Cannot resist coming in with my 2 cents. I cruise the East Coast and anchor a lot. I have used a chum for many many years. Mine is a 8lb old scale weight which easily connects to my anchor plait with a carbine. Lives easily in my anchor locker. I have no anchor winch on my 28ft yacht, so use 12 metres of 8mm chain and 25 metres of anchor plait. The Hook is a 9kg genuine Bruce which has never let me down in East Coast mud and sand. Before using the chum I was continually plagued with keel wrap when the tide turned at low water, which was a real pain. Chum cured this. Totally indispensable.
Thank you for sharing Tom. I love how approachable and inclusive your videos are. The tone is no fuss, no bother and packed with excellent information from someone who clearly doesn't need to preach at us or repeatedly tell us how expert they are and what they've done. It seems so obvious to me that you've probably forgotten more about sailing than most will ever know.
That's very kind of you Henry. I suppose I've been out there a long time and I learned fairly early on that the wise man is the one prepared to listen to the experience of others. I've soaked up a fair bit from the School of Hard Knocks as well, but every year shows me that there is still so much to learn. Tom
Lovely video again Tom. Don't stop entertaining us with your great yarns and snippets of seamanlike practice. And we always love an anchoring story. It's interesting about the shallow water effect snubbing the chain tight. Some people like a springy anchor warp, but you don't half swing about with the extra scope needed. Cheers. William.
Yes Stan, thanks, I knew that, and they have all sorts of names, but I was referring to the interesting point Tom made about a chain's catenary's inefficacy at less depth. And at less depth, some folk try a springy rope as an anchor rode, if there's enough room in the anchorage. Good health to you Sir. William.
"I won't tell you the circumstances"...oh come on, Tom, that's teasing! Great video as always, thank you. When I see a new video from you I save it until my dinner is ready, or just before bed so I go off to sleep in a joyful mood thinking of sea adventures. Your pleasure and pride in your boat and tools is infectious.
Thank you for another interesting and enjoyable vid. I especially enjoy seeing glimpses of Constance. She is simply the finest example of a properly outfitted and well maintained Mason 44 around.
Thanks both for your kind remarks. A number of people have asked about that and I'll try to do a whistle stop tour of the boat when I get back on board in the spring. To
Mr Cunliffe , An Ex Wiltshire Boy here Myself , also motorbike riding fool , I really do love your very Down to earth videos , with the Very English way of explain things with very English saying like getting the wind right up the Chuff , I really just found your Channel and instantly subscribed Thank you
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Thank you Mr Cunliffe you have a voice and subject matter I could sit and listen too for hours on End , just like the Old timers in the Railway works at breaktimes , big steaming mugs of tea , and out come the old yarns.
Great piece of gear...I built my own about 20 years ago from a 30+ pound cast weight, a shackle and a big snatch block. Works really well, I cannot imagine a 100 pound weight! But it sure as heck would be affective! Cheers Mike 🇨🇦
Nice one. The catenary's inefficacy at less depth is something I don't think I ever grasped in a Conscious sort of way, thank you! I have once slung a fisherman anchor on the chain as a chum-needs must at the time- but now I have serious Chum Envy..
James Mosley On the subject of teachers, my mathematics teacher is uncannily like Tom Cunliffe and his name is identical too...... could it be the same man?🤔
Well Richard, I think probably not and my doppelganger is going to be a lot smarter at sums than me. I've always been good at mental arithmetic, but my brain faded out when confronted with differential calculus.I toddled and wrote a sonnet instead! Tom
I was on my honeymoon- just me and my new bride on an Ionian charter. We were holed up in Sivota avoiding a 35 knot northerly. Unfortunately we were stern to with the main anchor in poor holding - I’d rowed it back out twice. In the end I put the ledge out at 45° to take the wind load but it only had a minimal amount of chain, plus I was concerned about people running over it the ledge line. I improvised a chum by using a bucket with 10m of chain - worked a treat!
I bet lots of people are putting variations of this together, great idea. I bet it would help damp the bow in big swells too, as well as keep the ideal angle on the scope to the anchor.
Tom, keep these wonderful videos coming. The other week I took your recommendation to heart about Sam Llewelyn's novel The Shadow in the Sands. Loved it. I told a friend this morning that even though he was not an old salt, your unpretentious enthusiasm for sailing and the maritime life would make his watching one of them a very entertaining time, an example being your visit to HMS Medusa.
I agree, thank you Tom, an inspirational video and in-depth to old school technology that works. Already trying to think of a modern day version that costs the same !!!
Sir, with respect but you should mount the saddle of that rope/chain sentinel at 180 degrees with respect to the direction shown at 06:57, as it will not skew the chain as it does at 06:54 and it will be easier to pull up. In my country, we call it, the chain sentinel rider. The sentinel we often defined simply as “a wet soldier or guard whose job is to ride the chain and keep watch on the angle of the dangle!”
Also known as an Anchor buddy or Anchor Angel, Love em'. The plastic cover weights used by weight lifters are very good, since they are easy to clean of growth and plastic does not rust. A google image search will answer any questions and every cruising boat should have one.
I have never used a chum, so it's entirely likely that if I see what I think I see (camera angles might be deceiving) then there's a perfectly good reason for it. But at 6:50 the rope appears to attach on the anchor side of the chum, which seems to make it twist on the chain. Perhaps it's no big deal either way, but I'd have expected retrieval to be at least significantly easier if attached on the boat side of the chum. A trivial error that isn't even worth correcting? Functional for reasons that I've overlooked? Or totally not an issue?
Beautiful old 'line bender' puts nice flex bend in line to absorb boat movement without stressing anchor. Wish I had that thing, my regular turnbuckles got stuck on chain links and wouldn't slide down.
I just saw this video. We did this with a number of times over the years with a bronze cradle like device, a lanyard and various mushroom anchors. To me it just did the trick in the anchorage. Some folks are sure that it does nothing at all, but they probably have not given it a chance.
It's called an anchor Kettle and all you need is a downrigger weight, a length of line and a carabiner. You don't need all that junk. Make a short leader with a couple of feet of line tied to the weight at one end and a carabiner large enough to slip easily down your anchor road. Tie 20 or so feet of control line to the weight. It can be light line because the only strain is the weight of the weight if you will. Clip the weight on the road and let it slide down depending on the depth and the local tide rise. The weight should stay suspended even at low tide. (Off the bottom.) I've used plastic covered workout weights that I bought for a buck a piece at Goodwill as well. If you don't have a clip on you can just tie the weight around the anchor line with a large loop. It doesn't have to be pretty just something heavy that you can tie a rope to. You can adjust the amount of weight depending on the expected weather and how close you are to other boats and of course how much you feel like pulling back up. I tie knots in the control line every 10ft so I know how much I've let out. With a kettle I can use lighter ground tackle and although the total weight is probably about the same, I can pull it up easier in two pieces rather an one big anchor and chain set up. Works great. Never leave on without it.
