Chainstopper ideas

[jrd22]

I need to buy/make a chainstopper for the new boat (never had one) and am looking for ideas. The one I like (Maxwell) is $350(yikes!), but the cheaper ones all seem to have too small a footprint to take the potential loads in a strong blow if I lose the snubber, or for breaking out the anchor if really stuck in rock. Having a hard time forking out the $350, looking for ideas and/or recommendations. Thanks.

John

[ronbo1]

http://www.wmjmarine.com/sp102211.html

Just Googled - Maxwell chainstopper... 5/16" stopper for $179 from wmjmarine.
I installed one on my 44' and can sleep well at night. They're very robust and will likely
outlast your boat.

Ronbo

[TrueBlue]

Whenever swinging on the hook, I've always relied upon a chain snubber to take the load off the windlass and provide some resilence to an all-chain rode. It's never failed on us, even during a gale.

The last one I put together cost a whopping $5.75 - using a new chain hook and an existing dock line. If you're concerned about failure, then use two separate sets of lines/hooks - on both port and starboard cleats.

[sailingdog]

While a chain stopper is a good idea, I'd second the recommendation for making up a few chain snubber lines as well. The chain stopper will put a lot more stress on the boat from shock loading when at anchor than a proper chain snubber would. Just make the chain snubber long enough that if you have to increase scope, you can do so by letting out chain and snubber, rather than having to haul the chain back in to detach the chain snubber and re-attach it later.

[Cruisingdad]

This has actually been brought up in another thread. So I will post it here:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/showth...605#post269605

Though not directly related to your chain stopper, it discusses the use of snubbers for anchoring.

- CD

[camaraderie]

Get a standard stopper. They are not built to take the loads of an anchor in a blow. The real problem is that you are concerned about your snubber hook coming off OR the snubber line failing. The solution is:
1. Get a chain CLAW not a hook.
2. Use 2 snubber lines from port and starboard run to a shackle with the chain claw on it.


http://www.bestmarineimports.com/cgi...y.cgi?4X362960

[Cruisingdad]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

Get a standard stopper. They are not built to take the loads of an anchor in a blow. The real problem is that you are concerned about your snubber hook coming off OR the snubber line failing. The solution is:
1. Get a chain CLAW not a hook.
2. Use 2 snubber lines from port and starboard run to a shackle with the chain claw on it.


http://www.bestmarineimports.com/cgi...y.cgi?4X362960

Is that what you used? Were you pleased with it?

- CD

[sailingdog]

I prefer the retangular chain hook plates that allow you to attach two lines and make an snubber bridle of it.

[Cruisingdad]

Or $5 for a regular old chain hook?

[camaraderie]

CD...no...I just had a chain hook. The chain hook came off all the time in dead calm weather...but NEVER when under load. Still...the claw seems like a better idea and friends swore by it...I could never bring my Scots blood to spend the extra dough!