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

[attachment=16]Anchorconnector.jpg[/attachment]
Here 's the photo of the failed swivel. The opened yoke had been attched to a "D" shackle on the end of the CQR stock. The pin of the shackle was through the hole in the anchor stock and the pin of the swivel yoke was through the "D" of the shackle. I think that on one of our violent perambulations the chain must have come up tight leading almost parallel to the anchor stock causing a twist across the jaws of the yoke, which just spread them open (13 tonnes of boat travelling at 2-3 knots) and popped the pin out. This is how the swivel was when we hauled up the chain, with the other (smaller) end still attached to the chain.