Thanks for this Tom, entertaining and informative. I note a few comments debating the correct terminology. I do not know about you but all this nautical terminology just ‘drives me up the bulkhead’😂
Great video Tom. I will have to try Trutz’s “Rolo” chum next time I am in Studland or Newtown on the hook in breezy weather. Have had it for 15 years and yet to try. Rgds to you and Ros.
You know, i cannot remember hearing you talking about sailing in the Mediterranean, i'd be curious to hear about it, especially about Italy, being my home waters.
Sadly, it's a while since I sailed in Italy. I motored there in my 1949 Bentley a few years ago, but haven't sailed there since the 1970s when we were shown great kindness in Porto Santo Stefano. I have however visited other parts of the Med since then Tom
Walmart, in the U.S.. Sell's in their Sporting Goods Department: "Kettle Bells". From 5kg to 40kg. Their Weights someone would use to gain muscle mass. Perhaps this could be looked at.
I am definitely not going to compare my limited sailing experience to Tom’s, but based on all I have learnt so far in taking up sailing/cruising, reading, watching videos and talking with more experienced sailors, the first thing I would have to say is that a 3:1 ratio for your anchor and chain is the absolute minimum one should use regardless of all factors. In fact current advice is to use a scope of 5:1 and even up to 7:1 under some circumstances. Secondly use a snubber. Thirdly, while Tom is happy with his heavy Bruce anchor, anchor design has come a long way since these kinds of first generation anchors be it the Bruce or CQR. If you havn’t seem Sailing Fair Isle’s recent review on anchors I would highly recommend you do. You will clearly see the limitations of various anchor types. Based on the information in this latest video, I think one would be well served by one of the three latest generation anchor types be it the Rocna (the roll over hoop is a concern for some), the Sarca Excel and what is now quite probably the best anchor on the market, the Ultra. If I were in the market for an anchor, the Ultra is what I would be choosing.
Nice one. I use a very big shackle and the kedge anchor (which is only 1Kg lighter than the Bower), with its 5m of 8mm chain and plenty of cable it does the job albeit not as elegantly as your antique "chum" but easier then the Navy of Nelson's day using a carronade or similar to back up their anchors.
We had just such a situation the other day. We have seen stage weights used before on a shackle. But that’s a glorious piece of kit. Many years ago we were taught that the chain holds the boat and the anchor holds the the chain. We carry 85 Mtr’s of 8mm but in our wanderings we have never had to use more than 50Mtr’s. We just say, we are a bit surprised you favour a Bruce. On our old Westerly we found it had a tendency to skip over the sea bed rather than dig in. At the time we changed it for a Danforth. Which was better in the sandy bottom of our crushing ground in the Solent and south west. Our last boat came with a CQR with was ok but needed a lot of chain and digging in well. When we took delivery of Impavidus it came with 50 Mtr’s 8mm Chain and a Lewmar Delta 12 Kg. Virtually useless! And its obvious why its called a plough anchor. We now have a modern design in the Manson Supreme. It is 20Kg and sets first time every time burying its self deep when set. However, we fitted a swivel direct to the anchor. Quite expensive in stainless steel. As we cruised around the bay of Biscay we found that as the tide or wind pivoted us the swivel came under huge side loads and started to bend at the anchor end. The solution was 3 links of chain between the swivel and the anchor. This removes the lateral force on the swivel and the anchor and allows the anchor to turn in the tide or wind when they are strong. More recently the winds have been mainly light and wing changes overnight just put circles of chain on the sea bed. The anchor stays put and we sleep soundly, all be it with an anchor drag alarm on our GPS phones. We remember setting anchor watch times for crew years ago. How things have changed as anchors and electronics have become so much better. Thanks for the video Tom. They are always informative and interesting. If you have the time visit out RUclips Chanel and see out journey, mistakes, and tips we have put out to help others. Sail Safe. Ant & Cid. SV Impavidus.
Hi guys - Really good tip about the few links of chain between the swivel and the hook. I suppose the downside is the shackle between the short length of chain and the anchor which is usually the weakest point unless you go for a Wichard shackle. Just for the record, I'm appending here a few words I appended on the Mason Owners site when a discussion arose about the anchors. A number of contributors agreed with me. Good day everyone, I've had all sorts of anchors in my long life and each has held fine, given enough heavy chain and after being well dug in. As a result, I'm always tickled by articles dishing up empirical information about various types. After 25 years extensive cruising in heavy displacement gaffers using the fisherman anchors despised by the establishment and never once dragging, I inherited a 30kg Bruce with Constance, my M44. Backed up with plenty of 3/8 chain cable, this also has behaved impeccably in 8 years varied cruising. Like its predecessors, it too has never dragged. For the Mason, it has the added benefit of stowing sweetly on the bow roller, doing a pretty good disappearing act on the aesthetics front. My fishermen were preceded by a couple of meaty CQRs which only dragged when dropped on coral trash - and serve me right! What I'd say is this: when it comes to anchoring, a bit of what you fancy does you good, so long as the hook is big and properly dug in on the end of a sensible scope of chain. Peaceful nights to us all! Tom
So, I guess the idea of another anchor is not only as a weight, but so it would be set (ie. dig in) as well? I wonder how it would be when you tried to retrieve it? Would you need a line the same size as an anchor rode?
Should the rope lead back to the boat straight from the device? It seems the 'chum' is reversed and will jam 'across' the chain during retrieval? i.e pulling the chum rope will make it jam, as opposed to sliding uninhibited if the rope leads last not ahead of the chum?
