How many of you all-chain guys use a bridle?

[Stee6043]

Okay one more question! My pendants arrived today and include something called a "security tether" on the boat side of the pendants. It's just a thin/small extension of one of the strands of line from what I can tell. Anybody know what these are supposed to be used for? I assume you'd use it to wrap the cleat to ensure the pendant doesn't somehow let go for "real" mooring for extended periods? I imagine I'll be cutting them off but thought I'd ask first

 

[sailorjerry]

https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Dog-Stainless-Steel-Chain-Gripper/dp/B00DH3WFO6

I use this with a line to cleats on both sides. I have used it for 10 years. Easy, inexpensive and no issues.

 

[rlynch03]

We use a Mantus Chain Hook with two 25' tethered bridles. A little bit of a pain to connect but whenever we stay on the hook overnight we use it. Quiets the chain noise, which is substantial for us in the front cabin and piece of mind for extra hold.

 

[Gary B]

We use a bridle and snubber. It’s good to have a a few feet of scope on the bridle where you can have the connection to the chain lower than the height of your bow deck. With all chain this is less important than a rope rode- maybe a bit of overkill? At the same time it’s usually not fun when then anchor drags. It usually happens at the worst time and place

 

[juggernaut1]

I note a few of you are using the Mantus chain hook. Some info for you I came across when researching bridle hooks and grabbers.

The takeaway is that this hook caused the chain to fail below its rated strength in both the original and revised tests. Original testing also found the link in the hook was damaged, but not in the later test with the larger hook specs.

I presume the early failure and damage is caused by twisting the link sideways compared to a grabber which does not.

https://www.practical-sailor.com/sails-rigging-deckgear/snubber-chain-hooks-revisited

 

[Tripsdad]

I note a few of you are using the Mantus chain hook. Some info for you I came across when researching bridle hooks and grabbers.

The takeaway is that this hook caused the chain to fail below its rated strength in both the original and revised tests. Original testing also found the link in the hook was damaged, but not in the later test with the larger hook specs.

I presume the early failure and damage is caused by twisting the link sideways compared to a grabber which does not.

https://www.practical-sailor.com/sails-rigging-deckgear/snubber-chain-hooks-revisited

Interesting article but in my case I think I am using a different Mantus hook than the one that was tested. Here is the one I use.
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/mant...MI29Xt0Lyh7gIVltrICh0DiQ2SEAQYASABEgLz-_D_BwE

 

[juggernaut1]

That's the grabber style which are kinder on the chain link.

 

[M Prod]

We had a terrible night during our first season with the boat. Was really windy and the chain kept rubbing and pulling on the rollers all night ..made terrible noises. So I made a snubber/bridle that we always use for overnights while anchoring. Pretty much what everyone else said. Consists of a chain hook (similar to the one pictured) and two 1/2” dock lines that I tie off to each bow cleat. Attach the hook to the chain and let out until there’s at least 3-4 ft of slack chain hanging below the hook under the water line. Never have had an issue since with any noise, and we’ve had quite a few tossing and turning windy nights since. The waves have kept me up, but the chain is silent now.

hook looks something like this:

And here it is deployed:

 

[Stee6043]

Interesting article but in my case I think I am using a different Mantus hook than the one that was tested. Here is the one I use.
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/mantus-anchors--5-16-duplex-stainless-steel-chain-hook--19729540?cm_mmc=PS-_-Google-_-GSC>NonB>Product%20Type-_-19729540&product_id=19729540&creative=108171392404&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI29Xt0Lyh7gIVltrICh0DiQ2SEAQYASABEgLz-_D_BwE

That's the same "claw" style I bought. There is a photo of this style hook in that article but it seems the more traditional hook was what they were talking about and shown in the actual testing? Very interesting read, nonetheless.

 

[endless seas]

Snubber.... best investment while on the hook and quiet too when boat is swinging from side to side.

