If you deploy your anchor from the end of a round bowsprit, I can see how that would be problematic. I have a platform anchor sprit surrounded by a railing. it still requires a bit of work on your hands and knees to rig the bridle, but that would be the case with almost any type of snubber.
I had the EXACT same problem with it when I used this...
I still have that original hook, but with the gate modification piece that keeps the chain from falling out. My old hands can barely operate it.
That old hook with the gate was a bitch for me to open as well. The new hook is a definite (for me) upgrade. The band that keeps the chain from coming out is a wear item and when I spoke with the cat from Mantus at the Seattle Boatshow this year, he said just email them and they will replace free of charge.
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I ordered the new hook and two spare straps.
Good luck with it!
I tried the soft shackle idea as well. Got pinched and badly chafed by the chain links after one use. Back to the rolling hitch. Possibly a larger soft shackle could avoid the issue but you still have to get it through the link and then comes the pinch (again)This looks easier and is definitely cheaper. (US$82 for the Mantus thing is very expensive.) And you could make your own if you know how to make a soft shackle.
Easier/quickest to remove from the chain if you’re in a hurry to pull and go in high winds. No shackle to unscrew and drop/lose…
A better anchor snubber
If your anchor rode is all chain, or a lot of chain, you should (must?) use an anchor snubber. For sailors that anchor mostly with rope, an ...
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Hmm, @Zonker reported great success with that for day-in-day-out cruising for months at a time. I think he said his wound last about a year, but obviously would need periodic checking. I think also did note that wear would likely be greater with older chain. He used 1/4” (6mm) Dyneema for 5/16” chain. @estarzinger also liked using these in lots of cruising. I don’t recall him mentioning any problems/failures.
I’ve been driving cross country the last few days and haven’t had a chance to check in until now.
Sold my Bene Oceanis two years ago and bought a Nordic 44. So I could really go to sea.
Bob Perry…..so yesterday. My dad owned one of his designs (Islander 28)…in 1977. The Nordic looks like a bigger version. Mid-20th century hull and foil shapes? No thanks. I prefer a modern hull shape and appendages. And I guarantee: I’ll cross oceans just fine- in comfort, safety….and with pace. To each his own.
Good timing. They do have a tendency to lose their keels from time to time. But, if you purchase Beneteau’s “BonneChance KeelCarePlus (TM)” maintenance program option, you can avail yourself of the Authorized Factory Service Representative Network - so, getting a replacement sorted out after periodic failure should be straightforward. In and out service.