Hi Ray. Well spotted. I did put the chum on wrong way round - once a year syndrome. It does pull up ok like that, but it's not pretty. I realised my mistake as I was lowering away, but was so knackered at the end of a long day that I couldn't shoot it all again, especially as the camera lady was ready for some 'Chocks-on cocktails'. Thanks for pointing it out and for being patient with my imperfections. Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Hi Tom, I have a confession, I thought it was a case of 'lateinthedayitus' as I noticed that you purposefully stopped it quite soon after leaving surface. So I was using the opportunity to be a smart alec. But if it's any consolation for being caught 'at it' by a cheeky upstart the reason I have some of your books and have watched your various appearances over the years and subscribed to your channel is because of the old adage 'those who can't do, teach'. However, if someone can do AND teach then they're a rare and wise gem, and if that practical wisdom were counted in individual gems then your tips,instructions and anecdotes would be a collection in sufficient quantity for a coronation!........but I will respectfully and modestly 'dine out' on this when enjoying after sunset tipples in the cockpit 😉
Been using an "anchor weighting device" for the past 40 years. They're known as "kellets", "sentinels" or commercially as "Anchor Buddies". I run a garage door counterweight down my rope/chain rode on a large pulley, as opposed to the cast saddle Tom uses. Painted mine bright orange so it remains visible as much as possible. I don't understand why anyone would paint ground tackle black?
Great improvised weight and in all my life I've never heard of an anchor weight being called a kellet, but then it's been said by smarter men than me that the anglophone nations are divided by a common language. For what it's worth, if you sail on the east coast of England of the eastern half of the Channel, you won't be able to see anything in the water beyond two or three feet, whether it's painted orange, black or sky-blue pink. Black bitumen paint sticks wonderfully to galvanized metal. Tom
I have one of your books ( I think I might have them all). I read the advice about a yellow body on a tricing line. For ten years I used this on the Blackwater and elsewhere. Scope 5:1 and off to bed. I woke up one morning to find a fisherman 25’ hmoored onto my anchor bouy on a spring tide, about 3 kts. We exchanged words and he departed. Funny how people view anchoring. When I see West Indian anchoring and 5% of the fluke in I can see how good a CQR is.
How about loops in the chain, perhaps using a shackle? Not as effective, I'm sure, but doesn't add to weight / equipment on board. (I've only just thought of this so it might be a bad idea.) I've often controlled snubbing using a sinnet (long finger-knitting knot) but I've always thought a weight would be better.
yes = they call them kellets - and the Americans flog em as a product called anchor buddy - north of 300 US - you can knock your own up pretty simply with a decent amount of lead on a pulley system ( we have) - cool thing is I can return the two weights to on top of the keel when finished
There must be loads of things which weigh enough to be useful but you have to be able to hang it over the chain - maybe just attach whatever it is to a large shackle somehow and that should slide down the chain OK. What to use? How to attach it? There's a little project for everyone - any ideas?
So good to hear somebody say 3:1 is adequate for most Anchoring with proper gear. And that's 3 x the water depth NOT 3 x the water depth +the stem roller ht as some misinformed american anchor guides imply. Cheers Warren
As roller height can vary greatly from boat to boat, and roller to water distance becomes a bigger and bigger portion of the overall equation as the water gets shallower, I'm struggling to understand how ignoring this fact would not become problematic at some point. Perhaps the most extreme example that immediately comes to mind might be certain catamarans which can get into ridiculously shallow water - not that I'd be seen dead on a cat :-)
warp21drive The amount of scope needed depends on a multitude of variables. I’ve no idea what sort of experience you’ve had, but I certainly wouldn’t be taking that advice.
Seeing some comments about a second ancor doing The trick and knowing you have sailed my home waters of Western sweden i have to share my way of safe anchoring. I sail a 32 foot fiberglass yacht and make good use of The sheltered "natural harbours" of The archipelagos around sweden. In these waters you easily find good anchorage and I, like most swedes, use a short 2m chain and a long line when sleeping out in The summers. With older children and less inclined to get ashore i tend to lay onlybon The anchor mord often. I have come to use my heavier "storm" anchor and a long mooringline as an anchor wheight. I simply achor as usual with down to a meter under The keel (no tide in sweden), I then shakle The lager achor to The deployed smaller one and slowly lower it to The bortom adjusting The line so that The heavier anchor is on a slightly longer line. In effect i have a steep mooring angle but also two anchors, ensuring a good nights sleep no matter what. Love your work and dreaming of sailing the world.
Thanks Tom, so what do you do when you arrive early at a nice anchorage and you put out loads of chain so you have a nice big swinging circle and then lots of friendly Frenchmen turn up and anchor next to you? Do you take up some chain so you dont swing into them?
It's the only thIng to do! Could be a case for deploying the weight. but as they come alongside you can always cheer them up by offering the poor chaps a few slices of yesterday's Hovis after their morning Baguettes have gone stale.
As you say Tom, a controversial subject for some. I have seen relatively strongly worded articles (mostly from New Zealand and Rocna land) that are absolutely adamant that Kelletts (as they call them) angels to me and you, are a waste of time and don't work. These conclusions are based upon intensive computer modelling. However, contrary to computer modelling, those of us who use them find they work very effectively (otherwise we would not be dumb enough to use them, I would like to think)! I sail on the Chesapeake Bay so am invariably anchoring in relatively shallow water. Like you I have a Bruce (which I have found by far the most effective for the local conditions) and lots of 3/8th chain. I also have a fortress (again a good anchor for the locality) with about 20 feet of 1/2 inch chain. If something really nasty is on its way, this is laid out first and joined via a swivel to the crown of the Bruce. It's 15 years since I changed to the Bruce and I have never dragged, even on one stormy night when a dragging 30 foot Catalina ended rafting to me in an emergency. Held both of us solid until daylight allowed us to sort things out. I find all to frequently computer modelling doesn't always reflect reality. Keep up the good work with the videos. Always very informative and enjoyable.
I'm very happy with our Bruce too Mark. A lot depends on how people drop the anchor and lay out their chain. I've watched folks just dump the anchor and chain then walk away only to be surprised when their boat drags. Computer models and 'scientific' tests are all very well, but in the end you and I speak as we find. The Bruce I have on Constance is my first. I've had it for 10 years and cruised for 3+months every year. It hasn't dragged yet! Thanks for your thoughtful remarks. Tom
I think you might find that what looks wrong to you, may in fact be the correct way of fitting. I also spotted the orientation of the kettle, but considering this is a TC production reckoned there was more to this.I surmise one would wish the device to move easily towards the anchor, maintaining a shallow angle for the chain to anchor, as opposed towards the boat; and retrieval...that's what the windlass is for.
You're right guys. I did put it on wrong way round - once a year syndrome. I realised my mistake as I was lowering away, but was so knackered at the end of a long day that I let it be, knowing that it would work just as well, if a little untidily. I hoped I'd be able to rely on somebody spotting it. So you chaps have done us all a favour. So thanks a lot and thanks for being patient with my imperfections. Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Mr Cunliffe: you're a Top Man and Mr Turner: I stand corrected, extra rations for you and I'm ironing the charts tonight....
