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Post by dutyfree on Aug 3, 2023 4:12:00 GMT 12
I know we have a tackle guru on the board so looking for some advice,
I have an Excel anchor (thanks Chain Ropes and Anchors ) and have noticed the shackle at the anchor needs replacing. It is of the bow shackle type. It is then connected to a swivel. I cant tell you what type, but it is not one of the modern stainless one, it is like two shackles but bolted back to back and spins on the bolt. Ut is quite large, The swivel is old. This then goes to a D shackle and on to the chain.
I have all chain, no rope. Do I really need the swivel? If I drop it do I replace and use the bow type shackle to the anchor and does that need a D shackle to the chain or can I go direct to the chain? The less additions the better it seems to me.
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Post by Ron Jeremy on Aug 3, 2023 10:20:27 GMT 12
I've used my tackle extensively with 1000's of women and..... opps... sorry just noticed I have the wrong tackle.
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Post by ComfortZone on Aug 3, 2023 10:34:22 GMT 12
I know we have a tackle guru on the board so looking for some advice,
I have an Excel anchor (thanks Chain Ropes and Anchors ) and have noticed the shackle at the anchor needs replacing. It is of the bow shackle type. It is then connected to a swivel. I cant tell you what type, but it is not one of the modern stainless one, it is like two shackles but bolted back to back and spins on the bolt. Ut is quite large, The swivel is old. This then goes to a D shackle and on to the chain.
I have all chain, no rope. Do I really need the swivel? If I drop it do I replace and use the bow type shackle to the anchor and does that need a D shackle to the chain or can I go direct to the chain? The less additions the better it seems to me.
On my Rocna I just have the bow shackle connecting directly to the chain. Normally comes up with correct orientation to pass over the bow roller rocna.com/kb/search for the page on swivels |
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Post by GO30 on Aug 3, 2023 11:46:37 GMT 12
We say the general rule of thumb is - If you have a rope to chain rode using a non-rotating rope (a multiplait) just use a good shackle. If you have a rope to chain using a laid rope (a 3 or 4 strand) use a swivel If you are all chain just use a good shackle. Then adjust for your anchor if needed. If it is a known spinner then a swivel could be wise. If you find a twist issue, and there are a few reasons why you could have one besides a spinning anchor, then retro fitting swivel is easy as. There are a couple of anchors that always come up in spinning issues, the delta is one and most anchors once bent can become one. If you have a coming up backwards all the time issue, like chinese made rocnas (the NZ made ones are a quite different animal) are very well known for, then use a anchor straightener. Beside the orientation function they also have a swivel function. If you are told you need some links of chain between the anchor and swivel ignore that as it is anchor specific due to a specific brand using weak steels in the shank and trying to blame the bending on the extra lever a swivel brings. If that was a real issue across all anchors then no one would design swivels to go directly to your anchor and we'd see shanks bending all over the show, we don't. DF, the swivel you have is a lot weaker than you think it is, just like the eye versions of them. Pete Smith got one for Kiwi Roa and it was the same as yours. I said don't do it, he said 'It's rated to 12t' so I put it in the test bed to show Pete that at 4t it was 101% totally distorted and fucked, it I put maybe another 2-300kg on it it will have turn to pieces. I still have it and use it in my talks/teaching, it freaks people out, it's fun  Pete went with real ones after that. Just the standard everyday ones are generally OK but if you are looking to push things there are some real goodies out there with ridiculously high loads. You'd be lucky to find one in your average chandler, you need to suss a more specialised place. Use a Hi load shackle, on some anchors you may need 2 as they are physically quite small, but that;s OK as long as BOTH are done up PROPERLY. The best Hi loads are genuine Green Pin but any of the other coloured pins are fine. Sure they are chinese made but used extensively in over head lifting so watched very closely, we don't hear of failures. Or if you want SS then there are very good hell strong options available. Again not commonly found in average chandlers, you'll need to suss a specialise for them. So as the Excels aren't known as spinners I just see a good shackle in your future DF. Generally only one shackle is needed on the Excel unless you have oversized it which may need 2. |
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Post by GO30 on Aug 3, 2023 14:37:31 GMT 12
I forgot environmental. If you plan to park in a spot for a protracted length of time where the boat will rotate around the anchor a lot, say a week in the entrance to Mahurangi, then a swivel is handy there to stop chain twist which will shorten it. And I forgot capitalism. Yes DF, I recommend a swivel placed every 1m along the entire length of your chain. While that might not do you to well as sea you will be welcome to have a ride on the new motorbike I'll be buying with the proceeds  |
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Post by fish on Aug 3, 2023 18:01:52 GMT 12
Does anyone else get complimentary comments about their Excel Anchor?
Was chatting to a guy on an E1050 at the Noises on Monday, we'd both parked up at Woody Bay on Sunday night, and he's like, "oh, I see you have an Excel as well, good anchors..."
