Chain 'snubber' line

This is the chain snubber line used on VALHALLA.

The snubber line is 3/4" nylon, 14 feet long.  It is led through a deck chock with chafe guard of reinforced plastic hose to a deck cleat.

This arrangement keeps the load of the chain away from the bowsprit, a lever that accentuates the rocking motion in waves.  It provides some give under load and also keeps the strain away from the rigging (head stay, whisker stays, and bobstay).

The chain is led to another sturdy deck cleat and removed from the windlass gypsy.   In the event the snubber line become separated from the chain (which can happen while bobbing up and down in short waves), the strain does not harm the windlass or its fasteners.

Barely visible at the bow roller is a stainless steel stowage hook on which the snubber line shackle is fastened while underway ... this keeps it handy to use while anchoring.

After trying the commercially available galvanized chain hooks, which tend to rust quickly, I fabricated my own hook as shown.

I used 1/4" stainless steel (304) plate and made the cuts with a fiberglass blade on a rotary grinder.

The width of the slot for the chain, in my case 5/16" HT, is 3/8".

This has served well for over seven years.