[C320-list] Of kellets and keel wraps

[P.F. Ross]

Thanks all.

Jack, yes I know the pain of a new windlass for chain.  That is why I
googled "use rope windlass for chain rode" and found a kludge from a fellow
sailor that I cannot now find to reference and give him credit.  In any
case, he wrapped 1/8" thick neoprene rubber, 1" wide, spiraling around his
windlass drum in the correct direction and secured the free end with a
couple of wraps of self fusing silicone tape.

That is what I have done and can report it has worked well now over three
anchorings.  Yes, I need to tail the 1/4 chain but it does not slip and the
rubber is holding up well.  I was mostly concerned with the silicone rubber
since it does not do well with abrasion, but so far so good.

The sailing conditions down here are pretty good, Gordon Pass from Naples
Bay to the Gulf is normal as is Capri Pass into Marco Island (although some
marks have been repositioned in both places).  The "shortcut" passage
through the Cape Romano shoals that we use to get S from Marco into Panther
Key is also seemingly unchanged.

Bugs were not so bad this year at Panther.  Last year, almost unbearable.
Maybe the hurricane blew them out.  Ha!

Our sailing group, Gulf Coast Sailing Club, is planning our annual trip to
Cayo Costa in April and I have not heard it is cancelled yet due to park
closure but will ask around.

Regards,

Frank Ross
Beta Wave #206
Naples, FL

On Tue, Feb 21, 2023 at 6:13 PM Joe Grande via C320-list <
c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

> Frank, likely with all chain there should not be a problem. Some friends
> advised me to go to all chain. I just did not want that weight in the bow.
> I chose instead to upgrade to 3/8” chain of 30’. The weight of the chain
> section enhances the set of the Delta that came with the boat.
>
> I use a bridle just to take the pressure off the bow roller.
>
> Thank you,
> Joe Grande
>            Marina:  WESTLAKE LANDING
> 2046 Westlake Ave N, Slip 34
>     Mail:   2132 Westlake Ave N, PMB 103
>        Seattle, WA 98109-2404
>   Phone:  206.940.1231
> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows
>
> From: P.F. Ross via C320-list<mailto:c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:18 AM
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com<mailto:C320-List at catalina320.com>
> Cc: P.F. Ross<mailto:pfrstl at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Of kellets and keel wraps
>
> 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<
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> for
> > > Windows
> > >
> > > --
> > Brian McLamb
> >
> >
>
>