As keeping your boat securely connected to the bottom is really important for the safety and well being of all distance cruisers, an ongoing discussion of issues about gear and technique can be very helpful. Ground tackle has been dramatically improving over the past few years, and as a result techniques for deploying that tackle have been modified.

This is a great place for members to share their experience with newer anchors and related gear, tricky anchorages, and tips for effective technique.

And if you have a great story to tell, please share it. We all know that anchoring is a spectator sport, and we all love a good story.

Vice Commodore, OCC 

We aboard Taipan have just been through a mini anchor drama. Having lived aboard and anchored around the world in over 1000 different anchorages during the past 18 years we were in total shock when our trusty Rodolfo "Other Type" disappeared off the bow as we retrieved it. The cause of this disaster was a 2-year-old S/S  Swivel. The 15mm pin connecting the two rings sheared. Oxygen deprivation corrosion. David had the gear on the ground a month before when we hauled out, inspected it closely and rewired all the shackles after inspection. It was not detectable. We were lucky as this failure could have been very dramatic in the middle of the night in a big blow. Lesson. No more swivel. We had to replace the anchor, at considerable expense here in Panama. We purchased a Rocna 40. This required only a minor bow roller modification. 
We hope to go back to the site off Panama and dive for Rodolfo. That anchor was 55kg. We are 50ft and now we are so overloaded with stuff after 18 years I hate to think what we weigh... but it's over 20 ton. Our chain is 10mm short link galvanised and is now 6 years old. Rodolfo was built (and signed) in Fremantle Australia, by an old fisherman and we purchased it second hand for $60. It doesn't owe us anything, It has never dragged but we did have to upgrade our windlass!!!
No more swivels on Taipan.

+x

 

David.Frost - 7/20/2019

We aboard Taipan have just been through a mini anchor drama. Having lived aboard and anchored around the world in over 1000 different anchorages during the past 18 years we were in total shock when our trusty Rodolfo "Other Type" disappeared off the bow as we retrieved it. The cause of this disaster was a 2-year-old S/S  Swivel. The 15mm pin connecting the two rings sheared. Oxygen deprivation corrosion. David had the gear on the ground a month before when we hauled out, inspected it closely and rewired all the shackles after inspection. It was not detectable. We were lucky as this failure could have been very dramatic in the middle of the night in a big blow. Lesson. No more swivel. We had to replace the anchor, at considerable expense here in Panama. We purchased a Rocna 40. This required only a minor bow roller modification. 
We hope to go back to the site off Panama and dive for Rodolfo. That anchor was 55kg. We are 50ft and now we are so overloaded with stuff after 18 years I hate to think what we weigh... but it's over 20 ton. Our chain is 10mm short link galvanised and is now 6 years old. Rodolfo was built (and signed) in Fremantle Australia, by an old fisherman and we purchased it second hand for $60. It doesn't owe us anything, It has never dragged but we did have to upgrade our windlass!!!
No more swivels on Taipan.

Hi David,
It is good to hear field reports such as yours; to often we remain silent about things that do not go well. I have long contended that swivels are not necessary on cruising boats (and are often the weak link) and that stainless steel has no place at all in a ground tackle system.
I am sorry this happened to you but appreciate the report and are glad the discovery was not more painful than a lost anchor.
I very much support your conclusion.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy

Hi David,
Thanks for the report, And glad all turned out safely for all concerned, and hope Rodolfo eventually is recovered.

My request is can I forward your report to Vyv Cox, a specialists Metalurgy scientist, who writes for Yachting Monthly and is a friend of mine.

I await your reply

Brian and Sue
S/V Darramy in the Peloponnisos

+x

 

bwallace - 7/21/2019

Hi David,
Thanks for the report, And glad all turned out safely for all concerned, and hope Rodolfo eventually is recovered.

My request is can I forward your report to Vyv Cox, a specialists Metalurgy scientist, who writes for Yachting Monthly and is a friend of mine.

I await your reply

Brian and Sue
S/V Darramy in the Peloponnisos

Hi Brian and Sue. That would be fine and I also have photos of the offending swivel.... well what's left of it.