kellets

[RXBOT]

It seems 2 me that an easy way 2 make kellets would be 2 use cast iron dumbbell weights. The 10 pound size put on a3/4 or 1 inch eyebolt, use more or less depending on what weight u want. A couple of shackles, one to slide down the rode and the other 4 4 the line 4 lowering & hauling back up. What do u all think ?

[sailingdog]

i'm not a big fan of kellets. IMHO, they provide little additional security when you need it most. You aren't going to make a kellet that is heavy enough to make a difference if the wind picks up and your anchor's ability to hold is really tested. You really need to have the proper size anchor instead.

A kellet works by increasing the catenary curve of the rode, supposedly helping keep the force on the anchor horizontal. If you have enough rode out, it won't really make a difference, and if you don't have enough rode out and the wind picks up, a kellet the size you're talking about won't mean anything.

Kellets also make retreival a bit more complicated, and if not properly designed can chafe the anchor rode.

[tomaz_423]

I could not agree more with dog.
For me the best 10 pound kellet is additional 3 foot of chain.
It is the same weight and less trouble to handle. Extra benefit: more scope

Edit: if you do not have electric windlass and you use all rope - then kellet may make sense.

[camaraderie]

Ditto that. Kellets are of no use in storm situations. All they do is let you use a bit shorter scope in normal conditions. Why bother?

[RXBOT]

U people aren't getting it. Depending on how long the eyebolt is u can add as many 10 pound plates as u want. Say 4 to 10 ( 40 to 100 pounds ). Also by positioning the kellet 3 to 4 feet down the chain part of the rode u don't have 2 worry about chafe. Some people swear by them and a Kiwi firm sells 40 pound ones 4 hundreds of dollars. Used plates are widely available and even new ones are usually a dollar a pound.

[sailingdog]

Even if you don't have an electric windlass...that's no excuse to not use at least 20' of chain. Having some chain is better than none, and 20' is a good compromise between none and having some protection from bottom chafe. Rocky, coral-strewn or foul bottoms can cut an all rope rode quite quickly.

[sailingdog]

Apparently, you don't really understand what a kellet does. A kellet basically acts to submerge the rode faster than it would by itself, effectively causing it to pull on the anchor with a more horizontal force.

However, if you're in the conditions where the rode is going to be taut—that is under a high load from wind and/or current—the kellet isn't doing anything—so you might as well not have the kellet deployed.

However, it does increase the risk of chafing the line under the high loads and can make anchor retrieval much more complicated, especially if the kellet line get tangled or twisted about the anchor rode.

If using a kellet is of no benefit when you really need the help....why waste your time with it. You'd be much better off getting an anchor that was 20 lbs. heavier or adding 15' of chain than you would using a 20 lb. kellet IMHO.

Originally Posted by RXBOT

U people aren't getting it. Depending on how long the eyebolt is u can add as many 10 pound plates as u want. Say 4 to 10 ( 40 to 100 pounds ). Also by positioning the kellet 3 to 4 feet down the chain part of the rode u don't have 2 worry about chafe. Some people swear by them and a Kiwi firm sells 40 pound ones 4 hundreds of dollars. Used plates are widely available and even new ones are usually a dollar a pound.

[Idiens]

Cast iron and sea water love each other.....

[SimonV]

I never knew that weight had a name. Thanks.

[Idiens]

I've heard them called chain weights and angels too. They are supposed to have some benefits in small or crowded anchorages where a lot of scope might be a problem.