Salvaged anchor with free warning about crappy swivels

Minn said:
If you have a bow roller with a decent diameter and a groove cut into the face to take the vertical links, the anchor will untwist itself automatically as it comes home. No need for a swivel.
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Recently I ditched a swivel of this type which had become deformed and almost lost the anchor due to a slackened bolt. I also could see no reason for a swivel and replaced it with a suitable shackle . Just as Minn says the anchor spins out any twists and houses more easily.
 
Bilgediver said:
Just as Minn says the anchor spins out any twists and houses more easily.
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Definitely not on our boat. The chain is perfectly able to rotate on the bow roller and often does, despite the groove lovingly turned in it expressly to prevent it. When this happens the anchor must be lifted while hanging over the bow and the chain turned by hand to get the anchor up the right way. This process is impossible for my wife and a PITA for me. A swivel makes the job simple for either of us.
 
vyv_cox said:
Definitely not on our boat. The chain is perfectly able to rotate on the bow roller and often does, despite the groove lovingly turned in it expressly to prevent it. When this happens the anchor must be lifted while hanging over the bow and the chain turned by hand to get the anchor up the right way. This process is impossible for my wife and a PITA for me. A swivel makes the job simple for either of us.
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A swivel is also helpful when the chain is all out and rope is also deployed or, if like us, the chain isn't left on the windlass when the anchor is stowed.

John
 
vyv_cox said:
Definitely not on our boat. The chain is perfectly able to rotate on the bow roller and often does, despite the groove lovingly turned in it expressly to prevent it. When this happens the anchor must be lifted while hanging over the bow and the chain turned by hand to get the anchor up the right way. This process is impossible for my wife and a PITA for me. A swivel makes the job simple for either of us.
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My bow roller also have a groove, which is supposed to prevent the chain from rotating, but doesn't. I have a "bent link" between the anchor and the chain, which automatically rotates the anchor to the correct orientation as soon as the link comes onto the roller. I appreciate that not all boats are lucky enough to have adequate length between the bow roller and the windlass gypsy, to accommodate a "bent link", but if there is enough length, fit one, and save yourself the hassle of poking about at the anchor, to get it round the right way. To avoid any doubt, my bent link does NOT have a swivel.
 
This is an interesting thread. I was going to buy on the the Ultra-marine flip swivels but in order to work it must be attached directly to the anchor. I presume that this al also vulnerable to this kind of damage. What do you think?

 
Seven Spades said:
This is an interesting thread. I was going to buy on the the Ultra-marine flip swivels but in order to work it must be attached directly to the anchor. I presume that this al also vulnerable to this kind of damage. What do you think?

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They have addressed the problem of direct attachment to the anchor to some extent by adding the bridge piece across the jaws. Resistance to lateral loading will certainly be higher and probably sufficient for most real world situations. As with the anchor, beautifully made but at what cost?
 
Seven Spades said:
This is an interesting thread. I was going to buy on the the Ultra-marine flip swivels but in order to work it must be attached directly to the anchor. I presume that this al also vulnerable to this kind of damage. What do you think?

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Well, I think it's an ultra expensive solution to a problem that doesn't exist. However, there are people who see expensive shiny things advertised, and immediately think that their boat should have one. Some people buy all sorts of unnecessary things, simply because of clever marketing. The water that I sail in is thin enough to allow my anchor to turn any way it likes, without introducing the potential weakness of a swivel. :D
 
vyv_cox said:
Definitely not on our boat. The chain is perfectly able to rotate on the bow roller and often does, despite the groove lovingly turned in it expressly to prevent it. When this happens the anchor must be lifted while hanging over the bow and the chain turned by hand to get the anchor up the right way. This process is impossible for my wife and a PITA for me. A swivel makes the job simple for either of us.
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This may have something to do with the dimensions of chain, roller and groove, but in 15 years it never happened to me.

I think the diameter of the bow roller may have something to do with it.

It seems like a subject that is worth investigating.
 
Minn said:
I think the diameter of the bow roller may have something to do with it.
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I think you may be on to something.

Our new Bestevear 49 has a large bow roller (see photo). I expected this to have some advantages reducing friction. Thus reducing the workload and stress on the anchor winch, but as a side benefit our large Mantus anchor rotates smoothly if it comes up the wrong way around (without a swivel). No fuss or stress. This helps to make anchor retrieval easy, as of course, it should be.

Fitting a roller as large as this may not be practical on many yachts, but if your bow roller is due for replacement increasing the diameter, if possible, is worth considering.

2oV8odC.jpg
 
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Thank you. On a 38ft 20,000lbs boat with 12mm chain, I fitted a nine inch diameter bow roller turned from hard plastic with a flat surface and one groove 14mm in width and a little more in depth. Like you, I was hoping to reduce friction, and it worked but it also kept the chain completely free of twists. I’m certainly going to do the same with the new boat, shortly.
 
“Our old scientific proof of anchor roller suitability still holds. To wit: if the experts in your marina laugh at the excessively huge anchor roller on your stem, you know you are on the correct path.”

Apologies to Steve Dashew for the misquote :) :).
 
Found another lost anchor (people seem to just leave these things everywhere). This time in Pylos (Navarino bay), again whilst diving our own. Hauled it in the dinghy for the exercise. Weighed 24 kg on the luggage scale. This time no evidence that I can see as to why it might've come loose - no remains of a shackle or swivel. Being a CQR copy, perhaps someone just didn't want it anymore :cool:

Up for grabs if you're in the area and need one (or lost yours - it looks like this one hasn't been down there very long).

9ac5b087f71f60dd.jpg
 
We don’t use a swivel either, but our Rocna, (which is obviously the best anchor to have :encouragement:) turns the right way on the bow roller as we recover it, due to its superior self-resetting memory function.

Oh dear, have I just lit a touch paper? Best retire to a safe distance...
 
KAL said:
We don’t use a swivel either, but our Rocna, (which is obviously the best anchor to have :encouragement:) turns the right way on the bow roller as we recover it, due to its superior self-resetting memory function.

Oh dear, have I just lit a touch paper? Best retire to a safe distance...
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I don't keep entirely upto date - interestingly the last I heard CMP were going to introduce a Rocna swivel. I wonder why?

I do recall they, Rocna, are an excellent product and even bring up some seabed when they are retrieved so that you can confirm exactly the bottom type in which they were anchored - a remarkable facility, Shows tremendous foresight on the part of the designers. I understand you can also check if your deck wash still works. It does make you wonder why all anchors are not designed the same way :) Most people seem to like this facility though they never admit to this most excellent of features except to say it simply underlines how well it is set (forgetting that it will not reset, if it inadvertently drags - until the fluke is clean)

https://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/37_26/features/Anchor-Resetting-Tests_10981-1.html

and for further evidence check Morgan's Cloud

Don't be complacent.

Jonathan
 
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Great work Yngmar.

This is best type of recycling.

If you do not have any takers from the forum the local fisherman are often grateful for gifts such as this.
 
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