Connecting Chain to Anchor Rope

[PeterInSA]

Prior to my 12v Anchor Winch my anchor rope ( a lot heavier than the Electric Winch rope) was connected to the chain by a heavy Gal D shackle and the loop of the rope had a metal fitting in it that spread the load on the rope.

Purchased the 6mm ( from memory) rope and the required 6mm short link chain with a small SS D link to connect same. I was just going to tie a knot at the end of the rope, but the rope provider looped the rope and used a metal fitting to join the rope saying that most knots weaken the rope by 50%.

Question with electric anchor winches can you use the gal metal fitting to spread the load in the loop at the end of the rope?

Thanks

Peter

[gofishin]

Sounds like you have a drum winch Peter, so a normal splice (not a taper splice) will be fine and provide ~/near 100% strength. The metal fitting you describe sounds like a rope thimble. Get a s/steel one, not gal. A good tight splice will be fine, but a whip round both sides at the splice Y junction will make it even better.
Cheers
Brendon

[frosti]

i have a Muir type winch and are also wondering on the best way to attach the rope to the small link chain . the rope is a braided type rope and is bigger than the link of the chain . when i got the boat it had a very dodgy attempt at splicing it on but i dont trust it .

[Dignity]

Peter, I think you ended up with a Stressfree anchor winch from memory, they do supply braided rope which is spliced to about 8 meters of 3 ply nylon before being spliced onto the chain, much easier to buy it this way, if your using 3 ply nylon very easy to splice using a SS thimble, I would still taper it and whip it as mentioned by gofishin. With a splice usually 4 turns back will give you maximum strength then start the tapering process from there.

[Dignity]

i have a Muir type winch and are also wondering on the best way to attach the rope to the small link chain . the rope is a braided type rope and is bigger than the link of the chain . when i got the boat it had a very dodgy attempt at splicing it on but i dont trust it .

Frosti, is it single or double braid, you may need to upgrade your chain size, usually with the Muir winch you wouldn't use a thimble but splice directly to the chain, just check it regularly.

[scottar]

Frosti, is it single or double braid, you may need to upgrade your chain size, usually with the Muir winch you wouldn't use a thimble but splice directly to the chain, just check it regularly.

You may not be able to upgrade the chain size if it is a "gypsy" style winch. What winch do you have? My Muir winch is designed to specifically work with a particular size chain and a particular size of rope that has to be spliced directly to the chain as a thimble/D shackle assembly won't fit in the gypsy. If it is a gypsy style winch the use of a braided line may not be advisable - the instructions for mine are pretty specific about a 3 strand nylon.

[PeterInSA]

Thanks for your replies, Yes I am talking about the Stressfree MiniMe Drum Winch with the double braided rope going straight to the chain. Yes I was talking about a rope thimble, the rope loop maybe to big for the rope thimble and I was going to use white electrical tape around the bottom of the Y section so the rope thimble would not come out. In gofish's terms a whip.

http://www.ebay.com.au/bhp/rope-thimble

[Rip it up]

Peter the whip is actually a heavy waxed thread which creates a stitch through the rope with a heavy needle. Hand sewing the rope.

Electrical tape will last 2weeks.

Yachting riggers can slice double braid if you really want to go that way. Or you can buy a stainless swivel to connect the rope to the chain.

A thimble whilst it's a nice feature, is not absolutely compulsory if the swivel or chain is polished smooth of any sharp edges.


Damo's dodgy boat building repair centre.