[C320-list] Of kellets and keel wraps

Tue Feb 21 09:18:30 PST 2023

FWIW.  I wrapped the keel numerous times (especially in currents).  I started using a Kellet and greatly reduced the times I wrap.  Still can happen though.  I use a 10 lb plastic dumbell tied with short/small line and use a smooth SS shackle to place it on my anchor rode.  If the wind and current is strong I place it on the rode before I have "all" the rode out so I can let the kellet line out as far as I want.SIDE NOTE: If the rode does wrap (and the current is still strong) I have twice unwrapped by alternating the helm to swing back and forth and when at the farthest "swing" one way or the other I suddenly shift the helm and let the current catch the rudder and the boat unwraps.  Otherwise wait for slack or (if you are lucky) use a long  boat hook on the up-current side and snag the anchor rode below the hull and pull it up to the rail (NOT EASY).  Then (if you have enough left in the rode tie the rode you pull up to the bow and then undo the original rode and pull the bitter end up under the hull.  Hope that is clear.  I have yet to manage that process when the current is strong.  I "had" a half dollar size gouge in the keel where the rode sawed into it.Good luck.  I set the Kellet almost every time now so I get used to doing it and it also acts like a shock absorber while at windy anchor. 

Thanks,

Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.net C (919)- 819-9794

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Today's Topics:

  1. Of kellets and keel wraps (Jack Brennan)
  2. Re: Of kellets and keel wraps (Brian McLamb)
  3. Re: Of kellets and keel wraps (cinichols at btinternet.com)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2023 02:35:17 +0000
From: Jack Brennan <jackbrennan333 at outlook.com>
To: "C320-list at catalina320.com" <C320-list at catalina320.com>
Subject: [C320-list] Of kellets and keel wraps
Message-ID:
    <BN6PR13MB3284B5034A6C8803BF4F260F96A49 at BN6PR13MB3284.namprd13.prod.outlook.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

So we anchor in many tidal rivers in western Florida, and I have had a few cases where the rode and chain have  wrapped around the wing keel when wind and tide were opposed.

Once, it cost me a large, expensive Delta anchor, 30 feet of chain and some rode when it happened in Little Shark River in Everglades National Park on the SW tip of Florida. No way anyone was jumping into that murky water with the gators and bull sharks. (They breed there.)

Other times, it is a painful exercise to free the chain and rode,  either heavy cranking on a winch and/or diving under the boat in chilly water.

Lately, I have been experimenting with using a 15-pound mushroom anchor as a kellet to prevent this. Basically, I clip the mushroom with about 15 feet of line (I usually anchor in 8-12 feet of water) onto the main anchor and tie it to a bow cleat.

When the mushroom slides down the main rode, It pulls it almost straight down. This keeps the rode and chain from angling under the boat and catching the keel. As a bonus, it also helps the anchor dig in. I?ve found the 15-pound mushroom and 22-pound Rocna to be a bulletproof combination so far.

It?s also easier to handle than the next-size-up Rocna for us old-fashioned folks who don?t use windlasses. (A Rocna can be a real pain to raise by hand because they dig in so well. A 35-pound one? I?m not sure I?d want to try that.)

Anyone else confront this problem? Any better solutions?

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.

Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2023 21:40:58 -0500
From: Brian McLamb <bjcnmclamb at gmail.com>
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Of kellets and keel wraps
Message-ID:
    <CAEZi75Kc4X3dX5ZVvq-ycy4gY3-QYai6qfTNSykaag60F7-qmg at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

I have done this same remedy for nearly 10 years. It has never failed me in
both River , Cape Lookout  and Chesapeake Bay travels and tides.

