If you’re using an all chain rode, think of a nylon snubber as insurance for your windlass! A windlass was not designed to be a cleat to hold anchor chain! In anchorages all around south Florida as well as the western Caribbean, we are continually amazed at how many boats utilize a snubber ineffectively – by not using it correctly, they don’t get any benefit from the “stretchability” of the nylon rode, which is the entire rationale for using it to begin with! We’re not experts by a LONG shot, but we were lucky enough to have an “old salt” show us how to use a snubber effectively early on in our cruising adventures.
SAIL January 2012, page 54 “Snub the Load”
FYI: SAIL Magazine published an edited version of my original “Insurance for your Windlass” article as a “Snub the Load” tips article in the January 2012 issue!
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If you’re using an all chain rode, think of a nylon snubber as insurance for your windlass! A windlass was not designed to be a cleat to hold anchor chain!
By using a snubber, you’ll prevent transferring the shock load from the chain to the boat and also lessen the potential for the anchor chain jerking directly on the anchor as it lifts off the bottom. Here are some tips for effective use of a snubber:
- Use a three strand nylon rode for maximum stretch – more stretch absorbs more motion.
- Use two separate lines attached to the chain hook, effectively making a bridle. Cleat one side off on each side of the bow. Using a bridle style double line snubber acts as insurance in case one side chafes.
Snubber on Winterlude — note the chain is slack and the two nylon lines are absorbing the load.
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Here the Snubber is slack and the chain appears to be carrying the load. The chain needs loosening so the snubber lines absorb the load.
The correct length for each side of the snubber line will vary depending on your boat’s windage and the height of the bow off the water. The windier it is, the more snubber line you’ll need. We use a rule of thumb attaching to the chain about a foot under the water’s edge. Obviously, if it’s blowing, the snubber will be much longer because the chain will be stretched taunter than if there’s no wind and the chain’s hanging straight down. Using this rule of thumb, with our Passport 37 bow about 4-5 feet above the water, we need 3 feet from the cleat through the chock, another 5 feet to the water plus a foot … or an absolute minimum of 10 feet and when it’s windy the necessary length can easily be 20 feet on each side.
- Attach the rode to the chain any way you prefer, some prefer using a chain stopper (u shaped stainless plate), a rolling hitch or chain hook.
- When deploying the snubber, avoid the attachment falling off the chain by keeping tension on the attachment point as you let out more chain. Once it’s taunt be sure to let out more chain. The chain should be sagging below the attachment point.
- The attachment stays attached to the chain when there’s no wind by the extra weight of the loop of sagging chain. If you don’t have sagging chain, then you really haven’t transferred the shock load to the snubber line. Let out more chain.
- If there’s the potential for chafe where the snubber line exits the boat, add chafe protection.
Snubber Nylon is Taunt and Chain is Loose. Note the Filefish Hanging Out by Our Anchor Chain!
One final tip, when anchoring, hooking the snubber up prior to backing down lets the anchor rest for a brief period and also protects the windlass while you test to see if the anchor is going to hold.
Do you use your snubber differently? Leave a comment and let us know! Cheers! Jan
SAIL Magazine On Deck Cruising Tips “Snub the Load”, January 2012
Snubbers are crucial to good anchoring in our opinion. Really paid off in hurricane winds! We use a rolling hitch and it’s never moved.
The weird thing is that you actually WANT the snubber to stretch — using too beefy a line defeats the purpose and puts too much stress on the anchor rode — you need a small diameter line. And three strand works best.
-Carolyn
Good article, snubbers are a must. On our Cabot 36 we also have a piece of commercial chaffing gear on the snubber that is large enough to slide on the 3 strand nylon. We adjust this to protect the line where it passes through the fairlead.
PS not trying to be picky but I believe you have a “chock” not a “chalk” on your bow. Cheers!
Thanks Deb! I never claim to be an expert, only an amateur learning more every day! THANKS for noticing the mispelling! I think it’s corrected now.
Very good article. I had never used a snubber on a monhull before when anchoring, just with a mooring. We now have an Admiral 38 catamaran which has a three strand nylon bridle (attached to each hull) that we attach to the anchor chain. It make anchoring a real pleasure with the all chain rode and definitely removes the shock loading that would otherwise be on the windlass. It also has the added benefit of greatly lowering the effective angle of pull on the rode.
how about a snubber when not using all chain? lets say I have 100 feet of chain only and I need 150 of rode out?
I’m assuming you put the 100 feet of chain down and then have it connected to 50 feet of nylon rode? The primary purpose of the snubber is for the stretch, which absorbs the shock when you’re using all chain. If you have 50′ of nylon rode between the chain & the boat, I would assume it would also stretch providing a similar advantage. Anyone with more experience? We’ve always used all chain. Would you use a snubber with a chain to nylon rode combination?
You still need to transfer the weight from the windless……I am assuming you can tie a knot (hitch or something)….
We are always in this situation as we only have 66′ of chain. Our snubber, a bridle in our case because we’re on a cat, is attached to the nylon rode with a rolling hitch. It works perfectly.