"I haven't used it for a year or so" That's twice in 12 months I've watched this leaden video and the closest I've come to using a Boat since the lovely Corona said "No".
I'm surprised that Tom is using a claw type anchor in the day when we can get much better anchors.....the claw type (Bruce) is genuinely the one anchor type that iv'e had drag on several boats even with extra weight.
I agree, get a Rocna. I used to have a Bruce anchor, found it useless in weeds and grass bottoms. It did set well in sandy and muddy bottoms though to be fair. But the Rocna...... wow. :)
A Bruce anchor? A Bruce? Really? Huh. I have an aluminum Danforth-type for my 50-year-old Cal 25 fiberglass cruising "yacht" in California. I had the same for my last boat, a Ranger 33. I only anchor in good holding in sand/mud, mostly at Catalina Island, so it works find and my back doesn't mind pulling it up. I like a lot of chain. 20 or 40 or even 60 feet of 1/4" before the three-strand line to complete the rode. A light anchor is fine if it grabs. The secret is enough scope, as you know.
Glad to hear the Danforth works for you Russell. I inherited my Bruce with my current vessel and in ten years it hasn't let me down, even without the anchor weight. Tom
I use something like that alot in Norway. And we actually call it "a dead man" But in Norway, the main reason for it, is too drag the boat out from land.
Drag the boat out from the land? For what reason? I would be interested to find out more, if you would be kind enough to elaborate. With thanks, in advance.
@@aitorzuazo8525 Well, I try. But English is not my first language, so bear with me. In Norway we dont have this big tides. Or at least not down south. So we usuallymoor up to land or a island. But after jumpin on land, we have/use this weight (dead man) to drag out the boat from land. Stopping it from hitting land if a boat passes or the tide drops during the night. When we want do go onboard again, we just drag the boat in and jump onboard. Hope this explanes it. Feel free to ask again if not.
Hi Anders. Just read your comment. You explained it very clearly. I have often seen Scandinavian boats anchored by the stern as you describe. The use of a dead man (best name for it I've heard so far) is such a delightful solution to what must be a genuine problem. Thanks. Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Yes, it's solves the problem of nicking the gel gout. The name I only learned from my father, I`m not sure you find it in the dictionary ;-) Thank for commenting back on me.
Ingenious device. Don't let a steampunker see it, he'll want it.😁 Odd no one makes them. Maybe find a blacksmith and develop a partnership. Sell them on Amazon or eBay. Just a thought.
Hi Daniel. Interesting about the names. Over here in the old days, I heard them called Chum and Angel. Fortunately it's not an item where an unfamiliar name could cause confusion, so more strength to your elbow. Tom
Well spotted. I've been waiting for your comment. It was over a year since I'd used the Chum and it ended up wrong way round on the foredeck. After I'd hooked it onto the chain, I realised my mistake, but decided to go with it as it was the end of a long day and I needed a drink! Normally it does slide sweetly down the chain. Many thanks for being in touch. I'll try to improve!
A cheap hack I've used is to fill a plastic container with sand. I've only used it with rope. If you use chain it's hard to see the need for this solution except in very rare situations. It should be said too that if the winds are changing a lot it can tangle with the anchor line. Once I took up the anchor weight when it was tangled to the anchor line and the anchor released and almost ran me ashore. All in all I don't think it's a good solution. If a storm is coming in and you're stuck, I'll use it, but generally it's not worth it imo.
Cannot resist coming in with my 2 cents. I cruise the East Coast and anchor a lot. I have used a chum for many many years. Mine is a 8lb old scale weight which easily connects to my anchor plait with a carbine. Lives easily in my anchor locker. I have no anchor winch on my 28ft yacht, so use 12 metres of 8mm chain and 25 metres of anchor plait. The Hook is a 9kg genuine Bruce which has never let me down in East Coast mud and sand. Before using the chum I was continually plagued with keel wrap when the tide turned at low water, which was a real pain. Chum cured this. Totally indispensable.
I have never heard or seen this before. Very interesting piece of kit!
Thank you for sharing Tom. I love how approachable and inclusive your videos are. The tone is no fuss, no bother and packed with excellent information from someone who clearly doesn't need to preach at us or repeatedly tell us how expert they are and what they've done. It seems so obvious to me that you've probably forgotten more about sailing than most will ever know.
That's very kind of you Henry. I suppose I've been out there a long time and I learned fairly early on that the wise man is the one prepared to listen to the experience of others. I've soaked up a fair bit from the School of Hard Knocks as well, but every year shows me that there is still so much to learn. Tom
Lovely video again Tom. Don't stop entertaining us with your great yarns and snippets of seamanlike practice. And we always love an anchoring story. It's interesting about the shallow water effect snubbing the chain tight. Some people like a springy anchor warp, but you don't half swing about with the extra scope needed. Cheers. William.
Yes Stan, thanks, I knew that, and they have all sorts of names, but I was referring to the interesting point Tom made about a chain's catenary's inefficacy at less depth. And at less depth, some folk try a springy rope as an anchor rode, if there's enough room in the anchorage. Good health to you Sir. William.
"I won't tell you the circumstances"...oh come on, Tom, that's teasing! Great video as always, thank you. When I see a new video from you I save it until my dinner is ready, or just before bed so I go off to sleep in a joyful mood thinking of sea adventures. Your pleasure and pride in your boat and tools is infectious.
Hi Amy. It really makes a difference to me to hear that I'm not a voice crying in the wilderness.Sweet dreams! Tom
As excellent and charming a little video as ever Tom. Thanks again.
Excellent vid, excellent appliance. And quite the finest use of the phrase "That'll be a sordid business" on the Internet!
Well I never, what a great device Tom!! Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you for another interesting and enjoyable vid.
I especially enjoy seeing glimpses of Constance. She is simply the finest example of a properly outfitted and well maintained Mason 44 around.
Tom, would be great to have several videos of Constance and your erudite narrative of a properly outfitted offshore yacht.
Thanks both for your kind remarks. A number of people have asked about that and I'll try to do a whistle stop tour of the boat when I get back on board in the spring. To
Mr Cunliffe , An Ex Wiltshire Boy here Myself , also motorbike riding fool , I really do love your very Down to earth videos , with the Very English way of explain things with very English saying like getting the wind right up the Chuff , I really just found your Channel and instantly subscribed Thank you
Welcome aboard Ryan. I'm a refugee from Cheshire, but Wiltshire works for me. Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Thank you Mr Cunliffe you have a voice and subject matter I could sit and listen too for hours on End , just like the Old timers in the Railway works at breaktimes , big steaming mugs of tea , and out come the old yarns.
