Anchor rode twist

Not to gloss over the very real concerns brought out, I have to assume that a 55lb. anchor (in the story) was probably attached to a 50-60' class boat. We are likely talking forces of many multiples of a C-Dory, I would think?

At any rate, I have a long driveway and I ran the entire 300' 3 strand rode set up through the windlass yesterday, both directions, (wife on switch, me holding anchor) and did not see one turn on the swivel. Most of any rode twist must come from anchor spin on the drop/retrieval. I put a picture of the setup in the album and the jury is still out on this one. At least, as set up, I have the fairly simple ability to just bypass the swivel in overnighting situations.

Chris
 
Chris, C-Dawg and I were both deploying in less than 20 feet of water and both have more chain than that depth. I just do not think we had spin on the way down or up that explains what he experienced and in my case we are talking about 9-10 revolutions which manifested itself in two kinks as the line was being retrieved under slight to moderate pressure and prior to when the anchor left the mud.
If the stretch theory is wrong then I think the rode was twisted to begin with and had never been run all the way out in deep water at slack tide. Then when drawn back in under pressure it could not adjust itself causing the twisting to concentrate in a few short sections of line.
It's the hose off the side of the real effect, if you follow me.
 
Makes perfect sense to me. I was not responding to your post and was probably writing mine when you posted. I type slowwwwww and the 30 minute time period usually expires well before I catch even half my misspeaks and blunders.

Chris
 
I ran into similar line twist recently while anchoring in shallow water with my delta 14lb hook not wanting to get itself aligned for the anchor guide roller. I did swing a lot in windy conditions,so I'm pretty sure that's the cause. I will try to wind it up slowly today and see if that works, but if not l will likely shop for a quality swivel if anyone has a recommendation for my 22 setup please chime in ,thx
 
H had not anchored very much until my Vancouver Island trip, so my system was pretty much used for lunch stops only. I have 70 feet of chain and 250 feet of nylon 3 strand secured to the underside of the bow deck. The anchor is a 14# Delta, and it is attached with a stainless swivel.

I had 2 nights where I rode hard on the wind, and sailed through and arch of up to 90 degrees or maybe more at times. When it was hooked up hard, it held great. When retrieving, I did that slowly, with usually a couple of pauses after I pass the 30 foot marker to allow the chain to rinse. If it starts to come up muddy, I will move the bow back and forth until the anchor is off the bottom, and then I spin the boat to wash the chain and anchor. It works to clear kelp or weed pretty well, and it gives the neighbors something to stare at for a few minutes. (Its tough to be out on the fore deck, when the anchor is up, and there is current or wind, and no one to be at the helm,) so this is a good wash system. A few times the anchor came up and had to flip over as it cam into the launcher, maybe 4 or 5, but usually it just slides up into the launcher, clean and tight.

I would highly recommend, marking your chain at 10, 5 and 3 feet from the anchor connection, especially if you are using a windlass, that will allow you to see when to be ready to drop the switch, befroe it jams kelp or weed into the launcher.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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