Tying off your anchor correctly

I use both the Mantus S2 swivel and their anchor bridle snubber and it works great to not only get a better anchor lay but also reduce rocking while anchored.
 
importmonkey said:
finally got a pic of my bridle.

View attachment 59363
Click to expand...
I can't see all of it but the bridle should carry to both bow cleats; in other words a "V" shape. In this fashion the bow of the boat will maintain center on the rode. I keep my connect point on the chain close to the water and the anchor chain slack as you show. This does three things, keeps the rode angle to the anchor minimum which allows less scope, puts all of the anchorage load to the boat's cleats, and eliminates the chain from banging on the pulpit all of the time. You may want to consider doing a loop splice at the cleat ends so installing the bridle is a two minute job; it can sometimes get a bit hairy getting the anchor out and secure in bad weather. We got caught up in quite a squall in the Abaco earlier this year and saw hurricane force winds; This would have stripped the chain from the boat and probably tore the anchor pulpit off but with the loads going to the two bow cleats using a bridle we avoided a bad day. We install a bridle every night on the hook, for questionable weather, and when we are away from the boat for any length of time. Message, do not depend on the windlass to hold the boat.
Oh, and anecdotally, we use the bridle when mooring also. Many anchorages have mooring balls and the bridle is the correct device to lay off the mooring.
 
Last edited:
ttmott said:
I can't see all of it but the bridle should carry to both bow cleats; in other words a "V" shape. In this fashion the bow of the boat will maintain center on the rode. I keep my connect point on the chain close to the water and the anchor chain slack as you show. This does three things, keeps the rode angle to the anchor minimum which allows less scope, puts all of the anchorage load to the boat's cleats, and eliminates the chain from banging on the pulpit all of the time. You may want to consider doing a loop splice at the cleat ends so installing the bridle is a two minute job; it can sometimes get a bit hairy getting the anchor out and secure in bad weather. We got caught up in quite a squall in the Abaco earlier this year and saw hurricane force winds; This would have stripped the chain from the boat and probably tore the anchor pulpit off but with the loads going to the two bow cleats using a bridle we avoided a bad day. We install a bridle every night on the hook, for questionable weather, and when we are away from the boat for any length of time. Message, do not depend on the windlass to hold the boat.
Oh, and anecdotally, we use the bridle when mooring also. Many anchorages have mooring balls and the bridle is the correct device to lay off the mooring.
Click to expand...

Here's a better pic.
20180830_095954.jpg


Yeah, been meaning to do a loop - just keep forgetting. There is time to adjust when you get set.
 
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