T&T: anchor chain swivel failure

[Chuck and Susan]

This of course will be another debate along the lines of anchors. Those that
use whatever will declare there usefulness and safety. But I can relay at
least 4 first hand accounts of swivel failures including one of our own in
both SS and galvanized. In our case the swivel was galvanized, 4 months old
and failed in an afternoon thunderstorm with wind gust to 45 knots. It the
Chesapeake Bay, Belize and the Bahamas we watched 3 boats loose the swivels,
two were able to recover and one went ashore but was later refloated. Two of
these were SS swivels. I can not tell you the manufaturer of these so whether
that makes a difference or not will be for discussion. My personal feelings
are that I will never again add a weak link to our most important safety gear,
our anchoring system. We have cruised for over 17 years and covered tens of
thousands of miles. That first swivel failed in the Pamilico area for us early
on and we have never added one again. We have
 anchored thousands of times all over the East Coast, Gulf Coast and Caribbean
without a swivel, on all chain rode and never considered the need for one. We
sleep well at night and our anchors have held quite well in reversing currents
and 180 degree wind shifts with gust to 35 knots in Isla Mujeras, as well as 6
hurricanes and a number of other situations without a swivel. Our boat was 14
ton, so no light weight. IMO they are a point of potential failure, but that
is just my opinion. The Latitude posting has generated a fair amout of
discussion on the net and there are reports of failures. Chuck

To follow our adventures, go to

http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/

http://sea-trek.blogspot.com/

--- On Sat, 6/6/09, badornato <adornato at gmail.com> wrote:
 
This month's Latitude 38, the northern California, free sailing magazine
includes a letter from a couple who had a italian KONG ss anchor swivel come
apart while they were anchored.  Fortunately, it happened while they were on
the boat, averting disaster.  This swivel apparently has a screw that holds
the swivel together and requires ? periodic ?maintenance (tightening?).
A recent insurance marine survey on my otherwise perfect :) Krogen 42,
suggested that I replace my galvanized steel conventional "double U" anchor
chain swivel with one of these fancy swivels to prevent fracture from side
loads.  As i walk down the dock at my marina, i counted about 2 ss swivels
and 43 conventional galvanized swivels.  What sayest the group wisdom?


--
bruce adornato