Another thought:
I would suggest never securing you chain to a samson post. Chain is most vulnerable (as are your deck fittings) when they become 2 blocked- stretched link to link from fixed points: anchor to Samson post. Something has to give. And this does happen. For most anchoring situations the chain gets 2 blocked in gale conditions with some regularity which is why a snubber is so important.
When in challenging weather, I sometimes back up my snubber with another short snubber rolling hitched to the chain. This snubber is then ready to go if I wish to veer more chain and will take the load if the first snubber breaks (never happened, but we know it could).
I always leave the chain free to run (a bit of friction keeps the chain from bouncing out). If things really get out of hand, the chain is free to go out till it reaches the nylon attachment of the chain’s bitter end to the boat which should hold the boat till I get things sorted. The last thing I want is the chain locked to the boat without any form of shock loading relief.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy

Dick I have moved as suggested.

An interesting thing occurs with the new scoop anchors like the Spade, Rocna and Ultra. Peak loads tend to be snatch loads and they are accentuated with the new anchors because they don 't budge. Boats that veer at anchor and boats that surge at anchor (catamarans) will observe high snatch loads.

So it is important not only to deploy an effective snubber, but also to reduce the snatch loads as much as possible. The best way to do that is with more scope. But one can also deploy bridles to distribute the load or riding sails to reduce veering. These two reports have some information you may find useful.

http://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/37_17/features/anchor_testing_rode_loads_10784-1.html

http://www.mysailing.com.au/news/testing-the-new-generation-of-anchors

Vice Commodore, OCC 

Hi Daria,
I agree, peak loads are always snatch loads regardless of what anchor is planted in the bottom. I observe also that my Spade (and other new generation anchors) exacerbates snatch loads by being scoops rather than plows and do not budge. That is a good thing but it also accentuates our need for a viable system for dampening/averaging the forces.
That said, I am not convinced that the snatch loads, in adverse conditions and when things really get ugly, are all that different. Before the Spade, I had some quite ugly conditions with my CQR. Once set, it worked a peach and, the peak load of a big snatch was not going to be all that different if the CQR “plowed” and inch or two, from my present Spade which may not budge. (That said, the Spade is just a far superior anchor).
More scope is the solution that answers all anchoring problems, but is one that is often hard to come by in cozy and/or crowded anchorages. All boats experience snatch loads, some clearly more than others. The mizzen on my old yawl was up for weeks at a time and kept us weather-cocked to the wind and hugely mitigated snatch loads from wind. Riding sails I have observed do not, at casual inspection, seem to very effective nor am I convinced that a bridle calms veering and may even exacerbate veering (I have experimented with this and on 2 boats found no difference in veering, bridle vs single line). However, the worst snatch loads I have experienced, are always related to seas: to that moment of adverse synergy where a random bigger wave/swell meets the harmonic of the boat’s movement and the bow rears up and back dramatically just when the rode loads up. Then you find out if your snubber is effective.
What dampens the forces is stretch which is one of the problems with a bridle (caternary does little in adverse conditions because there is little of it). Although boats often load one side of the bridle and then the other, in a snatch, both sides get loaded and the stretch is halved just when you need it most. Bridles also almost always need a chain hook, an unnecessary complication both in the initial deployment and in a wish to veer more chain when that occurs.
Much better to my mind to tie on a rolling hitch (modified a bit as shown in a pic in a recent url) with one line that goes out right next to the chain. I have done this for decades with no chafe issues (clearly boats vary in this regard). I use 7/16 inch (11mm) nylon 3 strand. Its length is 35 feet and I vary how much I use according to the conditions at the time. This is with a 40 foot, 16+ ton cutter. The snubbers strength strength is more than adequate.
The one caveat to a really stretchy snubber that I have yet to work out is the Yo-Yo effect: bouncing back after a gust only to give a longer run to the next snatch. All things considered, I still go for more stretch.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy

It 's interesting how practice develops - when I responded 3 years ago to this thread, I was using a rolling hitch to attach the 1/2" double braid snubber - nowadays I 'm using a 30ft bridle of dynamic climbing rope attached with a chain hook! We always deploy a snubber.

