New Generation Anchor

[ebb]

ANYBODY HERE HAVE AN OPINION.....?
The use of a swivel in our anchoring system is controversial.
Anchoring out where wind and tides cycle there may be a good reason to try to keep your chain from getting knotted,
which could conceivably get it broke.
Or merely keep it un twisted so it hauls in fair to the windlass.
All cruisers think a swivel is the weakest 'link' in their anchoring gear.

There seems to be an even number of swivels, galvanized and stainless, on the market. Defender has 4 pages.
Every one depends on a center bolt-like affair to do the turning. Nearly every swivel has its bolt unprotected from bending. Some seem to be designed intentionally to make sure the bolt gets bent by having the parts cut away where they meet so that any bending force is unopposed.


Acco Chain makes a swivel for 1/4" and 5/16" link. It is a galvanized fitting.
Being made by a dependable chain maker is as good as provenance gets for a connector. (They DO make regular shackles.)
This fitting looks like siamese twin shackles joined bow to bow - back to back.
However, the join is a rather wide double flange through which a very short stout bolt passes - with a humongous nut and washer holding the twins together.

Don't believe the bolt can't bend the way this "Anchor Chain Rode Swivel" is designed.
The bows come close together to what a normal 3/8" shackle would have with the usual screw pin with enormous eye in each. (Don't have the swivel to measure.) Therefor the strain would ALWAYS go through the center line of the fitting.
This fitting is entirely unique. It looks forged. It looks right, it doesn't have any glaring design flaw, it looks ugly but practical. Whether ANY swivel actually swivels is open to debate. And those nasty projecting pin-heads need fixing.

The Acco ACR Swivel is DESIGNED TO GO WITH 1/4"/5/16" G43 HIGH TEST ACCO CHAIN. That's what the vendors say.

Does it have a WLL of 3900#? Have not been able to verify this number.
The swivel sells at WM (always first on the google list) for $51.99. You see others selling it as high as $83!
At Defender it's $39.19.
imco