Snubber / Type of line to use

[LinekinBayCD]

All the Rocna / Manson talk spurred me to check out their respective websites for comparison. Rocna actually has a nice knowledge base section where I came accross their recommendation for a chain snubber. Didn't find the same level of detail on the Manson site.

In any case I wish I would have known about Rocna's recoomendation for the use of a rolling hitch for purposes of attaching the snubber line to the chain over the use of a chain hook before I had sprung for an expensive Winchard chain hook a few years back. The snubber I was using, about 15' of 1/2" three strand is also shorter than recommended (greater of 1/2 boat length or 30"

Their reasoning (which makes sense to me) is that the rolling hitch puts much less strain on the chain links than a hook. The strain or forces come from a direction not optimal for the chain.

I have an all 5/16 chain rode on a 30' 10,500 lb displacement boat and was thinking of going with NE Rope's 5/8" Mega Braid. Its specs indicate that it has a little more stretch than three strand and a lot more stretch than NE's Mega Braid II for some reason. Besides the additional stretch, I'm thinking that even with wipping the ends, the three strand would be more prone to unraveling. Does that make sense? Is one or the other more abrasion resistant?

[jackdale]

A rolling hitch is my choice. Chain hooks have a habit a falling off when there is no tension. I have also used a shackle that fits around the chains a line that forms a bridle; that is a bit of a pain to use.

Use nylon line for the snubber. A dock line works fine; no need for a dedicated snubbing line.

[Silvio]

Originally Posted by LinekinBayCD

All the Rocna / Manson talk spurred me to check out their respective websites for comparison...

Shhhhhhh...
That other thread might hear you and flare up here

[RichH]

A well fitting chain hook and with the chain 'hanging down' on both sides from the chain hook to prevent the hook from slipping off works the best.
In real life you sometimes dont have time to untie a rolling hitch from the chain when in boisterous conditions and to not untie it will surely jam in a windlass; with a proper hook all you have to do is slip it off.

I prefer double braided dacron line with the chain hook figure-of-eighted to the middle. A long run of chain will do the 'snubbing' as the chain lifts itself into a catenary.
A good way to loose a thumb or finger is attempt to remove or reposition a rolling hitch on a jumping / straining anchor rode.

[Minnewaska]

I learned with a rolling hitch, now have a hook. With the hook, I'm more likely to put a snubber out at all, which is much better for your windlass.

[labatt]

Regarding a snubber... we put a lot of effort into ours when we were cruising since we were on the hook almost every night... so this is probably overkill for most people. Ours is a bridle instead of just a snubber. We wanted to be able to try to reduce the swinging of our boat by leading lines up both sides of the bow. We used a claw (like the HK-A1 here - YachtsOfStuff.com - Boat Anchor Claw, Chain Claw, Anchor Snubber, BLUE STAR, 316 Stainless Steel, Marine Anchoring.) on the end of a mooring bridle (similar to http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|10391|32295|321087&id=1053072). We then spliced two 35' 1/2" lines directly to the bridle.

By using this setup the bridle is heavy duty enough for really heavy weather conditions. We can also run the bridle down low - the mooring bridle is heavy enough to act a bit like a kellett. With the lines being so long, we can turn our boat sideways to the waves by putting one line on the bow and one line on the stern. In rolly/rough anchorages this completely smooths out your motion (anchorages where most people would leave become great!).

Yes, it's a complex, big and expensive beast, but it suits many different situations and has worked great for us.

[RichH]

Totally agree with the bridle. With the bridle connection down near the water line my boat doesnt 'sail' all over its anchor.

[AdamLein]

Proposal for safely adjusting rolling hitches:

Use two. Tie the new one and let it take the strain before removing the old one.

[Omatako]

Originally Posted by labatt

With the lines being so long, we can turn our boat sideways to the waves by putting one line on the bow and one line on the stern. In rolly/rough anchorages this completely smooths out your motion (anchorages where most people would leave become great!).

You turn your boat sideways on to waves to smooth it out? My boat (and most other boats) rolls way worse than it pitches and if I have to use two lines to anchor it's generally used to keep the boat head-on to the wakes/waves.

Interesting how sailors' experiences differ.

I also use a chain hook. These are used by automotive hauling (breakdown) companies to secure cars to their tow rigs and they never seem to damage chains even when applying hugely more pressure than our boats would apply to a chain. I have never damaged a chain or a chain hook and have also never had one slip off the chain.

[fallard]

I agree with Omatako that you don't want to put you boat beam to the seas, but the bridle approach described by labatt can be used to reduce "sailing" around your anchor. You just don't want to overdo it and get the boat rolling.