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Twist and Shout
by John Temple
My anchor chain twists as it is being retrieved even though I have a swivel attached at the anchor. I believe in some way this is affecting the anchor on the bottom because I am having problems setting the anchor (regardless of the type).
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Twisting chain is a concern for all of us who anchor with all chain rode or a chain/rope combination. I have dealt with this on our boat.
We take all rode out on a dock before the season. That allows for a complete inspection of the anchor, all rode, shackles, markers and, of course, our swivel. As you let out the rode, watch for any chain jumping at the gypsy. This will let you know if the rode is getting twisted as it goes into the rode locker. Likewise, watch closely as the line is being retrieved to make sure the chain and any rope come in straight with no jumping.
If your anchor is not symmetrical (e.g., the flukes have been bent), it will spin excessively as you release or retrieve it. Inspect your anchor closely. If you use part rope as rode, make sure it is made for anchoring and is not twisting. As you lay out any rope rode on the dock during your annual inspection, it should not have kinks in it, and when it goes into the locker it should coil smoothly. If not, it is time to replace the rope. When you inspect the swivel, make sure it spins both when loose and under some pressure. If you have any concern, replace it with a new high-quality SS ball-bearing swivel.
Some anchor rollers have a groove that helps keep the chain from twisting and then jumping at the gypsy. If you do not have a groove, replace the roller.
When releasing the anchor to the bottom, go slowly to avoid spinning the anchor and so you can instantly start backing down to smoothly lay the rode down once the anchor hits the bottom, avoiding a stack of chain on the anchor. Likewise, as the anchor gets close to the surface when retrieving, slow up so any remaining twists will "untangle" themselves.
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This article first appeared in the February 1, 2010 issue of Sea Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
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