Following along with the discussion on anchors, a detail worth going over one more time is how and what one uses to attach the "best" anchor to the "best" rode. Before we get to that specific issue, I would like to add here that I favor my all-chain rode for day-to-day anchoring, BUT shift to a short-chain/long-nylon rode where the boat might end up pitching at the end of a taut chain (that's not fun). Anyway, the bow roller on my old boat is too narrow to easily pass the size of bow-shaped shackles necessary to fit the size anchors I want to use. After years of having to manually assist the darned things over the roller, I shifted to USA-made alloy "chain" shackles, which are narrower overall and stronger than their bow-shaped counterparts (VERY often China-made), but much harder to find in chandleries. One wonders why the best style of shackle is not the one most readily available - I had to order mine online. I don't want to pee in the bathwater of anybody who has gone to the trouble and expense of researching and investing in a high-dollar swivel system; I just like some things simple and strong. I banished all stainless ground tackle accessories except thimbles after finding a big over-sized SS bow-shaped shackle I used to use severely cracked from crevice crack corrosion. I do use a good brand of SS in the mast and boom rigging (4 or 6 X safety factor) but use an old cargo rigging trick called a "preventer" made of SS wire rope to backstop each one. Can't have things falling on my pointy little head. I have used commonly available swivels in my anchor-to-rode connection in the past, but have not found them to be essential in my anchoring and now prefer two shackles of known quality/strength. No matter how many free lunches I provided Rudy, he never came around to liking thimbles in ground tackle. I am in their favor where chain and fiber meet, while he likes the chain splice. I have had an issue or two with thimbles including the collapse of a badly rusted one, which is why I now prefer SS. I find a shackle and thimble combinations more flexible for on-the-spot changes I want to make in my tackle, plus I don't want to learn the chain splice.:) BTW, for those who run across Rudy, remember, never take electronic advice from a guy who has NONE (outside of Jill's computer which is how I find out how they're doing) on his boat. Happy anchoring, and may all your connections be sound. Rich Gano Calypso (GB42 Hull # 295) Panama City area, FL

Rich, Can you direct me to those US made shackles? Mike -------------------------------------------------- From: "Rich Gano" <richgano@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2013 8:34 PM To: "Great Loop List" <great-loop@lists.trawlering.com> Subject: GL: Anchor-to-rode connection > Following along with the discussion on anchors, a detail worth going over > one more time is how and what one uses to attach the "best" anchor to the > "best" rode. > > Before we get to that specific issue, I would like to add here that I > favor > my all-chain rode for day-to-day anchoring, BUT shift to a > short-chain/long-nylon rode where the boat might end up pitching at the > end > of a taut chain (that's not fun). > > Anyway, the bow roller on my old boat is too narrow to easily pass the > size > of bow-shaped shackles necessary to fit the size anchors I want to use. > After years of having to manually assist the darned things over the > roller, > I shifted to USA-made alloy "chain" shackles, which are narrower overall > and > stronger than their bow-shaped counterparts (VERY often China-made), but > much harder to find in chandleries. One wonders why the best style of > shackle is not the one most readily available - I had to order mine > online. > I don't want to pee in the bathwater of anybody who has gone to the > trouble > and expense of researching and investing in a high-dollar swivel system; I > just like some things simple and strong. > > I banished all stainless ground tackle accessories except thimbles after > finding a big over-sized SS bow-shaped shackle I used to use severely > cracked from crevice crack corrosion. I do use a good brand of SS in the > mast and boom rigging (4 or 6 X safety factor) but use an old cargo > rigging > trick called a "preventer" made of SS wire rope to backstop each one. > Can't > have things falling on my pointy little head. > > I have used commonly available swivels in my anchor-to-rode connection in > the past, but have not found them to be essential in my anchoring and now > prefer two shackles of known quality/strength. > > No matter how many free lunches I provided Rudy, he never came around to > liking thimbles in ground tackle. I am in their favor where chain and > fiber > meet, while he likes the chain splice. I have had an issue or two with > thimbles including the collapse of a badly rusted one, which is why I now > prefer SS. I find a shackle and thimble combinations more flexible for > on-the-spot changes I want to make in my tackle, plus I don't want to > learn > the chain splice.:) > > BTW, for those who run across Rudy, remember, never take electronic advice > from a guy who has NONE (outside of Jill's computer which is how I find > out > how they're doing) on his boat. > > Happy anchoring, and may all your connections be sound. > > Rich Gano > Calypso (GB42 Hull # 295) > Panama City area, FL > > > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com > > To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, > unsubscribe, etc.) go to: > http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/options/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com

BUT shift to a > short-chain/long-nylon rode where the boat might end up pitching at the end > of a taut chain (that's not fun).   ALLEZ writes: I luse a 3/4" 3 strand nylon bridle with thinbles and schackles to a chain grabber and leave a loop in the chain and the bridle takes the load and very quiet. Never had a taut chain off the windlass. Pics available on request Capt Bob Kovach KJ4UGE    MMSI: 367482710  (HF-SSB & VHF)