Is it sensible or stupid to put a swivel between anchor and rode to allow the boat to rotate around the anchor during tide changes, or stupid because its an added complication and weak link?

Bill Balme

Chris makes an important point here - inserting the swivel in the chain rather than having one end attached to the anchor stock or even to a shackle on the stock. For the integrity of the swivel it is vitally important that it must have full articulation. We have not used a swivel aboard Al Shaheen since ours parted in Chatham Bay, Union Island one dark night and we nearly went on the rocks. During a short period of intense katabatic downdrafts the boat had sailed to the end of her scope (30 metres of 10 mm chain), several times and come up hard when the chain became taught. The gusts dropped as quickly as the came and all was quiet so we didn 't know that the swivel had parted company with the chain. When the pull of the chain on the anchor (20 kg CQR)came at an angle to the anchor stock it severly strained the fork of the swivel, resulting in the forks opening and pulling the pin out.....No connection! I 'll post a photo of the failed swivel when I can find it.