It's almost like a badge that you know what you are doing or something.
I do feel a bit judgmental now, when I see a charter boat with some undersized strange configuration of steel, or an otherwise well cared for yacht but with a rusty old plough hanging off the front.
Mates have a big yachtshare cat, and my mate was all like "come raft up to us, it'll be fun", and I'm like "nah, I've seen your anchor, wouldn't touch it even with a condom on". Anyway, last time they went to use their yachtshare cat they couldn't, cause, get this, it had dragged the anchor and smashed the arse end of both hulls...
Now they have a whole lot of extra rules that they have to use an anchor monitoring app and what not. Still haven't upgraded the ground tackle though.
You just can't bet that feeling, when you are lying in your bunk nodding off to sleep, and you know the anchor is set cause when you backed down the boat stopped like you backed into a brick wall. Never got that with my old rusty plough. Turned out it was just the friction of chain on a the seabed that was stopping the boat drifting away.
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Post by dutyfree on Aug 3, 2023 19:15:06 GMT 12
I forgot environmental. If you plan to park in a spot for a protracted length of time where the boat will rotate around the anchor a lot, say a week in the entrance to Mahurangi, then a swivel is handy there to stop chain twist which will shorten it. And I forgot capitalism. Yes DF, I recommend a swivel placed every 1m along the entire length of your chain. While that might not do you to well as sea you will be welcome to have a ride on the new motorbike I'll be buying with the proceeds Can I place an order for 100 swivels please |
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Post by dutyfree on Aug 3, 2023 19:17:06 GMT 12
Does anyone else get complimentary comments about their Excel Anchor? Was chatting to a guy on an E1050 at the Noises on Monday, we'd both parked up at Woody Bay on Sunday night, and he's like, "oh, I see you have an Excel as well, good anchors..." It's almost like a badge that you know what you are doing or something. I do feel a bit judgmental now, when I see a charter boat with some undersized strange configuration of steel, or an otherwise well cared for yacht but with a rusty old plough hanging off the front. Mates have a big yachtshare cat, and my mate was all like "come raft up to us, it'll be fun", and I'm like "nah, I've seen your anchor, wouldn't touch it even with a condom on". Anyway, last time they went to use their yachtshare cat they couldn't, cause, get this, it had dragged the anchor and smashed the arse end of both hulls... Now they have a whole lot of extra rules that they have to use an anchor monitoring app and what not. Still haven't upgraded the ground tackle though. You just can't bet that feeling, when you are lying in your bunk nodding off to sleep, and you know the anchor is set cause when you backed down the boat stopped like you backed into a brick wall. Never got that with my old rusty plough. Turned out it was just the friction of chain on a the seabed that was stopping the boat drifting away. Love my Excel, three boats in a row with them now, friends have bought them and love them, they have held in 50+ gusts/sustained. |
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Post by GO30 on Aug 6, 2023 9:04:53 GMT 12
I forgot environmental. If you plan to park in a spot for a protracted length of time where the boat will rotate around the anchor a lot, say a week in the entrance to Mahurangi, then a swivel is handy there to stop chain twist which will shorten it. And I forgot capitalism. Yes DF, I recommend a swivel placed every 1m along the entire length of your chain. While that might not do you to well as sea you will be welcome to have a ride on the new motorbike I'll be buying with the proceeds Can I place an order for 100 swivels please Would you like a Ducati, Triumph or possible a genuine WWII 1944 Ariel with them?
It's hard to find someone with a negative on the Excel. Now the world has discovered them, they have been a bit of a NZ/AUS secret for a few years, they have had to tripled production. That has caused some supply delays as Rex is very anal and won't drop his standards. Getting SS ones has been real hard but they are now flowing again.
The Excel is the lead in one of the 2 theories used in anchor design these days. Spade leads the other and is the most widely copied. While I think the Excel theory is the better of the two you can't knock Alain, Mr Spades, it certainly was a huge game changer and still a trend setter today.
But then the Sarca is Australasias most sold premium anchor. It helps it is also one of bugger all that are used extensively in recreational and commercial. Second is probably still the Delta.
We've recently seen a big jump in Fortress/Guardian sales in NZ as well. They are the US made alloy danforth patterns. Not too sure what's behind that but suspect the market has caught up to their price so what was 'up there' is now 'in the mix'. A lot are going in as secondaries due to their ability to be stored so well.
We sold 8 old school plows last week, they still have a following.
Premium meaning not a chinese knock off or generic danforth pattern type thing used on you small off the beach type vessels.
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Pete went with real ones after that. Just the standard everyday ones are generally OK but if you are looking to push things there are some real goodies out there with ridiculously high loads. You'd be lucky to find one in your average chandler, you need to suss a more specialised place.
