T&T: Anchor rode snubber line size

[Mark Richter]

Bob,
Your instinct about using a smaller snubber line to get more spring is
correct.  Your available spring will be proportional to the length of the
line, and inversely proportional to the diameter squared.  On Pooh  (46',
33,000 lbs), I use a single length of 1/2" 3-strand nylon, about 25' long.
Originally , I used 3/8" line, but the lifetime was too short for me, with
chafe against the chain causing a replacement to be needed every 2-3 months.
The half-inch snubber goes a year between replacements and has never broken.

I see a lot of trawlers out there with 3/4" snubbers, or even double 3/4"
snubbers, often only about 10' long.  Why bother?  There's probably as much
spring in 100' opf 3/8" chain as there is in two 3/4" snubbers of 10'
length.  If the snubber you use never needs replacement, it's probably too
large.

Mark Richter, m/v Winnie the Pooh  Ortona, FL