One thing I do which I don 't see many doing, is to veer about 20ft of chain after attaching the snubber. This not only loads the snubber to prevent the hook from coming loose, but I also think it adds a little catenary right where it 's useful, to decrease snatch loading (as opposed to adding a kellet to increase catenary closer to the anchor in an attempt to lower the pull angle on the anchor).

I like the bridle - I effectively have two snubbers should one give way - it also does reduce veering somewhat on Toodle-oo! - I think!

I don 't see the chain hook as imparting any more of a point load into the system than the point loading that is inherent in chain links. I also don 't understand the difficulty in veering more scope with a hook over a rolling hitch - if you can bend on more line to the snubber attached via a rolling hitch, why can 't you do the same with the one with a hook?

I often see snubbers that are just a couple of feet long, with the chain only loose by a few links... That seems to me to be hardly worth the effort of putting out a snubber at all - stretch requires length to be effective...

My 2 cents...


As a PS: The admiral and I decided on Friday morning that we would NOT buy a back-up anchor at the Newport Boat show that day - instead we 'd scour ebay over the winter and see if we could get a deal. We came back from the show with a 55lb Spade! Oops!

Bill Balme

Good morning Bill,
I know I have known your first name, but it escapes me now, so forgive me for addressing you as I just did.
I believe a Spade makes a superb bower and a superb back up anchor as, unlike some of the other alternatives, it comes apart and is more easily stowed. It also is less likely to ding furniture if stowed below when you move it around.
I agree that point loading concerns with chain hooks is a non-issue. And also that veering chain between the snubber connection and the boat is a good thing. Not sure it makes a load of difference kellet-wise, but it should be of sufficient length to deal with snubber stretch so as to never get 2 blocked.
I apologize, I was not clear why a chain hook made veering more chain more difficult as you understood me to do so by adding more snubber to the already deployed snubber via a rolling hitch (I would never recommend a rolling hitch be put on a nylon line that was loaded and unloaded: too much diameter change on the loaded line).
On Alchemy, when needing more chain in a fire drill of some sort, I actually just throw off the old snubber (as it is attached to the chain-as opposed to a hook which can fall off- I can retrieve it when upping anchor) and attach a new one (usually an always handy dock line) with a rolling hitch to the chain at whatever length I wish and the snubber then just follows the chain out. This is done right in front of the windlass with no acrobatics necessary and in a quite safe position. No windlass use or engine use is needed and the whole operation takes a minute or so, leaving one exposed to the elements for a very short time.
With a chain hook, one usually has to bring the chain in (hard on the windlass or need to start the engine) just when you want more of it as the hook is usually in need of repositioning and will be lost if just cast off. For many boats there is then an acrobatic moment where one needs to attach the hook outside the roller, not easy or safe in bouncy conditions
I am interested that you feel that a bridle cuts down the yawing of your boat somewhat and that you like having 2 legs as this provides back-up. I like simple and to me a bridle is too complicated for the (possible) benefit it delivers. A single snubber attached quickly with a rolling hitch and sent out with the chain is just so quick, easy, and safe. I do attach a back-up snubber when expecting (or in) a bit of a blow (once every year or two), but it has never come into play- yet: it will someday.
I have no experience with climbing lines. What do you see as the advantages? My 7/16 inch 3 strand nylon stretches impressively and has a 6000 pound average breaking strength. Nylon is an amazing material.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy

Climbing ropes are designed to stretch the maximum amount before the breaking point (to avoid injury to a climber) so they work great as a snubber. I think the big advantage is that you can buy 11mm x 50 meter used climbing ropes for US$20. Just put up a sign in the local outdoor shop.

Hi Jim,
Thanks for the reply and the info.
Maybe you know your ropes well enough to inspect what you are getting when you buy used ropes. I know some get condemned after one major shock loading.
I like to know what I am using in my ground tackle system, so I suspect if price is the only advantage, then I will stick with a premium 3 strand nylon. I can 't imagine I would want more stretch than my 7/16 gives me: if so I would go to a larger diameter rope.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy

Senior moment. Last sentence in previous comment should read "smaller" rather than "larger". In fact I used 3/8 inch for years and moved up as I thought it too springy. Dick