What kind of anchor snubber?

[soulfinger]

I have a Catalina 350 that came with a Bruce anchor and an all-chain rode. I obviously need some sort of snubber to use with it, but can't really decide what's the best way to go. There's various chain hooks and such out there, or I could just put a shackle on the chain. Any suggestions on what I should get? How thick/what kind of line should I use?

I'm looking for a farily cost effective solution here; it'll be used in the near term for anchoring in the mud around Galveston bay; I don't think we'll be using it all that often.

[Faster]

The right-sized chain hook spliced onto a 6- 10 foot three strand nylon strop should do the job, I'd think that a 5/8 or 3/4 strop would be plenty. A shackle is too difficult to remove in a hurry (in the middle of the night, for example)

I also think you'll find yourself using it quite a lot.. it really softens the pull and limits noise if there's any motion at all.

[Vasco]

Get 30 feet of 5/8 nylon 3 strand and splice a stainless chain hook on it. In most conditions you'll not use all thirty feet but when it starts honking you'll have it. 5/8 is ideal for your size and will stretch nicely giving you the needed elasticity.

[sailingdog]

I'd second what Vasco said, but recommend going with 45-60' of snubber... since in many situations, when it starts to really blow, you'll want to let more scope out. If the snubber is too short, you won't be able to do that without hauling it in to unhook the snubber and then letting out the scope and then re-attaching the snubber. If you have a long snubber to begin with—you can just ease out both the chain and snubber to add scope. A 45' snubber would allow you to let you go from 5-to-1, up to 7-to-1 scope in 15' of water, assuming you had let out about 10' of snubber initially.

A longer snubber also allows you to adjust it more easily to spread chafe out along more of the snubber...

[camaraderie]

Dawg has it right about the length. I suggest buying TWO 3 strand dock lines of the same size you use at the dock with the spiced eyes already done. Buy a galvanized large shacle and put the loops on the shackle body...then buy a galvanized chain hook of the right size for your chain and put the shackle pin through the hole in the hook. Seize the shackle pin with monel wire and you are done.

[funsailthekeys]

I use 20' of 1/2" 3 strand. I have a hook spliced on one end on a thimble to fit the chain and the other end has a large eye splice to fit over the deck cleat leading over the bow roller. Since there is about a 60% strech factor it has served well for 6 years on a 45, 26,000 boat with no signs of wear.

[sailingdog]

That might be fine as a lunch hook snubber, but if you're anchored out over night and a storm hits when you're asleep, I would be hesistant to be sitting on a 35' boat using a 1/2" diameter snubber.

Originally Posted by funsailthekeys

I use 20' of 1/2" 3 strand. I have a hook spliced on one end on a thimble to fit the chain and the other end has a large eye splice to fit over the deck cleat leading over the bow roller. Since there is about a 60% strech factor it has served well for 6 years on a 45, 26,000 boat with no signs of wear.

[SVAuspicious]

I use these:



35 feet of 5/8" nylon spliced around thimbles shackled to Wichard chain hooks. After the picture was taken I served the splice to the thimbles to reduce the chances of the thimble rotating.

sail fast, dave
S/V Auspicious

[ANCORALATINA]

First beware of « Wichard chain hooks » as their breaking strength is quite low.

Snubber:

The main purpose of a snubber is to give ELASTICITY that an all chain rode doesn’t have.

To have the max of elasticity, you need to have:
- the longest snubber you can afford (45 to 60’ is OK).
- the smallest diameter in relation to the strength of your mooring line
- For a 35’ boat we suggest a 8 mm chain (5/16) (breaking strength 3200 daN)
- The corresponding three strand Nylon rope will be a diameter of 12 mm (1/2’’) (breaking strength 3000 daN)

Joăo Nodari

[funsailthekeys]

I've used mine in 50+ knots and haven't had a problem. I must mention that the chain is 3/8" and the water is usually about 25-35 feet deep, so the weight and angle of the chain does act as a bit of buffer.