The Kiwi Anchor Rider

[Freesail99]

I just got this in an email. Anyone use something like this ?

Sleepless Nights at Anchor?
Here's a useful tool to make anchoring safer and more secure. The Kiwi Anchor Rider is a simple anchor weight that slides half way down the anchor rode (chain or nylon line) and adds up to 30 pounds to the catenary of the rode - actually doubling the anchor;'s holding power.

The Kiwi Anchor Rider also dampens side to side yaw in gusty conditions and helps prevent the rode from snubbing on the windlass as it straightens out. Made in New Zealand. This thing really works and is worth its weight in gold - almost - and is much better than a sleeping pill.

Anchor weights / kellets marine anchoring security,reduces anchors dragging & yaw

[badsanta]

I have seen them at the boat show and other places. Good Idea, sailors have been using the home made type for years. I have never used one, but would buy one or simular if I had extra money.

[sailingdog]

I'd rather have a heavier anchor, since that will help with making anchoring far more than a kellet will. Kellets are useful in light to moderate winds, but when it really picks up... you need weight and maximum fluke size in the anchor.

[sailortjk1]

Free,
there has been some debate around here over the years about using one.
You can probably find some threads about their pro's and cons and general use if you search; Kellets or Angel

[RonRae]

I've been using one successfully the past 4 yrs. up in the windy Canadian east coast. My MacGregor 26X bounces around on the suface during any kind of blow, to reduce this I now hang a 30lb weight off the bow. It settles the unwanted action beautifully. Swing around the mooring ball has gone from 160 deg. to approx. 100.

To be effective, the weight has to be sitting on the bottom.

[jimmalkin]

Free - I own one. Taronga has high forward sections and a forward trunk cabin so we get a good bit of skating around at the anchor even with an all chain rode. Last year I purchased and started using the Kiwi AR, leaving it about 10 feet off the bottom and behind our 66# Bruce. It worked very well at reducing the skating around and made me more comfortable. Having said that, now that we have replaced the Bruce with an 88# Rocna, I'm so comfortable with our holding that I haven't used the Kiwi this season. If it blows, however, we will deploy it. Hope this helps, Free - Jim

[jbondy]

Jim,

You've quickly become that much more comfortable with the Rocna? I'm seriously considering it as a replacement for our CQR, also going up a bit in weight, from 20 lb to 15 kg. How has the extra holding ability evidenced itself? In a blow? In how it sets? Just curious.

Free, Sorry for the hijack!

TIA

[sailaway21]

I'd expect it to be effective in light to moderate conditions but no substitute for a heavy and longer chain rode. It's performance is going to decrease with strain on the rode. But it's certainly a nice addition that would do no harm. I disagree with the manufacturer's assertion that you'd be better off with a kellet rigged and a stand-by anchor at the ready versus two anchor's deployed. The point is not to drag in the first place over having a back up anchor available. If you're to ride out a hurricane which would you do; keep one anchor on stand-by and have to attempt to drop and set it in ferocious conditions or anchor your vessel as securely as possible initially?

[Shortman]

PO of my boat has one & loves it. I have not yet. He only had 6' of chain on rode & I replaced w/40' (34' Pearson).

[camaraderie]

A kellet helps not at all in heavy winds anchoring...one the rode is bar straight it is as if it is not there. It helps reduce swinging circle in settled conditions. The claim of doubling holding power is simply preposterous.