Methods to keep anchor rode away from bobstay

  • June 09, 2013 7:07 PM
    Message # 1313197
    Deleted user
    Hello all,

    My PO had rigged up something that looks like it belongs on a boat trailer to keep the rode from violining on the bobstay when at anchor. A separate line goes from the bottom of the bowsprit up over this block, then down to a Beckett hitch on the rode. 

    The metal was somewhat flimsy and has given way. What sort of solutions have other members come up with?

    I have Bud's SS bowsprit. I was thinking of some kind of strap around the bowsprit with a block hanging below it, then there'd be no need to drill holes. 

    Thanks for any ideas,

    Stephen
    Last modified: June 10, 2013 9:44 AM | Deleted user
  • June 10, 2013 3:56 AM
    Reply # 1313412 on 1313197
    Deleted user
    I use a few feet of nylon reinforced water hose on the rode from roller to about 1 foot past the bobstay.
  • June 10, 2013 5:51 AM
    Reply # 1313454 on 1313197
    Bud has offered the solution that works for me.

    I have a 5/8" "D" Shackle replacing the pin on the top of the bobstay where it attaches to the eye band.

    In that loop I have attached a very large snatch block.  I use chain, and run the snubber thru this.  

    Keeps things quiet at night.

    rich
  • June 10, 2013 6:17 AM
    Reply # 1313476 on 1313197
    Deleted user
    I have my chain hanging off a double snubber (one line from each hawse hole) so the chain hanging down from the bowsprit is slack.  Then I take a single piece of line with a chain hook on one end, run it out one of the hawse holes, snag the now slack chain with the hook and pull it back towards the hawse hole and away from the bobstay, securing it on a foredeck cleat. This eliminates about 90-95% of the "violining". 
  • June 10, 2013 9:51 AM
    Reply # 1313753 on 1313197
    Deleted user
    Carl: Thanks - it is the attachment of that roller, or an alternative, that I was looking for suggestions on.

    Rich: That sounds pretty simple and sturdy and to me makes a lot of sense. My snubber line is lead from something similar from the bottom of the bobstay, up and over that roller (soon to be nixed) then down to a spot on the rode (nylon at this point, but with 50ft of chain on the anchor). Does your snubber start at the end of the bowsprit? Would my configuration spread the load between the two?

    Stephen: How do you avoid conflict with the whisker stays? A quick look at mine makes me wonder how a boat bobbing up and down in a blow, with lines forward from the hawsepipes,can avoid them.

    Thanks for the feedback,

    Stephen

  • June 10, 2013 3:42 PM
    Reply # 1314037 on 1313197
    I run my snubber line out the hawse pipe near the bow, then I tie it to the rode chain with a rolling hitch, and pull it up tight with 3-5 feet of snubber outside the pipe, then I give the chain 2-3 feet of additional slack. The knot rides close to the water line.  I use 5/8 three strand nylon for the snubber.  

    Sorry, I can't find a picture.  Maybe someone else can post a picture of this setup.

    There are two advantages to this arrangement.  First, it makes the boat ride 30 degrees off the wind and waves, rather than head on.  That is more comfortable.   Second, it inherently keeps the rode and the snubber away from the bobstay.

    I used to use a hook to attach the snubber to the chain, but a couple of times it became unhooked during the night, so I threw the hook away.  A rolling hitch is more dependable.

  • June 10, 2013 3:57 PM
    Reply # 1314051 on 1313197
    Deleted user
    Thanks Dick,

    That sounds like the simplest idea so far. I'll give it a try tonight.

    Can you think of any reason why this method wouldn't work with nylon rope on nylon rope? Would the hitch still be close to the water?
  • June 10, 2013 7:05 PM
    Reply # 1314201 on 1313197
    Deleted user
    Like Rich said, run the snubber through a block at the end of the bow sprit (an idea from the Pardey's first book). Works great--keeps the rode off the bobstay and keeps the boat from sailing back and forth. I keep about 50' for the snub line so I can easily let out more scope if the conditions change. I run it from the block back through the hawse pipe to secure, which keeps it clear of the whisker and bob stays. A rolling hitch works well for securing to rope or chain rode (I also have 50' of chain and then rope). When retrieving the anchor, the rolling hitch comes up through the anchor roller with the rode, untie it and secure it some place for the next time. 

    Bud's manual recommends using the extra hole in the lower bobstay fitting for a fixed length snubber (an idea I just read about in Eric Hiscock's first book). Doesn't allow for adjustment of scope without first hauling in some, which would be hard to do in a blow.

    In this photo, I've just set the snubber with a rolling hitch on the rope portion of the rode (which is sagging). The hitch being only few feet beyond the block at the end of the bowsprit, the rest is being coiled ready to go out if needed.

    Photo




    Last modified: July 23, 2013 8:30 AM | Deleted user
  • July 22, 2013 2:01 AM
    Reply # 1348553 on 1313197
    Deleted user

    I don't like noisy bobstays either. Since W32 Polaris has a SS "A" frame bow sprit of my own design, I used as a lunch hook a wish bone anchor and  5/8 Nylon rode with chain and left that hanging off center away from the bobstay. For mor heavy duty anchoring, on the other side a 45lbCQR with all chain rode, again from the side of the "A" frame but as with the lunch hook not from outboard, but just inside over the big bow roller. I never had the scraping of the chain on the bobstay as they hang down about a foot away from it.I was anchored out when a tropical depression went over Nawiliwili, Kauai and the roofs were flying of the Kalapaki Kai Villas. In that case you should have two anchors (I had a 35lb and a 45lbCQR) at least out. Maybe also use two anchors if you own one of the villas for the roof !

    I have always been bothered by dinghys bumping into the hull, but that is easy to fix.

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