[C320-list] Of kellets and keel wraps

[P.F. Ross]

Jack, how timely.  I just returned from a 3 day cruise with our sailing
group to Panther Key, in the 10,000 Islands in FL Everglades south of Marco
Island.

Last year on this same trip, I was anchored by my Rocna 15 with 30' 1/4 G34
chain spliced to three strand nylon rode.  Anchor area is 10-12' sand
bottom with a reversing tidal current flowing between two islands and I had
a total of about 100' of rode let out.  After a tidal cycle or two, the
nylon rode wrapped around the keel but I was able to use my dinghy to push
the boat around to unwind it.  The next day it happened again along with
some anchor dragging.

I thought about a kellet for this year, but decided instead to add 150' of
the 1/4" G34 chain.  I also made a bridle snubber from two lengths of 1/2"
nylon three strand connected to a Mantus 1/4 chain hook.  I liked the
Mantus since it hooks to the chain with minimum stress risers and has a
tough rubber strap that will keep it firmly attached to the chain even when
slack.

I made the snubber with 30' legs but after I anchored, I worried that these
snubber lines could themselves wrap around the keel!  I cleated them short
on the two bow cleats leaving about 10' legs.

Winds were not strong while anchored and the shortened snubber worked fine
without any shock loading.  And no anchor rode wrap!

My question is, will the all chain rode itself keep the rode from wrapping
or is a kellet still needed?

Frank Ross
Beta Wave #206
Naples, FL

On Mon, Feb 20, 2023 at 3:15 AM Chris via C320-list <
c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

> 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
>
>