5/8 inch (15.875 mm) GALVANIZED EYE & EYE SWIVEL
BRAND NEW
Uses for a swivel:
This is a galvanized, drop-forged steel, 5/8” (15.875 mm) swivel with extra large eyes on each end. It is brand new and in excellent condition. It has a Working Load Limit of 5200 Pounds.
This swivel is an ideal way to connect chain to rope in an anchoring system. One eye is shackled to the chain and the rope is then shackled or tied to the other eye of the swivel. This swivel can also be used in an all chain rode.
A swivel prevents snarls and tangles from developing when the boat swings at anchor. A swivel is very desirable in any anchor rode, and is almost required in all-chain systems.
When cruising, you often lie at anchor for days at a time. If there is a reversing tidal current, if wind shifts are common, or if swinging room is limited, good seamanship dictates that using a Bahamian Moor.
In a Bahamian Moor, 2 anchors are set out 180 º apart with the bow of the boat at the midpoint. Ideally, both anchor lines are drawn up tight, so the bow remains over essentially the same spot.
Unfortunately, when lying to a Bahamian Moor for even a short period of time, as the boat swings around, anchor lines tend to get all tangled. This can make retrieving anchors a nightmare. In addition, because the two lines are pulled tight, they often rise up to the surface where they are susceptible to being fouled or cut by passing boats.
These problems can be prevented with a swivel. The two anchor rodes are pulled taught and tied together and to the swivel. Then a pennant is run from the vessel to the swivel. In this way, the anchor lines lie well below the surface, the boat rides to the swivel, and the rodes never become tangled or fouled.
Moreover, this system can be utilized with three anchors to create what is essentially a hurricane-proof mooring. My husband and I lived aboard our 43 ft. sailboat and cruised more than 10,000 miles. At one point during our cruising experience, we safely rode out 80 mph winds (with much higher gusts) by laying out three anchors, each 120 º apart. (We used a 3/4” swivel – a larger swivel than this one that I am selling here.) These three anchors were connected to a swivel at the common center point, and a pennant was lead to the boat’s bow. In that way, regardless of how the wind shifted, the boat swung through a small circle, and was always lying to at least two anchors. Because the anchors were bridled to a swivel, the pull on the anchors was low and they were easily able to withstand the force of the wind. This system would have worked without the swivel, but the three lines would have been a tangled mess!
This swivel can also be used as part of a permanent mooring system made up of the following components:
Large mushroom anchor
Length of heavy chain
SWIVEL
Length of lighter chain
Nylon pennant
Light pick-up float
A swivel can also be used when dragging a drogue in heavy seas or lying to a sea anchor. Again, the swivel prevents the lines from becoming tangled. Every cruising boat should have a heavy-duty swivel on-board.
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If you do any bluewater cruising, please see the storm drogue that I have listed. This is a MUST-HAVE-ABOARD emergency item. It is listed as:
STORM DROGUE & Man OB Retrieval System w/ LINES, SWIVEL, & STORAGE BAG ~ ALL NEW
If you win multiple auctions, I'll combine items for mailing to keep the shipping cost to a minimum.
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