Great piece of gear...I built my own about 20 years ago from a 30+ pound cast weight, a shackle and a big snatch block. Works really well, I cannot imagine a 100 pound weight! But it sure as heck would be affective!
Cheers
Mike 🇨🇦
Nice one. The catenary's inefficacy at less depth is something I don't think I ever grasped in a Conscious sort of way, thank you!
I have once slung a fisherman anchor on the chain as a chum-needs must at the time- but now I have serious Chum Envy..
Nice to hear somebody talking sense, based on solid experience, about anchoring. Thanks Tom
Absolutely bloody brilliant bit o' kit, that!
You’re a great teacher and fascinating to listen to:)
James Mosley On the subject of teachers, my mathematics teacher is uncannily like Tom Cunliffe and his name is identical too...... could it be the same man?🤔
Well Richard, I think probably not and my doppelganger is going to be a lot smarter at sums than me. I've always been good at mental arithmetic, but my brain faded out when confronted with differential calculus.I toddled and wrote a sonnet instead! Tom
That was very interesting to me Tom, thanks for sharing.
great video Tom, what a great bit of kit, even if you don't use it often it's good to have it in the locker
Thanks. It's what I call primary safety. Tom
I was on my honeymoon- just me and my new bride on an Ionian charter. We were holed up in Sivota avoiding a 35 knot northerly. Unfortunately we were stern to with the main anchor in poor holding - I’d rowed it back out twice. In the end I put the ledge out at 45° to take the wind load but it only had a minimal amount of chain, plus I was concerned about people running over it the ledge line. I improvised a chum by using a bucket with 10m of chain - worked a treat!
Pretty sure you mean the 'Kedge', as opposed to "ledge".
Smart thinking Chris. The best sailors are always ready to improvise. Hope the rest of the honeymoon was less compromised by Old Man Weather. Tom
Thanks Tom - 5 years on and the lady hasn’t thrown me overboard yet!
Your knowledge seems to have no limits when speaking anything nautical - long may it continue!
Another useful tool from an old sailors bag 'o tricks, brilliant! 😄👍🏼💥
Mickey Mouse is a term my grandfather still uses to this day. Love that term, hearing it brought back many fond memories.
Bang Good! Thank you!
Great solution to a common problem. 👍🏻👍🏻
Oh I say! Marvelous idea...the mind bogels
I bet lots of people are putting variations of this together, great idea. I bet it would help damp the bow in big swells too, as well as keep the ideal angle on the scope to the anchor.
Great video....that device makes perfect sense. I bet it's a pig to haul back up the chain with all the biscuits on? Love hearing your stories too.
Great! Thanks again for these boating wisdom packed videos.
Tom, keep these wonderful videos coming. The other week I took your recommendation to heart about Sam Llewelyn's novel The Shadow in the Sands. Loved it. I told a friend this morning that even though he was not an old salt, your unpretentious enthusiasm for sailing and the maritime life would make his watching one of them a very entertaining time, an example being your visit to HMS Medusa.
Thanks Bruce for your support and for sharing the vids with your mate. Tom
Nice one, Tom.
I agree, thank you Tom, an inspirational video and in-depth to old school technology that works.
Already trying to think of a modern day version that costs the same !!!
Very good tom thank you
what a handy bit of kit that is.
An interesting and informative video as always.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experiences Tom. 👍🏼
That worked great. Thanks for sharing.
Sir, with respect but you should mount the saddle of that rope/chain sentinel at 180 degrees with respect to the direction shown at 06:57, as it will not skew the chain as it does at 06:54 and it will be easier to pull up. In my country, we call it, the chain sentinel rider.
The sentinel we often defined simply as “a wet soldier or guard whose job is to ride the chain and keep watch on the angle of the dangle!”
Also known as an Anchor buddy or Anchor Angel, Love em'. The plastic cover weights used by weight lifters are very good, since they are easy to clean of growth and plastic does not rust. A google image search will answer any questions and every cruising boat should have one.
I have never used a chum, so it's entirely likely that if I see what I think I see (camera angles might be deceiving) then there's a perfectly good reason for it. But at 6:50 the rope appears to attach on the anchor side of the chum, which seems to make it twist on the chain. Perhaps it's no big deal either way, but I'd have expected retrieval to be at least significantly easier if attached on the boat side of the chum.
A trivial error that isn't even worth correcting? Functional for reasons that I've overlooked? Or totally not an issue?
Andrew Parry, I had exactly the same thought, but simply put it down to the sordidness of the affair and the even greater sordidness of fixing it. 😎
You've got it one Paul!
WOW, l think the last time l have seen some one using that wonderful thing was 25 years ago, but you are right, it works great, l´m using it too
Keep up the excellent work!😁
Beautiful old 'line bender' puts nice flex bend in line to absorb boat movement without stressing anchor. Wish I had that thing, my regular turnbuckles got stuck on chain links and wouldn't slide down.
Tom's boat displacement 10 tons; with Victorian gadgets, 12.5 tons......
plus rum
Quite right. A selection always on offer! Tom
I just saw this video. We did this with a number of times over the years with a bronze cradle like device, a lanyard and various mushroom anchors. To me it just did the trick in the anchorage. Some folks are sure that it does nothing at all, but they probably have not given it a chance.
Nice work Tom. I've just put the hook down and it's good to see how you do it.
It's called an anchor Kettle and all you need is a downrigger weight, a length of line and a carabiner. You don't need all that junk. Make a short leader with a couple of feet of line tied to the weight at one end and a carabiner large enough to slip easily down your anchor road. Tie 20 or so feet of control line to the weight. It can be light line because the only strain is the weight of the weight if you will. Clip the weight on the road and let it slide down depending on the depth and the local tide rise. The weight should stay suspended even at low tide. (Off the bottom.) I've used plastic covered workout weights that I bought for a buck a piece at Goodwill as well. If you don't have a clip on you can just tie the weight around the anchor line with a large loop. It doesn't have to be pretty just something heavy that you can tie a rope to. You can adjust the amount of weight depending on the expected weather and how close you are to other boats and of course how much you feel like pulling back up. I tie knots in the control line every 10ft so I know how much I've let out. With a kettle I can use lighter ground tackle and although the total weight is probably about the same, I can pull it up easier in two pieces rather an one big anchor and chain set up. Works great. Never leave on without it.
That all sounds good. The advantage of my 'junk' as you call it, is that it came at the popular price of absolute zero! Tom
Thanks for this Tom, entertaining and informative.
