242 seamanship secrets
How to Make a Snubber Bridle for an All-Chain Rode
To relieve shock loads on an all-chain anchor rode, rig a nylon line snubber
bridle. Th is takes the strain off the rode and keeps things quieter in the cabin.
All-chain rodes without snubbers tend to rub and bang on the hull, and this
can cause a racket down below.
Making your snubber bridle.
Splice a 1-foot-diameter eye in one
end of each line. Splice a thimbled
eye into the other end of each line.
Attach your thimbled eyes to the
oversized galvanized shackle. Stow
your bridle.
Using your snubber bridle.
- Set the anchor in the usual
manner. - Pass the large eye of each bridle end under your bow cleat legs and around the
horns. - Use the second, regular-sized shackle to bend the apex of the bridle (i.e., the
oversized shackle attached to the two thimbled eyes) onto the chain rode near
the windlass. - Ease the chain rode out by hand or with the windlass until the bridle takes all
strain. - Wrap chafi ng gear around the bridle lines where they rub the edge of the
deck or inside the chocks.
A snubber bridle for an all-chain rode.
Tools Needed to Make a
Snubber Bridle
X 2 12-foot lengths of 3-strand(^1) / 2 -inch nylon line
X 2 stainless steel thimbles
X 1 galvanized shackle (same size
as used on your anchor rode)
X 1 oversized galvanized shackle