Bridle arrangements

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Bridle arrangements

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Bridle arrangements

Posted by Chris Randolph on December 26, 2000 at 09:32:00:

Hi everyone. I have a 32 (hull#32047) being built right now, and am wondering
what various folks have done with respect to bridle set-ups for anchoring

My initial thought is just to lead a line from the port bow and tie it to the
rode coming off the starboard. I do have the bow protection with the built-in
eyes, and wouldn't mind being able to take advantage of that while avoiding
chafe on lines coming off the rollers or through cleats. I have considered
having a bridle made with shackles to attach to the eyes in the bow protectors,
but am a little stumped as to how to then attach the bridle to the rode (my
problem would obviously be solved with a center shackle if I had an all-chain
rode, but I don't). Maybe an additional short line spliced into the center of
the bridle? What have other folks done?
Also, one other quick question re the trip through the Erie and down the Hudson-
How long does the mast-stepping process take? I haven't talked to the factory
about who they recommend or whether I need to schedule this in advance- any
suggestions?
Thanks for the help in advance, and Happy New Year to all,
Chris Randolph

Follow Ups:

Re: Bridle arrangements John Frankovich 11:28:38 12/30/00 (0)
Re: Bridle arrangements Sharon 19:24:43 12/29/00 (0)
Re: Bridle arrangements Roger Wood 16:34:28 12/26/00 (0)
Re: Bridle arrangements Marc Gershel 13:55:52 12/26/00 (2)
Re: Bridle arrangements Roger Ford 04:24:41 12/27/00 (1)
Re: Bridle arrangements capt hank walden 06:38:43 12/30/00 (0)

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Re: Bridle arrangements

Posted by John Frankovich on December 30, 2000 at 11:28:00:
In Reply to: Bridle arrangements posted by Chris Randolph on December 26, 2000
at 09:32:00:


Yet another opinion -
We tried anchoring or mooring from one bow on our 32 and found that with either
wind or current the boat sailed around so much that we weren't comfortable. On
that boat and our new 36 we now always use a bridle, usually fashioned, as Roger
Ford said, from a heavy dock line fastened with a rolling hitch to the anchor
line or to a mooring pennant. The trick is to make both legs equally long so as
to minimize the lateral forces on the boat. Another variation, on rental
moorings with adequate swinging room, is to loop separate dock lines from each
bow through the eye in the end of the mooring pennant. Run each back to the same
bow (and wrap each twice around the eye to distribute the load on the line
better); this makes it easy to cast off without fussing with untying a knot. One
caveat with bridles on moorings is when a wind change occurs so that the boat
overruns the bridle

It can get caught down under the mooring float so that it is hard to
disentangle, particularly if the wind is blowing hard

We have used both marinas in Catskill for mast stepping. Both did an adequate
job, but Riverside took most of a day, whereas Hop-o-Nose did it in less than an
hour and seemed much more professional about it. You still need to tune the rig
yourself, so be sure to mark the turnbuckles before the rig comes down. We
haven't been to Buffalo, but Oswego Marine on Lake Ontario did a good job of
taking down the mast and securing it in the factory supplied wood deck cradle
for the trip down the Erie Canal. We always called several weeks ahead with an
approximate date to get on their calendars, and then pin-pointed the time as we
got closer

Hope this helps
John Frankovich

Follow Ups:

Re: Bridle arrangements

Posted by Sharon on December 29, 2000 at 19:24:00:
In Reply to: Bridle arrangements posted by Chris Randolph on December 26, 2000
at 09:32:00:


Chris:[/i]

Thought I would respond to the question about stepping the mast. We had ours
done at Wardell's at Buffalo. We will have it done at Smith Bros. on return. It
took us a half day to get the boat prepared and another 4-5 hours to have him
use his eqpt. to help us get it down the rest of the way. We did all the work

We went to Hop-A-Nose to have it put up. They looked different but they did all
the work and said they put masts up for the factory all the time. They were done
in several hours but it took us some time to get the boat cleaned up enough so
we felt comfortable sailing it again

Hope that helps

Sharon

Follow Ups:

Re: Bridle arrangements

Posted by Roger Wood on December 26, 2000 at 16:34:00:
In Reply to: Bridle arrangements posted by Chris Randolph on December 26, 2000
at 09:32:00:


Chris,
I have also always used a rolling hitch tied from the opposite bow to the anchor
rode. After living aboard(my previous cat) and traveling for a year, it never
once let me down. I wouldn't waste the effort on some involved bridle

Roger Wood

Follow Ups:

Re: Bridle arrangements

Posted by Marc Gershel on December 26, 2000 at 13:55:00:
In Reply to: Bridle arrangements posted by Chris Randolph on December 26, 2000
at 09:32:00:


Chris, The eaiest & so far the best method for me has been to set the anchor off
the port bow,then lead another line from the stb,d bow & tie a rolling hitch to
the rode. Then I let out more rode until the bridle is centered. This has always
worked,& the rolling hitch has never slipped, no matter how strong the wind

Marc

Follow Ups:

Re: Bridle arrangements Roger Ford 04:24:41 12/27/00 (1)
Re: Bridle arrangements capt hank walden 06:38:43 12/30/00 (0)

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Re: Bridle arrangements

Posted by Roger Ford on December 27, 2000 at 04:24:00:
In Reply to: Re: Bridle arrangements posted by Marc Gershel on December 26, 2000
at 13:55:00:


We also use a rolling hitch. We add the hitch at the starboard bow, where it's
convenient, and then let out more of the starboard rode until it's centered. We
actually use our dock line for the bridle

Regarding the mast, it takes the yard about an hour to raise and secure the
mast; but the rest is up to you to tune the rig, install the sails and the
running rigging. In all, it took us about 3 hours without rushing. It is very
helpful to mark your turnbuckles in advance so you can return them to the same
position and minimize re-adjustment.

Follow Ups:

Re: Bridle arrangements capt hank walden 06:38:43 12/30/00 (0)

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Re: Bridle arrangements

Posted by capt hank walden on December 30, 2000 at 06:38:00:
In Reply to: Re: Bridle arrangements posted by Roger Ford on December 27, 2000
at 04:24:00:


I have a 36 and anchored extensivelly on my trip Fla to NY, and local trips. I
do not bother with a bridle at all, and I don't quite understand the necessity
of it. I anchor from my port roller, though I also have an anchor on a starboard
roller. I have anchored in strong winds, with changing currents, without any
difficulty. I might swing a slight bit more, but I enjoy the feeling and would
not even have noticed it if I had not read about it

I prefer an oversised anchor with chain rode that I can have confidence in.
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