Need help with anchoring setup

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by fallguy, Jan 21, 2026.

  1. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    fallguy Boat Builder

    I need to finalize my anchoring setup.

    I purchased an expensive dyneema bridle for catamaran anchoring, but need to connect it to the boat.

    Was told to use nylon lead for snubber by AI. AI said 3-4 feet.

    I bought two six foot pieces of 3/4” nylon.

    My challenge is how to quickly tie/untie the bridle and not worry about losing it.

    I feel like 6’ gets gobbled up awful quick in knots.

    Here is a bowline on the bridle and a permanent slip knot on the cleat. I’m left with only maybe 18” of rope! And worse, the dyneema metal end is hitting the netting beam.

    Rules.

    1. Must be permanently affixed to cleat.
    2. Must be easy to deploy or retrieve/untie both sides of bridle.


    I have a picture, but says too large.
     
  2. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    fallguy Boat Builder

    I also need to make a bitter end eye for my anchor rode. I’ve not anchored a large cat much..

    I tried it one time just using the winch and roller and it was quite ugly!
     
  3. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    Location: usa

    fallguy Boat Builder

  4. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    fallguy Boat Builder

    Also, I plan to whip the rope ends..just getting started.
     
  5. gonzo
    Joined: Aug 2002
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    gonzo Senior Member

    AI is the usual garbage in/garbage out. If you have cleats, an eye splice makes a stronger setup than a knot, and is faster to attach and take off. The snubber have at least the same tensile strength as the dyneema. 3/4" is most likely less. Same comment for the cleats and attachments. If the cleats, deck, or snubber fail before the dyneema, must as well go with a cheaper material. Is the rhode attached at the middle of the bridle, or is it possible to change the length?
     
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  6. kapnD
    Joined: Jan 2003
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    kapnD Senior Member

    AI can also hook you up with easy splicing instructions.
    I think the lengths given were probably finished length.
     
  7. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    fallguy Boat Builder

    The dyneema bridle is already purchased long ago, just not used, yet.

    Quite certain the rope is weaker than the dyneema. The dyneema bridle maker sold me soft shackles for the connection, but I hate the idea of no stretch.

    So, an eye splice under the cleat and over the horns, maybe with a safety. That will make the rope longer. But how to attach to snubber to the dyneema thimble? Is that my permanent connection side?

    The lengths given were 3’. I added 3’ for good measure.
     
  8. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    fallguy Boat Builder

    The bridle has a 4-5 foot piece of dyneema with a metal thimble as well. I also have no clue how my 9/16” rope rode attaches to that!
     
  9. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    fallguy Boat Builder

    This is the bridle. It has metal thimbles on all ends. It was custom fabricated by Colligo, but I don’t want to pester him anymore.

    image.jpg
     
  10. HelmutSheina
    Joined: Dec 2025
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    Location: New South Wales

    HelmutSheina Junior Member

    A nylon snubber is generally used for all chain rodes to take shock loads and chafe off anchoring hardware. They are never the primary means of securing an anchor to a boat and I have not seen one on a catamaran bridle thus far as the bridle has enough stretch to perform the function.

    A bridle of nylon or perhaps preferably polyester would be my preference over HMPE. Splicing is not hard and there is plenty of information online.

    When I was younger, AI was an acronym for "artificial insemination", a screwing in other words.

    Catamaran Anchor Bridles https://www.snubberhead.com/catamaran-anchor-bridles

    A Guide to Anchor Chain Snubbing https://jimmygreen.com/news/post/85-a-guide-to-anchor-chain-snubbing
     
  11. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    fallguy Boat Builder

    Not asking for reinvention of an $800 dyneema bridle, just how to connect it to the boat and a rope rode. I cannot put 200 feet of chain in my locker as too heavy.
     
  12. bajansailor
    Joined: Oct 2007
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    Location: Barbados

    bajansailor Marine Surveyor

    Do you have a nylon rope rode?
    Could you perhaps splice a short length (say 4'?) of nylon on to the thimble in the end of the bridle, and then attach the other end of the piece of nylon to the anchor cable / rode using a rolling hitch?
    Rolling Hitch https://www.animatedknots.com/rolling-hitch-knot
     
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  13. HelmutSheina
    Joined: Dec 2025
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    Location: New South Wales

    HelmutSheina Junior Member

    You were actually trying to adapt a monohull snubber system to a cat and I pointed out it wasn't necessary. You already have dvneema shackles to connect the $800 bridle to the boat. A snubber is only required with all chain, which is mostly used offshore and rarely on small boats.
     
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  14. Skip Johnson
    Joined: Feb 2021
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    Skip Johnson Senior Member

    As has already been said the nylon rode does the job as far as shock loading is concerned. I've not come to trust soft shackles yet. A nice long loop of dyneema looped through the eye of the bridle and then under and over the cleat is simple and secure.
     
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  15. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    fallguy Boat Builder

    Fellas..

    I’m as dense as ipe, here. And misread Helmut as well.

    The soft shackles Colligo made for me I do not trust and they were originally designed to go around the netting beam which would damage my lacing, so I need to use the forward cleats on my boat somehow. I also have two eyes, but they are in a dangerous location.

    Skip’s description is helpful as he is suggesting a piece of dyneema long enough to get over the netting beam. Perhaps that bow cleat is also not good enough and I need a bridle cleat lower. I will take a profile picture in an hour or so.

    would I just tie a dyneema knot around the metal thimble on the bridle legs?

    and under the cleat and storm tie to the cleat for the less permanent connection?

    picture soon
     

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