I note a few comments debating the correct terminology. I do not know about you but all this nautical terminology just ‘drives me up the bulkhead’😂
I used to have a lovely bronze kellet just like that. What a wonderful piece of kit.
Great video Tom. I will have to try Trutz’s “Rolo” chum next time I am in Studland or Newtown on the hook in breezy weather. Have had it for 15 years and yet to try. Rgds to you and Ros.
Give it a whirl Colin - and let me know how you get on. Give my best Billericay Chickie! Tom
It must have been said before but your the David Attenborough of the sailing world .... I can listen to your wisdom all day. 🤣
Wow, Sold! I want one. One clever kit
You know, i cannot remember hearing you talking about sailing in the Mediterranean, i'd be curious to hear about it, especially about Italy, being my home waters.
Sadly, it's a while since I sailed in Italy. I motored there in my 1949 Bentley a few years ago, but haven't sailed there since the 1970s when we were shown great kindness in Porto Santo Stefano. I have however visited other parts of the Med since then Tom
Walmart, in the U.S.. Sell's in their Sporting Goods Department: "Kettle Bells". From 5kg to 40kg. Their Weights someone would use to gain muscle mass. Perhaps this could be looked at.
I use 2 of them in my scuba bcd. Cheaper than the lead sold at the scuba shop.
What a top idea. We have them right here on our trolley full of dust collection devices.
I am definitely not going to compare my limited sailing experience to Tom’s, but based on all I have learnt so far in taking up sailing/cruising, reading, watching videos and talking with more experienced sailors, the first thing I would have to say is that a 3:1 ratio for your anchor and chain is the absolute minimum one should use regardless of all factors. In fact current advice is to use a scope of 5:1 and even up to 7:1 under some circumstances. Secondly use a snubber. Thirdly, while Tom is happy with his heavy Bruce anchor, anchor design has come a long way since these kinds of first generation anchors be it the Bruce or CQR. If you havn’t seem Sailing Fair Isle’s recent review on anchors I would highly recommend you do. You will clearly see the limitations of various anchor types.
Based on the information in this latest video, I think one would be well served by one of the three latest generation anchor types be it the Rocna (the roll over hoop is a concern for some), the Sarca Excel and what is now quite probably the best anchor on the market, the Ultra. If I were in the market for an anchor, the Ultra is what I would be choosing.
Nice one. I use a very big shackle and the kedge anchor (which is only 1Kg lighter than the Bower), with its 5m of 8mm chain and plenty of cable it does the job albeit not as elegantly as your antique "chum" but easier then the Navy of Nelson's day using a carronade or similar to back up their anchors.
A carronade eh? That would do the trick. Tom
Thanks for the info mate, now to get creative.
Go for it Steve! Tom
We had just such a situation the other day. We have seen stage weights used before on a shackle. But that’s a glorious piece of kit. Many years ago we were taught that the chain holds the boat and the anchor holds the the chain. We carry 85 Mtr’s of 8mm but in our wanderings we have never had to use more than 50Mtr’s. We just say, we are a bit surprised you favour a Bruce. On our old Westerly we found it had a tendency to skip over the sea bed rather than dig in. At the time we changed it for a Danforth. Which was better in the sandy bottom of our crushing ground in the Solent and south west. Our last boat came with a CQR with was ok but needed a lot of chain and digging in well. When we took delivery of Impavidus it came with 50 Mtr’s 8mm Chain and a Lewmar Delta 12 Kg.
Virtually useless! And its obvious why its called a plough anchor. We now have a modern design in the Manson Supreme. It is 20Kg and sets first time every time burying its self deep when set. However, we fitted a swivel direct to the anchor. Quite expensive in stainless steel. As we cruised around the bay of Biscay we found that as the tide or wind pivoted us the swivel came under huge side loads and started to bend at the anchor end. The solution was 3 links of chain between the swivel and the anchor. This removes the lateral force on the swivel and the anchor and allows the anchor to turn in the tide or wind when they are strong. More recently the winds have been mainly light and wing changes overnight just put circles of chain on the sea bed. The anchor stays put and we sleep soundly, all be it with an anchor drag alarm on our GPS phones. We remember setting anchor watch times for crew years ago. How things have changed as anchors and electronics have become so much better. Thanks for the video Tom. They are always informative and interesting. If you have the time visit out RUclips Chanel and see out journey, mistakes, and tips we have put out to help others. Sail Safe. Ant & Cid. SV Impavidus.
Great information, thanks.
Hi guys - Really good tip about the few links of chain between the swivel and the hook. I suppose the downside is the shackle between the short length of chain and the anchor which is usually the weakest point unless you go for a Wichard shackle. Just for the record, I'm appending here a few words I appended on the Mason Owners site when a discussion arose about the anchors. A number of contributors agreed with me.
Good day everyone,
I've had all sorts of anchors in my long life and each has held fine, given enough heavy chain and after being well dug in. As a result, I'm always tickled by articles dishing up empirical information about various types. After 25 years extensive cruising in heavy displacement gaffers using the fisherman anchors despised by the establishment and never once dragging, I inherited a 30kg Bruce with Constance, my M44. Backed up with plenty of 3/8 chain cable, this also has behaved impeccably in 8 years varied cruising. Like its predecessors, it too has never dragged. For the Mason, it has the added benefit of stowing sweetly on the bow roller, doing a pretty good disappearing act on the aesthetics front.
My fishermen were preceded by a couple of meaty CQRs which only dragged when dropped on coral trash - and serve me right!
What I'd say is this: when it comes to anchoring, a bit of what you fancy does you good, so long as the hook is big and properly dug in on the end of a sensible scope of chain.
Peaceful nights to us all!
Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Thanks for the response Tom good points made. Ant.
Helpful
How about a shorter bit of chain with a weight (could even be a mushroom anchor) fastened to the last link? Then I would use a float as a trip line.
The Victorian gear you're talking about is really effective. I used one alike although it was a bit more primitive :)
I love technical details like "mickey mouse".
Please say 'we ' more often . You've got a lovely first mate .
And thank you for your hard earned knowledge sir.
Namaste. From California.
You're right chum. It is 'we' and she is lovely. Tom
I love Your intuitional videos..You're very pleasant Sir cheers from Florida USA ..and God Bless you ,your ship and your entire family.
How would the spare anchor with a large shackle go? The large shackle would allow the chain to slide much like your steampunk iron dohicky?
Thoughts?
So, I guess the idea of another anchor is not only as a weight, but so it would be set (ie. dig in) as well?
