great things, snubbers.<snip>

Hope i'm not hijacking Haydn's thread here, but could you elaborate on that at all ?

 

[Salty John]

Yes, here is a link to my anchoring article on our website:
http://www.saltyjohn.co.uk/resources/haphook.pdf
On page 4 there is a description and sketch. The article is written from a raggies point of view but the principles apply to all boats.

 

[hlb]

I think more things should be called flopper stoppers, it's such a nice name.

 

[Salty John]

You're right, Haydn, flopper stopper is so much nicer than, say, jock strap or bra!

 

[Kilter]

Going back to the original problem; a nordinary piece of rope attached to the chain with a rolling hitch has never detached itself in my experience.

 

[AndieMac]

Yes, here is a link to my anchoring article on our website:
http://www.saltyjohn.co.uk/resources/haphook.pdf
On page 4 there is a description and sketch. The article is written from a raggies point of view but the principles apply to all boats.

Interesting concept Salty John, as a sufferer of rolly anchorages am keen to try this one.

Cheers

 

[PaulGooch]

Yes, here is a link to my anchoring article on our website:
http://www.saltyjohn.co.uk/resources/haphook.pdf
On page 4 there is a description and sketch. The article is written from a raggies point of view but the principles apply to all boats.

Thanks for sharing that John. We fish a lot and sometimes sitting beam into the swell makes for an unpleasant roll, in what would be pleasant conditions if we sat bow into the swell. I'll give this a try.