S / V Serenity #1075

On Sun, Feb 19, 2023 at 9:36 PM Jack Brennan via C320-list <
c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

>
> So we anchor in many tidal rivers in western Florida, and I have had a few
> cases where the rode and chain have  wrapped around the wing keel when wind
> and tide were opposed.
>
> Once, it cost me a large, expensive Delta anchor, 30 feet of chain and
> some rode when it happened in Little Shark River in Everglades National
> Park on the SW tip of Florida. No way anyone was jumping into that murky
> water with the gators and bull sharks. (They breed there.)
>
> Other times, it is a painful exercise to free the chain and rode,  either
> heavy cranking on a winch and/or diving under the boat in chilly water.
>
> Lately, I have been experimenting with using a 15-pound mushroom anchor as
> a kellet to prevent this. Basically, I clip the mushroom with about 15 feet
> of line (I usually anchor in 8-12 feet of water) onto the main anchor and
> tie it to a bow cleat.
>
> When the mushroom slides down the main rode, It pulls it almost straight
> down. This keeps the rode and chain from angling under the boat and
> catching the keel. As a bonus, it also helps the anchor dig in. I?ve found
> the 15-pound mushroom and 22-pound Rocna to be a bulletproof combination so
> far.
>
> It?s also easier to handle than the next-size-up Rocna for us
> old-fashioned folks who don?t use windlasses. (A Rocna can be a real pain
> to raise by hand because they dig in so well. A 35-pound one? I?m not sure
> I?d want to try that.)
>
> Anyone else confront this problem? Any better solutions?
>
> Jack Brennan
> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
> Tierra Verde, Fl.
>
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows
>
> --
Brian McLamb

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2023 08:14:37 -0000
From: <cinichols at btinternet.com>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Of kellets and keel wraps
Message-ID: <000a01d94503$5f985ee0$1ec91ca0$@btinternet.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="utf-8"

I experimented last season using a 5lb weightlifting weight - on a line of a length that means when the anchor rode goes slack the weight is a foot or so below the keel. An oversize carabiner attached it to the main rode and lets it slide down. I found this enough to stop getting wraps in the Nantucket mooring field. 

Clearly it is only enough to stop wraps being initiated when the rode goes slack in a wind over flow situation but I cannot imagine other times a wrap could occur. Ideas anyone?

Chris Nichols
(sv Amanda Rose #476)

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of Brian McLamb via C320-list
Sent: 20 February 2023 02:41
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Cc: Brian McLamb <bjcnmclamb at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Of kellets and keel wraps

I have done this same remedy for nearly 10 years. It has never failed me in both River , Cape Lookout  and Chesapeake Bay travels and tides.

S / V Serenity #1075

On Sun, Feb 19, 2023 at 9:36 PM Jack Brennan via C320-list < c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

>
> So we anchor in many tidal rivers in western Florida, and I have had a 
> few cases where the rode and chain have  wrapped around the wing keel 
> when wind and tide were opposed.
>
> Once, it cost me a large, expensive Delta anchor, 30 feet of chain and 
> some rode when it happened in Little Shark River in Everglades 
> National Park on the SW tip of Florida. No way anyone was jumping into 
> that murky water with the gators and bull sharks. (They breed there.)
>
> Other times, it is a painful exercise to free the chain and rode,  
> either heavy cranking on a winch and/or diving under the boat in chilly water.
>
> Lately, I have been experimenting with using a 15-pound mushroom 
> anchor as a kellet to prevent this. Basically, I clip the mushroom 
> with about 15 feet of line (I usually anchor in 8-12 feet of water) 
> onto the main anchor and tie it to a bow cleat.
>
> When the mushroom slides down the main rode, It pulls it almost 
> straight down. This keeps the rode and chain from angling under the 
> boat and catching the keel. As a bonus, it also helps the anchor dig 
> in. I?ve found the 15-pound mushroom and 22-pound Rocna to be a 
> bulletproof combination so far.
>
> It?s also easier to handle than the next-size-up Rocna for us 
> old-fashioned folks who don?t use windlasses. (A Rocna can be a real 
> pain to raise by hand because they dig in so well. A 35-pound one? I?m 
> not sure I?d want to try that.)
>
> Anyone else confront this problem? Any better solutions?
>
> Jack Brennan
> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
> Tierra Verde, Fl.
>
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for 
> Windows
>
> --
Brian McLamb

End of C320-list Digest, Vol 4385, Issue 1
******************************************