Hi All,
A word of warning:
There is accumulated evidence that Rocna anchors have trouble re-setting in a significant wind shift. The evidence is most dramatically displayed on the excellent videos cited elsewhere in this stream (specifically: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL9JL9AK6ss), but there is numerous anecdotal evidence as well. This whole package of concern is best brought together on the web site Attainable Adventures Cruising (https://www.morganscloud.com/), an extremely valuable web site for those that wander widely on sailboats. It costs a modest amount, but is worth every penny.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy

We have just had the opportunity to test the new Vulcan anchor from Rocna. It was designed without a roll bar to fit bow rollers of power vessels. It has a significantly larger surface area than the Rocna or even the Ultra. It performed exceedingly well as described in an article we wrote about our experience.

http://cruising.coastalboating.net/Seamanship/Anchoring/Vulcan/index.html

Vice Commodore, OCC 

[quote="peterpaternotte" post=1651]Hi Daria,this comment is relatively late but I just came across the Forum topic. Being an early Rocna adept (following decades with CQR 's) I did some 'swivel research ' and ended up with the Wasi-Ball, very much like the Ultraswivel. It served us well for many years. You do not mention it but is has been around for 5-6 years now. Price indeed stiff, like the Ultra. Maybe something for the next printing of HH?[/quote]

Yes, thanks Peter, we are planning a new edition of Happy Hooking, and we will be updating many sections including swivels. Thanks for the info on the WASI Ball.

Vice Commodore, OCC 

After all these years of refusing to use swivels and collecting photos of bent and broken swivels, we have now been convinced that the Ultra swivel is indeed a much improved and well engineered device. We had the opportunity to "play" with a demo set up at a boat show where Ultra was exhibiting. We spent a good deal of time inspecting it and watching it work in slow motion and talking to people who understand the engineering aspects.

The Ultra Flip Swivel has a unique design that works with any anchor to rotate it BEFORE it comes up over the bow roller if it is coming up in the worn orientation. It allows the ball to rotate freely, you can inspect all the parts (except one which I 'll discuss in a moment), and all the parts can dry out. That 's very important. http://www.ultramarine-anchors.com/en/homepage/default/10/swivel-detail

The only potential problem area that we can see is eventual wear in a Teflon o-ring that 's between the ball and the body of the swivel. As stated in their promotional literature "Our internal TEFLON O-Ring stops metal friction occurring when under load providing low resistance and smooth operation." The o-ring is intended to prevent the metal to metal friction that would occur as the ball rotates. We could not see this o-ring so we could not inspect it. The Ultra swivel has a 3 year warranty. I 'd say that may be the life of the o-ring. Just something to keep in mind. Otherwise we were very impressed with the design and engineering of the Ultra Swivel. It carries Turkish Lloyd certification.

We have not had the opportunity to test the WASI Power Ball but it does seem to offer excellent construction and a breaking load higher than that of the corresponding chain. It is approved by the German Lloyd which may have insurance implications. http://www.wasi.de/en/news/press-releases-and-news-from-wasi/news-details/haerteste-anforderungen-edelstahl-verbindungselemente-im-maritimen-einsatz.html

The best possible set-up if you feel you need a swivel and you have a standard bullet type swivel is to insert a few links of chain between the swivel and the anchor to ensure that lateral forces cannot be applied across the axis of rotation.

If you don 't know you need a swivel, you probably don 't need one. If you relate to the picture below, then a swivel may change your anchoring experience dramatically. While we were at the Ultra stand, many petite women stopped in front of a poster with this picture and said out loud, "We need that honey!"

[attachment=172]UltraSwivel.jpg[/attachment]

Vice Commodore, OCC 

I purchased the ultra swivel last year for my Rocna and can confirm the combination works very well. We were away for a few months this season and anchored more times than for a many a year.

I never felt that confident with the CQR. Lessons learned for me; good easy to use equipment might cost a bit more in the initial stage, but saves a lot of ongoing costs in marina and moorings.

Anybody want to buy a CQR?

Hi Daria,this comment is relatively late but I just came across the Forum topic. Being an early Rocna adept (following decades with CQR 's) I did some 'swivel research ' and ended up with the Wasi-Ball, very much like the Ultraswivel. It served us well for many years. You do not mention it but is has been around for 5-6 years now. Price indeed stiff, like the Ultra. Maybe something for the next printing of HH?

Hi Daria
I read the YBW forum comments with interest and I think that I am going to invest in a short length of floating line! I am a big fan of simple!! I might be tempted to have a solid bent bar made but this would have to be attached with shackles as I do not feel comfortable with any device connected to the anchor that does not articulate. I can just imagine the problems when the wind shifts or the tide turns.

BTW our Delta is fantastic but it 's performance is greatly helped by lots of 10mm chain. The only time it did not set well was when we managed to get a plastic bottle on the tip and it would not dig in. Other than that, excellent results every time.

I still can 't believe you put your name to a book called The Happy Hooker!

Peter

Hi Peter,
It 's still a swivel and it appears that it has parts that cannot be inspected.

http://www.seamarknunn.com/acatalog/anchor-straightener-stainless-steel-swivel-6-8mm-2240.html#.Um6gMvm-1cY

There is a discussion about it on the ybw forum. http://www.ybw.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-320799.html

Vice Commodore, OCC 

Have any of you come across a device called an anchor straightener? Seamark Nunn sell them in two sizes and in s/s or galvanised. I have not used one but have been looking at them for a while and think that it may provide a solution.

However, I am not keen on the restricted articulation that some of the swivels and other devices seem to afford and for that reason I am happy to stick with our large shackle.

Peter

I think it 's simply a question of how the chain is lying on the stemhead roller. My Rocna will come up the wrong way round, and have to do a quick flip as it comes over the roller, but only if there are twists in the chain. I suggest that with the anchor stowed, you look at the chain, and check that it is absolutely untwisted between the anchor and the gypsy. Then the chances are much better of the anchor (any anchor) presenting itself to the roller the right way round, after you 've set it and recovered it. I don 't think a swivel would help.