 

[be_prepared]

We use a Mantus bridle when anchoring overnight. When just stopping for lunch, I have a 5/8" nylon snubber that is quicker to put on and off, but still keeps the load off the windlass. The bridle is also nice to use to connect to a transient mooring ball, instead of bringing the slimy barnacle covered lines onboard. Even wearing gloves, the admiral is not too keen on handling those nasty transient mooring lines.

 

[mobocracy]

When I switched to all chain I just made my own single-ended bridle with a length of dock line. I used the factory eye splice around the anchor cleat and put my own thimble splice on the other end with a snubber in line towards the thimble splice end. The splice end has an anchor shackle and a stainless carabineer. The whole setup I sized to keep the held end of the anchor chain about a foot out of the water.

My setup isn't ocean worthy, but I'm only on an inland lake, so the forces at work aren't that great and we're only anchored out for hours at a time, not days. On windier days, you can see the snubber stretch some, so I know it's doing what it's supposed to. A two-ended bridal and a better chain hook would be superior, but the existing setup is about at the limit of the admiral's anchor handling patience.

 

[ocgrant]

Got my late Xmas gift in yesterday.... Nice piece of equipment

 

[my3sons]

For those that use a chain hook or grabber, Does it pass up through the bow roller when you are retrieving? The main reason I use a line with a rolling hitch is because I am thinking the hook wouldn't pass cleanly through the roller. I see that in Mantus' video of using the hook, they are on a sail boat that has either no hoop on the roller or they cut it off, and don't really show the part of the video of the hook transitioning through or over the roller. When we are traveling and anchoring a lot, I actually leave my bridle hooked up and through the roller, attached to the bow rail so she can just walk up there and tie the rolling hitch and feed it it out, no hanging off the front of the boat to hook anything up. If the hook passes through, that would be great and I would consider one.

 

[juggernaut1]

On retrieval, the grabber on my setup drops off when the link it is attached to comes over the roller so it never enters the chute. So I just lift the bridle over the bow rail, take it off the cleates roll it up and store in the anchor locker.

When setting it up I can attach to the chain pre roller and feed it out the chute, or lean through the bow rail and attach it to the chain post the roller.

 

[M Prod]

For those that use a chain hook or grabber, Does it pass up through the bow roller when you are retrieving? The main reason I use a line with a rolling hitch is because I am thinking the hook wouldn't pass cleanly through the roller. I see that in Mantus' video of using the hook, they are on a sail boat that has either no hoop on the roller or they cut it off, and don't really show the part of the video of the hook transitioning through or over the roller. When we are traveling and anchoring a lot, I actually leave my bridle hooked up and through the roller, attached to the bow rail so she can just walk up there and tie the rolling hitch and feed it it out, no hanging off the front of the boat to hook anything up. If the hook passes through, that would be great and I would consider one.
View attachment 98220

I lean out and attach it just below the roller before letting out chain to slack. Same on retrieval ..bring it up to just under the roller and then lean out and grab it.

 

[ttmott]

Interesting article but in my case I think I am using a different Mantus hook than the one that was tested. Here is the one I use.
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/mantus-anchors--5-16-duplex-stainless-steel-chain-hook--19729540?cm_mmc=PS-_-Google-_-GSC>NonB>Product%20Type-_-19729540&product_id=19729540&creative=108171392404&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI29Xt0Lyh7gIVltrICh0DiQ2SEAQYASABEgLz-_D_BwE

I like this as it will pass through the anchor roller and chute. It is important for me to connect the snubber to the chain on the deck rather than leaning over the bow. If you have set an anchor and bridle in rough conditions you know exactly what I'm talking about. Tom

 

[mobocracy]

I like this as it will pass through the anchor roller and chute. It is important for me to connect the snubber to the chain on the deck rather than leaning over the bow. If you have set an anchor and bridle in rough conditions you know exactly what I'm talking about. Tom

I like my setup for this reason. On my 310DA, getting at the chain past the anchor roller is quite the reach, even in calm water. It's much easier to deal with it right near the windlass.