R31CB Anchor Line

New RT owner here. My wife and I haven't yet tried anchoring with our 2022 R31CB but would very much like to try this summer. In my past experience (albeit on larger sailboats) there was always a hefty cleat forward of the windlass. This allowed one to cleat off the anchor line after setting the anchor to take the load off the windlass.

With the R31CB there is a small and, quite frankly, undersized cleat forward and starboard of the windlass which I cannot believe is for the anchor line. (must be for simply tieing off the anchor after stowage). The only sizeable cleat is actually aft of the windlass and transverse to the anchor line.

Question, how are the more experienced owners tieing off the anchor line after setting the anchor?

Thanks,

Here is a previous thread on the topic though not saying it gives a definitive answer. (On our R-31CB I tie off to that small cleat. Though if there is more than a small breeze I have a Mantus bridle that I lead back through the bow chocks to the large center cleat.)

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18376&p=120275&hilit=c6eb781f393911a1640019781c2621e9#p120275

Thanks. I would be concerned tieing off to that smaller cleat but glad to hear that others do. Not sure why it woukd be designed like that.

Do you know what bridle set up you use?

Erik

We use the mantus small bridle on Salty Bliss R31cb. Good for 30-40 foot boats (we know 27 and r29 owners that also use this same setup). We also use the small snubber for connecting the bridle to the chain or rode.This setup us important especially on the R31 as the factory rode will jump side to side on the anchor mount when windy. The boat will swing side to side and chaff/cut off the rode. With the bridle on there is no chance of chaffing and the side to side swing is a little less too.

We always tie off anchor line and bridle to large cleat.

Thanks Mike&Sarah. Looking at the Mantus bridle it appears that it is set up to attach to the chain rather than rope. Given that the R31 set up is mostly rope what is the best way to attach to the rope portion of the anchor rode?

tie a rolling hitch to the anchor line and lead it to a regular cleat.

https://www.animatedknots.com/rolling-hitch-knot

eriknelson3":w86d39lu said:

Thanks Mike&Sarah. Looking at the Mantus bridle it appears that it is set up to attach to the chain rather than rope. Given that the R31 set up is mostly rope what is the best way to attach to the rope portion of the anchor rode?

Click to expand...

That is what the mantus snubber pendant is for. It can be attached to chain or rope. Doesn’t slip.
Attaché snubber pendant to the rope or chain then connect it to the bridle.

We have a 2022 R29CB. I was completely put off by the expense of the snubber systems you have to purchase. I take anchoring very seriously as we swing on the hook out at the Channel Islands off So Calif frequently and I upgraded our anchor to a Rocna.

I built my own harness: rope with an overhand loop in the center for a line snubber to be attached to a snubber with a d-ring on both ends. As you pointed out, there's only so much chain (50' - I wish I had upgraded to 100') so the snubber has to be attached to the rope anchor rode. I purchased a Dyneema Link (on sale at West Marine when I checked today) which loops onto the anchor line and provides an attachment point for the other end of the snubber. Both ends of the system are then attached to the port and starboard cleats respectively. All of the stress is therefore directed to these two cleats and the (now limp) rope rode is then attached to the small cleat adjacent to the windlass (that's as good as can be had with the way Ranger placed everything. I agree that the placement and size of that cleat is inadequate).

Hope this helps! Safe anchoring!!

Instead of a rolling hitch I use a "line grabber" made by Davis to attach to the rope rode and run a couple of short lines to the large cleats with a bowline tied to the Grabber to create a bridle.

I purchased the Mantus Bridle along with the snubber pendant and mooring snap shackle last year and have used it multiple times on our journey from Texas to the Chesapeake.

We attach the ends of the bridle to the gunwale cleats and it works great as trying to connect both ends to the single bow cleat on the R31 is impractical.

Because of the chain and line make up of the R31 anchor rode I find we are 50/50 connecting to the chain or line.

The snap shackle makes it easy to switch from the chain hook grabber and the snubber pendant. Without the shackle I had to fumble to connect a wire tie or retention wire on the shackle.

The snubber pendant is attached to the line with a 3 pass prusik knot.

I hope this helps.

“I purchased the Mantus Bridle along with the snubber pendant and mooring snap shackle last year and have used it multiple times on our journey from Texas to the Chesapeake.“

What size mantus bridle did you get?

Take a look at the website for the Mantus Snubber. It describes a a 3-pass prusik knot that hold great to the anchor line assuming your have more out than the 50' of chain. The snubber is made of Dynema that partially justfies the cost. Have used it many times and always felt safe.

Hi all, I generally don’t scrimp on safety gear but is the mantus bridal worth the $180 or so more than two lines connected?

I repurposed an old three-strand rode I had lying around and spliced loops on both ends, creating a 20-foot line. To use it, I get a bit of slack on the anchor rode and tie a prusik knot. Then, I snug and tidy it up and run the ends around to the fairleads and secure them to the cleat aft of the windlass. It’s very easy to adjust and release. Plus, did I mention it's cheap?

Im curious if folks are worried that a rolling hitch will not work?

You can always tie a second to the other cleat with another bow line? Plus you still have the anchor rode?

A dedicated bridle seems like a wasted expense? But perhaps I’m missing something?