I wonder how it would be when you tried to retrieve it? Would you need a line the same size as an anchor rode?
Should the rope lead back to the boat straight from the device? It seems the 'chum' is reversed and will jam 'across' the chain during retrieval? i.e pulling the chum rope will make it jam, as opposed to sliding uninhibited if the rope leads last not ahead of the chum?
Hi Ray. Well spotted. I did put the chum on wrong way round - once a year syndrome. It does pull up ok like that, but it's not pretty. I realised my mistake as I was lowering away, but was so knackered at the end of a long day that I couldn't shoot it all again, especially as the camera lady was ready for some 'Chocks-on cocktails'. Thanks for pointing it out and for being patient with my imperfections. Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Hi Tom, I have a confession, I thought it was a case of 'lateinthedayitus' as I noticed that you purposefully stopped it quite soon after leaving surface. So I was using the opportunity to be a smart alec. But if it's any consolation for being caught 'at it' by a cheeky upstart the reason I have some of your books and have watched your various appearances over the years and subscribed to your channel is because of the old adage 'those who can't do, teach'. However, if someone can do AND teach then they're a rare and wise gem, and if that practical wisdom were counted in individual gems then your tips,instructions and anecdotes would be a collection in sufficient quantity for a coronation!........but I will respectfully and modestly 'dine out' on this when enjoying after sunset tipples in the cockpit 😉
Been using an "anchor weighting device" for the past 40 years. They're known as "kellets", "sentinels" or commercially as "Anchor Buddies". I run a garage door counterweight down my rope/chain rode on a large pulley, as opposed to the cast saddle Tom uses. Painted mine bright orange so it remains visible as much as possible. I don't understand why anyone would paint ground tackle black?
Great improvised weight and in all my life I've never heard of an anchor weight being called a kellet, but then it's been said by smarter men than me that the anglophone nations are divided by a common language. For what it's worth, if you sail on the east coast of England of the eastern half of the Channel, you won't be able to see anything in the water beyond two or three feet, whether it's painted orange, black or sky-blue pink. Black bitumen paint sticks wonderfully to galvanized metal. Tom
I have one of your books ( I think I might have them all). I read the advice about a yellow body on a tricing line.
For ten years I used this on the Blackwater and elsewhere. Scope 5:1 and off to bed.
I woke up one morning to find a fisherman 25’ hmoored onto my anchor bouy on a spring tide, about 3 kts.
We exchanged words and he departed.
Funny how people view anchoring.
When I see West Indian anchoring and 5% of the fluke in I can see how good a CQR is.
How about loops in the chain, perhaps using a shackle? Not as effective, I'm sure, but doesn't add to weight / equipment on board. (I've only just thought of this so it might be a bad idea.) I've often controlled snubbing using a sinnet (long finger-knitting knot) but I've always thought a weight would be better.
Great piece of kit. Is anyone making a modern equivalent?
yes = they call them kellets - and the Americans flog em as a product called anchor buddy - north of 300 US - you can knock your own up pretty simply with a decent amount of lead on a pulley system ( we have) - cool thing is I can return the two weights to on top of the keel when finished
@@yachticus Thanks for the reply Ian. A company in New Zealand used to make a really nice one, they seem to have gone outof business. 🙁
@@yachticus Thanks for this. Good information and tip.
This man is a nautical genius. I’ve learnt a lot from him over the years.
Lead biscuits, fantastic 😛
There must be loads of things which weigh enough to be useful but you have to be able to hang it over the chain - maybe just attach whatever it is to a large shackle somehow and that should slide down the chain OK. What to use? How to attach it? There's a little project for everyone - any ideas?
So good to hear somebody say 3:1 is adequate for most Anchoring with proper gear. And that's 3 x the water depth NOT 3 x the water depth +the stem roller ht as some misinformed american anchor guides imply. Cheers Warren
As roller height can vary greatly from boat to boat, and roller to water distance becomes a bigger and bigger portion of the overall equation as the water gets shallower, I'm struggling to understand how ignoring this fact would not become problematic at some point.
Perhaps the most extreme example that immediately comes to mind might be certain catamarans which can get into ridiculously shallow water - not that I'd be seen dead on a cat :-)
warp21drive The amount of scope needed depends on a multitude of variables. I’ve no idea what sort of experience you’ve had, but I certainly wouldn’t be taking that advice.
Seeing some comments about a second ancor doing The trick and knowing you have sailed my home waters of Western sweden i have to share my way of safe anchoring. I sail a 32 foot fiberglass yacht and make good use of The sheltered "natural harbours" of The archipelagos around sweden. In these waters you easily find good anchorage and I, like most swedes, use a short 2m chain and a long line when sleeping out in The summers. With older children and less inclined to get ashore i tend to lay onlybon The anchor mord often. I have come to use my heavier "storm" anchor and a long mooringline as an anchor wheight. I simply achor as usual with down to a meter under The keel (no tide in sweden), I then shakle The lager achor to The deployed smaller one and slowly lower it to The bortom adjusting The line so that The heavier anchor is on a slightly longer line. In effect i have a steep mooring angle but also two anchors, ensuring a good nights sleep no matter what. Love your work and dreaming of sailing the world.
Thanks Tom, so what do you do when you arrive early at a nice anchorage and you put out loads of chain so you have a nice big swinging circle and then lots of friendly Frenchmen turn up and anchor next to you? Do you take up some chain so you dont swing into them?
It's the only thIng to do! Could be a case for deploying the weight. but as they come alongside you can always cheer them up by offering the poor chaps a few slices of yesterday's Hovis after their morning Baguettes have gone stale.
Your the best...an that is the coolest thing I've ever seen ...Brilliant Victorians !
I had a New Zealand made Kellet called an anchor buddy. Never figgered out an easy way to put it on and take it off.
Here''s how: ruclips.net/video/HIsnb35krVY/видео.html
Brian Jones .. Thanks Brian. A tight cable would make it easy.
As you say Tom, a controversial subject for some. I have seen relatively strongly worded articles (mostly from New Zealand and Rocna land) that are absolutely adamant that Kelletts (as they call them) angels to me and you, are a waste of time and don't work. These conclusions are based upon intensive computer modelling. However, contrary to computer modelling, those of us who use them find they work very effectively (otherwise we would not be dumb enough to use them, I would like to think)! I sail on the Chesapeake Bay so am invariably anchoring in relatively shallow water. Like you I have a Bruce (which I have found by far the most effective for the local conditions) and lots of 3/8th chain. I also have a fortress (again a good anchor for the locality) with about 20 feet of 1/2 inch chain. If something really nasty is on its way, this is laid out first and joined via a swivel to the crown of the Bruce. It's 15 years since I changed to the Bruce and I have never dragged, even on one stormy night when a dragging 30 foot Catalina ended rafting to me in an emergency. Held both of us solid until daylight allowed us to sort things out. I find all to frequently computer modelling doesn't always reflect reality.
