Hooked on Snubbers

You're spending a relaxing night on the hook at a favorite anchorage. As you get ready to turn in, a gentle breeze picks up. It's not enough wind to cause concern but just enough to set the boat swinging gently. Well, actually, not so gently because at the end of each swing, the anchor chain comes tight with a sharp jolt that sends a percussive shock wave through the cabins, jarring you from that restful sleep.

There are many advantages to a chain anchor rode but shock absorption is not among them. Fortunately, the solution is as simple as rigging a snubber or anchor bridle. Snubbers are nothing more than a section of elastic line or strong flexible material attached to the anchor chain in a way that leaves a bit of catenary loop in the chain when it is lightly loaded. As the load increases, as at the end of a bow swing, the snubber absorbs the force, allowing the chain to come tight without the sudden snap. Some of our favorite snubbers are Simply Brilliant products.

Many boaters take the shock-absorption process one step further by rigging an anchor bridle. Typically, these systems consist of a pair of lines run from port and starboard bow cleats forward to the anchor chain, where they are affixed with some type of chain hook. Transferring the load from the chain to these lines not only removes the strain from the pulpit and windlass hardware but also adds a degree of shock absorption to the equation.

A simple galvanized chain hook can provide a very cost-effective way to attach lines to chain, but if not under tension, the hook may drop free of the chain link. You can prevent this by adding a bit of catenary loop between the bridle and pulpit to keep a bit of weight on the hook. There are also a number of self-securing chain hooks on the market. Some of our favorites include the Sea-Doo Grabber, the Captain Hook Chain Snubber and the Wichard Chain Grip.