How best to snub my anchor chain

tudorsailor

tudorsailor

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I have an anchor chain hook attached to a length of rope. Should I run the line back from the anchor through a forward fairlead to a cleat or should I run it over the bow-roller next to the anchor chain itself? My concern that with the line running out the fairlead that it will firstly give an off-centre pull and secondly will rub on the gelcoat. It is better to run the line next to the acnhor itself through the bowroller?
Thanks

Tudorsailor
 
We use our snubber through the bowroller and have been doing so since leaving uk in April 2008. We have anchored 95% of the time, with conditions varying from flat calm to raging F8 with corresponding swell. We have never had a problem with next to no chafe. It also keeps the pulling forces central to the boat.

Just make sure the snubber is of sufficient size to take all the strain and securely fixed on board.
 
We spent two years trying various methods - bridles, short, long, fairlead and bow roller. In the end we settled on, over the spare bow roller and onto a deck cleat. However it was not unusual to get the snubber and chain twisted around each other in light winds and as we slept up forward this resulted in chain 'clunks'. The solution was to use a fairly short snubber in light winds - hook above the waterline - this reduced the tendency to twist, and a long one (5 metres) in any breeze.
A really useful additional idea - gleaned from the forum last year and tried extensivley over 6 months, is to let a large bight of chain out behind the snubber in windy conditions. This does several things. Firstly it adds the weight of the chain to the overall scope and therefore helps with keeping the anchor chain down - rather like an anchor angel (is that the right term?). This is especially useful if your swinging room is restricted in a crowded anchorage when you may not be able to get as much scope out as you would like. Secondly, because of the added water drag of the chain, it reduces the tendency of the boat to sail under anchor and helps reduce snatch loads on the chain when the boat is brought up. I let out just enought to clear the bottom - otherwise you get the rumbling of the chain as it drags over the seabed.
 
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