Keep up the good work with the videos. Always very informative and enjoyable.
I'm very happy with our Bruce too Mark. A lot depends on how people drop the anchor and lay out their chain. I've watched folks just dump the anchor and chain then walk away only to be surprised when their boat drags. Computer models and 'scientific' tests are all very well, but in the end you and I speak as we find. The Bruce I have on Constance is my first. I've had it for 10 years and cruised for 3+months every year. It hasn't dragged yet! Thanks for your thoughtful remarks. Tom
I'm already hankering for one
Put on chain wrong way
Attached. Hauling eye should be facing boat. Nice bit of kit though.
Cheers Les
Hard to remember things if you only do them once a year.
I think you might find that what looks wrong to you, may in fact be the correct way of fitting. I also spotted the orientation of the kettle, but considering this is a TC production reckoned there was more to this.I surmise one would wish the device to move easily towards the anchor, maintaining a shallow angle for the chain to anchor, as opposed towards the boat; and retrieval...that's what the windlass is for.
You're right guys. I did put it on wrong way round - once a year syndrome. I realised my mistake as I was lowering away, but was so knackered at the end of a long day that I let it be, knowing that it would work just as well, if a little untidily. I hoped I'd be able to rely on somebody spotting it. So you chaps have done us all a favour. So thanks a lot and thanks for being patient with my imperfections. Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Mr Cunliffe: you're a Top Man and Mr Turner: I stand corrected, extra rations for you and I'm ironing the charts tonight....
"I haven't used it for a year or so"
That's twice in 12 months I've watched this leaden video and the closest I've come to using a Boat since the lovely Corona said "No".
Cool old forging
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Several rubberized 5 kg steel weightlifting disks from Decathlon.
Good tip, thanks.
I'm surprised that Tom is using a claw type anchor in the day when we can get much better anchors.....the claw type (Bruce) is genuinely the one anchor type that iv'e had drag on several boats even with extra weight.
Steven Yates
Same here
It never sets well in eelgrass or seaweed bottoms. I bought a Rocna and the difference is substantial. Exponentially better.
I agree, get a Rocna. I used to have a Bruce anchor, found it useless in weeds and grass bottoms. It did set well in sandy and muddy bottoms though to be fair. But the Rocna...... wow. :)
A Bruce anchor? A Bruce? Really? Huh. I have an aluminum Danforth-type for my 50-year-old Cal 25 fiberglass cruising "yacht" in California. I had the same for my last boat, a Ranger 33. I only anchor in good holding in sand/mud, mostly at Catalina Island, so it works find and my back doesn't mind pulling it up. I like a lot of chain. 20 or 40 or even 60 feet of 1/4" before the three-strand line to complete the rode. A light anchor is fine if it grabs. The secret is enough scope, as you know.
Glad to hear the Danforth works for you Russell. I inherited my Bruce with my current vessel and in ten years it hasn't let me down, even without the anchor weight. Tom
I use something like that alot in Norway.
And we actually call it "a dead man"
But in Norway, the main reason for it, is too drag the boat out from land.
Drag the boat out from the land? For what reason? I would be interested to find out more, if you would be kind enough to elaborate. With thanks, in advance.
@@aitorzuazo8525
Well, I try. But English is not my first language, so bear with me.
In Norway we dont have this big tides. Or at least not down south. So we usuallymoor up to land or a island. But after jumpin on land, we have/use this weight (dead man) to drag out the boat from land. Stopping it from hitting land if a boat passes or the tide drops during the night. When we want do go onboard again, we just drag the boat in and jump onboard.
Hope this explanes it. Feel free to ask again if not.
Hi Anders. Just read your comment. You explained it very clearly. I have often seen Scandinavian boats anchored by the stern as you describe. The use of a dead man (best name for it I've heard so far) is such a delightful solution to what must be a genuine problem. Thanks. Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns
Yes, it's solves the problem of nicking the gel gout.
The name I only learned from my father, I`m not sure you find it in the dictionary ;-)
Thank for commenting back on me.
You might want to put out a stern line to the 2 CV too. :-) Just kidding... a 2 CV would not hold you in place in 20 kts, I think :-)
Ingenious device. Don't let a steampunker see it, he'll want it.😁
Odd no one makes them. Maybe find a blacksmith and develop a partnership. Sell them on Amazon or eBay. Just a thought.
It's a thought for someone, but not me. I'm hopeless at business. Tom
Copy that Tom, running a business is too much like juggling cats.😁
Why don't you set a anchor sail ? Your boat is drifting from one side to another constantly.
I believe the proper name for it is “Kettle”.
Actually, a Kellet is what I grew up calling it. Very effective. Thanks Tom for another informative and charming video!
Hi Daniel. Interesting about the names. Over here in the old days, I heard them called Chum and Angel. Fortunately it's not an item where an unfamiliar name could cause confusion, so more strength to your elbow. Tom
⛓💪😎👍⚓️
I’ve got one.
Man, watch them toes
Try this shop.hallberg-rassy.com/contents/en-us/p1613.html . A pain to get on, but enhances holding brilliantly
Oh dear, thanks for sparing us any sordid business and just sharing the unsoiled bits ...
Any time. Sod the mud! Tom
It's a sentinel
Tom...otherwise known as:
"Jack Hargreaves of the Briney".
Did you realise, that you put the device on 180 degrees wrong. The line control ended up on the far side, not your side.
Well spotted. I've been waiting for your comment. It was over a year since I'd used the Chum and it ended up wrong way round on the foredeck. After I'd hooked it onto the chain, I realised my mistake, but decided to go with it as it was the end of a long day and I needed a drink! Normally it does slide sweetly down the chain. Many thanks for being in touch. I'll try to improve!
A cheap hack I've used is to fill a plastic container with sand. I've only used it with rope. If you use chain it's hard to see the need for this solution except in very rare situations.
It should be said too that if the winds are changing a lot it can tangle with the anchor line. Once I took up the anchor weight when it was tangled to the anchor line and the anchor released and almost ran me ashore. All in all I don't think it's a good solution. If a storm is coming in and you're stuck, I'll use it, but generally it's not worth it imo.