Osculati “Twist Anchor Swivel” rode-straightener results

W

Wolfeboro

New member
A quick field note: Yesterday I installed an Osculati “Twist Anchor Swivel” on the small Rocna Fisherman anchor that rides on the anchor roller that the previous owner provided—uninstalled—with my Cruiser 16. (To accommodate the Rocna, I had fashioned a bigger bail out of a nine-dollar strip of 3/4” x 1/8” aluminum from Home Depot—hand-forming it over a shaped piece of 2x4–simple, quick, and easy.)

Here’s the manufacturer’s site with illustrations of how the Osculati works:

https://www.osculati.com/en/11004-m-000 ... -connector

Bottom line? That funny-looking little banana of polished stainless has straightened the anchor every time so far. It cost $59.99 on eBay from an outfit in South Bend, Indiana, “MarineNow.”

Anyway, just wanted to report an easy, economical solution to a minor problem of anchor-handling.

Cheers,

—Rick
 
My take: Beware the swivel(s).
Not just me.
More here:
https://www.passagemaker.com/technical/ ... akest-link
and here:
https://www.practical-sailor.com/sails- ... n-required
Unless your swivel or shackle can match 100 percent of chains ultimate tensile strength at any angle of pull, it is not worth the risk.
Click to expand...
and here, from our own Dr Bob:
- THATAWAY quote Aug 2019
https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-fo ... wivel.html
I have been boating for 70 years, and tried a couple of swivels. My impression was they didn't add anything, and were definitely a potential point of failure. My current boat came with 2 high end anchor swivels--I have not used them, because of the potential side load. In over 8 years full time cruising and my almost every week end boating for 30 years, I have many thousands of nights at anchor. I used a swivel in a reversing tide area, and if the boat had a large load on the anchor--often the swivel did not appear to be working. I have spent 6 summers boating in the PNW (Inland Passage to AK--only as far as Icy Straits--agree on this being some of the best cruising in the world.)

One way to get around side loading, is using Wichard long "D" shackles with the swivel. These are SS and rated far higher than most comparable swivels. You are going to pick up all sorts of things on the Ronca--its a great anchor. Agree it rarely changes orientation, as the boat sails around.
Click to expand...

Aye.
 
Thanks for the response. Points well taken. Decades ago I sailed a 24’ sloop on the Chesapeake near my house and ran a 17’ center console on Cobscook Bay and the Bay of Fundy near a cabin we built up there. The demands placed on an anchor and ground tackle there were serious indeed.

These days my little sixteen-footer sees the calmer waters of the New Hampshire Lakes Region—famously rocky in some places, mucky in others. The little Rocna Fisherman with its “reversing” groove for the rode shackle holds well. And the Osculati functions as desired in these sheltered waters.

I defer to the senior members of this forum where serious demands are placed on anchoring systems.

Tonight’s dinner cruise in cool, clear, light air will go no farther than the North Beach on Stamp Act Island. If I ever do venture into the deep ever again, it will be with the words of the forum remembered (like the winds of November).

Thanks. I appreciate the benefit of others’ experience.

—Rick
 
I bought my self righting anchor in 07 after the anchor kept twisting. Bought it from the UK. Cost over $100. Was not available in the USA. Never had a problem. I only anchor to fish. No extended Anchorage.
 
Thanks, all, for the replies. Clearly, one size does not fit all. But what really impresses me in these posts as in almost all posts I’ve seen here is the good will of the C-Dory community. Generous, patient, and genuinely helpful. Not all forums have such a positive purpose and tone.

There’s a nip in the New Hampshire air today, hinting at fall. Whatever ground tackle you’re using, enjoy these late-summer weeks!

—Rick
 
Back
Top