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

Stainless steel is a tricky material at the best of times. In spite of excellent tensile strength it is susceptible to stress corrosion cracking, especially in the presence of chlorides. I would not have stainless steel in any part of my ground tackle - not shackles, anchor or chain. Remember, the strength of your ground tackle assembly is the strength of the weakest link.

There was a very revealing article on stainless steel chain published in Flying Fish a couple of years ago...