How long should an anchor snubber be?

[Labezin]

I appreciate your contributions a lot !! you don't even mention using a bridle : What you thinking and/or experience about it ?

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Labezin

I appreciate your contributions a lot !! you don't even mention using a bridle : What you thinking and/or experience about it ?

We use a very heavy short 1 metre bridle to take the force from the chain to the two deck cleats which are each side of the anchor locker. This stops the chain wrecking my aluminium cleats and since either leg could take the full weight, provides some redundancy. The chain is loose on the windlass as a last resort.

There is a separate 10m snubber that runs from the chain just above the water to a stern cleat, this is the stretchy bit. Seems to work well on a small yacht and is silent, so no creaking ropes or chains grinding the deck or running across the roller.

Pete

[Labezin]

Originally Posted by Pete7

We use a very heavy short 1 metre bridle to take the force from the chain to the two deck cleats which are each side of the anchor locker. This stops the chain wrecking my aluminium cleats and since either leg could take the full weight, provides some redundancy. The chain is loose on the windlass as a last resort.

There is a separate 10m snubber that runs from the chain just above the water to a stern cleat, this is the stretchy bit. Seems to work well on a small yacht and is silent, so no creaking ropes or chains grinding the deck or running across the roller.

Pete

So, if I understand well, the chain AND THE BRIDLE are loose under the snubber ' tension ? and how you manage the snubber setting not to grind the deck ? thru the roller maybe and then ? Many thanks anyway.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Labezin

So, if I understand well, the chain AND THE BRIDLE are loose under the snubber ' tension ? and how you manage the snubber setting not to grind the deck ? thru the roller maybe and then ? Many thanks anyway.

Yes, that's it. The snubber is just a piece of 10mm 3 strand nylon rope about 10m in length (appropriate for a 5T yacht) so silent on the GRP deck.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Pete7

We use a very heavy short 1 metre bridle to take the force from the chain to the two deck cleats which are each side of the anchor locker. This stops the chain wrecking my aluminium cleats and since either leg could take the full weight, provides some redundancy. The chain is loose on the windlass as a last resort.

There is a separate 10m snubber that runs from the chain just above the water to a stern cleat, this is the stretchy bit. Seems to work well on a small yacht and is silent, so no creaking ropes or chains grinding the deck or running across the roller.

Pete

That is Best Practice, excellent seamanship


The "bridle" belays the chain, providing the full strength connection between chain and boat. The snubber provides shock absorption. These two functions should not be combined in one device.