What's the right amount of chain loop with a snubber?

[four winds]

Don't have a chain stopper on the roller yet. So I just shackle the chain to a loop in the back of the roller.

Sometimes I tie a short backup snubber to the chain at same location and cleat it, instead of the shackle.

[thinwater]

IF you rig 2 snubbers, do you use separate chain hooks (soft shackles, knots, etc)? It seems like that would add redundancy and reduce the point load on the chain. It also increases flexibility in avoiding chafe problems. In fact, the 2nd snubber could attach on either side, although the forces on the chain are slightly different.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by four winds

Don't have a chain stopper on the roller yet. So I just shackle the chain to a loop in the back of the roller.

Sometimes I tie a short backup snubber to the chain at same location and cleat it, instead of the shackle.

Yup, anything like that. A short snubber and chain hook to a cleat will be stronger and more versatile (you need something to hook the chain to to break out a really suborn anchor--I prefer not to use the snubber for that since it is easy to over load it or grind it under the chain).

[undercutter]

Originally Posted by Calypseau

I have 200 ft of 5/16 chain. Thanks!

Does 5/16" chain seem a little light for 28 ton displacement? And 200' will only give you 5:1 at 40' water and this would be minimal in a big blow.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Calypseau.

[TheThunderbird]

@ Pelagic
I may have a problem in comprehension, sorry
"
I lay out and dig in about 90% of my chain the day before and then create a long bight with the balance of my chain, to act as a water brake to reduce veering."

It sounds obscure to me. From another post, l guess that you deploy the remaining 10% of chain in the water, with a buoy at its bitter end!? And it should work as a brake? Say, no more than 10m (33') of chain?

I am puzzled, sorry

[TheThunderbird]

Note: l happened to fasten the snubber amidship

It keeps the hook close to control, and kts line long enough.

More, it stabilizes the bow dramatically, as it gets tilted downwind on ONE SIDE only

[svseachange]

Originally Posted by Paul L

That's true about chain, but a parting snubber is relatively common. Sometimes it's chafe, sometimes age and sometimes conditions.

We are anchored in a gale today. We have good protection from the West through South to East (Shoal Bay, Port Stephens, Australia) but poorer protection to the north.

Yesterday the gale started in the WNW and continued from that direction until the early morning. Our snubber line failed under the load so we lost the hook. Bummer.

I was thankful for the second safety line I tie on. It took the load from the parted snubber. The heavy duty winch clutch can probably be handle the loads but I don't like to test it.

This morning I just let out more chain, with the safety line becoming the new "snubber", and installed a new safety line. The gale has moved to WSW where we have much better protection so I don't think the second "snubber" will break.

[s/v Jedi]

I first went to polyester line instead of nylon (still stretches plenty) and next I kept increasing diameter until they stopped breaking in squalls. I am 25 metric tons (55,000lb) and have settled on 5/8" 3-strand polyester

[Neptune's Gear]

I've never broken a snubber, and I've been anchored in some very strong winds. (circa 70 knots). I prefer nylon, normal snubber is 5 m of 3/4 inch nylon, storm snubber is 8 m. Boat is about 8000kg in cruising mode. Chain is 10mm, I carry 110m.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by UNCIVILIZED

Are you sure that you want to tempt fate like this? And if you're running around with the idea in your head that your boat is a Fuster Cluck, conscious of it or not, then it's fairly likely that such situations will happen more often than if she has another name. Non?

Beware of names that are confusing. Always imagine yourself repeating it 3 times in a tense situation, or coming into a marina. Is Charlie Foxtrot "Charlie Foxtrot," or is it "CF" and he's spelling it out?

I see a lot of names I would feel stupid repeating three times.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

I first went to polyester line instead of nylon (still stretches plenty) and next I kept increasing diameter until they stopped breaking in squalls. I am 25 metric tons (55,000lb) and have settled on 5/8" 3-strand polyester

How long? Just trying to build the data base.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by thinwater

How long? Just trying to build the data base.

My snubbers are 20' long and I really see no need for a longer one as the stretch absorbs all shockloads. IMO, people who say you need longer snubbers are using a too big diameter snubber. Like the poster above, who has a boat more than three times as light as mine but using a 3/4" snubber. It never broke; no, I can understand that, you can about lift the boat up on that line.

With my 5/8" snubber I go through 55-60 knot squalls without any visible damage to the snubber. The only time I broke was at 120 knots sustained in hurricane Ivan in Grenada. That's when my chain stopper saved the boat.

I have blog posts on snubbers but can't even find them myself at the moment :-)

[s/v Jedi]

Ah, found my blog post... it's from 2007 so from deep down :-) It's in Dutch but the pictures show it all

Tip 04 De snubber (anker uitrusting) - s/v Jedi