[2574]
...
For reasons that I won't bore you with I was forced down the road of investing a not inconsiderable sum in an Ultra swivel. It is a very fine piece of kit but there is an issue of which you should be aware if you are considering spending your children's inheritance on one. The swivel is designed for the Ultra anchor which at the connecting end of the shank has a round hole through which a pin neatly passes. However many anchor manufacturers have a slot for a connecting shackle, my Rocna Vulcan being one such example, and this slot causes a potential problem with the Ultra swivel as it can slide up the slot and jamb, see this photo:
Ultra do make reference to this issue in the literature which accompanies the swivel and they suggest that a slot is not needed and could be filled if desired. Well actually it is imperative that this be done otherwise the anchor comes up with the connector jambed and it is then impossible to stow the anchor. I've been anchoring all summer - it jambed for the first time this week. Luckily it was flat calm so I could deal with it, in a bumpy anchorage it wouldn't have been so much fun. The solution I've found, which seems to work so far, is to stuff the slot behind the pin with closed cell foam, see this photo:
The foam prevents the connector sliding up the shank to jamb and so far has survived two dippings. No doubt a more permanent and professional solution could be found, for the time being this bodge suffices. A welded solution would require regalvanising so that could be pricey.
Ultra do make reference to this issue in the literature which accompanies the swivel and they suggest that a slot is not needed and could be filled if desired. Well actually it is imperative that this be done otherwise the anchor comes up with the connector jambed and it is then impossible to stow the anchor. I've been anchoring all summer - it jambed for the first time this week. Luckily it was flat calm so I could deal with it, in a bumpy anchorage it wouldn't have been so much fun. The solution I've found, which seems to work so far, is to stuff the slot behind the pin with closed cell foam, see this photo:
The foam prevents the connector sliding up the shank to jamb and so far has survived two dippings. No doubt a more permanent and professional solution could be found, for the time being this bodge suffices. A welded solution would require regalvanising so that could be pricey.
