Lower the anchor

[Tom Dunlap]

We all have stories to tell of rigging setups where the belayer either locks off the load or let's it run. The outcomes are sometimes funny but sometimes tragic.

Arbos aren't the only ones dealing with out of control lowers though. Watch how this anchor is lowered.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=804960746292385

 

[classictruckman]

Did anybody notice the chain was pained to let them know when they were getting to the end?

 

[Treezybreez]

$$$ down the drain. If the water was shallow enough, they could send down a diver and try to recover it.

 

[Boomslang]

 

[JeffGu]

Yeah... that went well...

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Did anybody notice the chain was pained to let them know when they were getting to the end?

A magnet on a drop line...then send a grapple down the drop line. Hook and lift.

 

[InTheTree]

Wonder how much a roll of that chain costs!?!

 

[JeffGu]

Hook and lift.

And hope they weren't trying to anchor right above the Marianas Trench at the time...

 

[Steve Connally]

Used to watch us drop the hook when I was stationed on a carrier.

 

[treebing]

What were those guys doing in the back, it seemed like they were feeding the chain. They stayed there way to long. I would have been far far away by that time. Did someone yell "that was awesome!" At the end. Glad Noone was hurt!

 

[Steve Connally]

Probably watching the colors to know depth. Each fathom is indicated by a color series on the chain.

 

[Dave Rohach]

Asta la bye bye! There goes $25-30,000! Was the fire caused by the hydraulic brake? Man, that was wild!


Dave6390 in WI

 

[JefLong]

Uh boss... I melted the porty..

 

[Jeff]

What were those guys doing in the back

Controlling the brake on the chain windlass. When the chain would slow or stop, he'd ease the brake off some to get it falling again, but he eased it off too much. Notice as soon as it starts running fast, he and a buddy reversed direction and start tightening the brake, hence the cloud of smoke from the brake band. But they had it backed off too far and couldn't get it tight enough, fast enough. As soon as it starts running fast and smoking like that, you're glazing the friction material and you're braking ability greatly decreases (just like brake fade on your car when you're turning hot laps.)

Still safer than in the old days when they'd send someone with a sledge to beat open the pelican hook and just drop the anchor. Notice the dorsal harness on the sailor with the hammer. From the USS America aircraft carrier, CVA-66, photo circa 1968, courtesy of http://ussamerica-museumfoundation.org

"SA E. Ford backs off as FN P. J. Tillman begins his swing which will release the pelican hook and 30 tons of steel anchor. Dust flies as each 360 pound link roars out of the chain locker and down the hawse pipe."

 

[Steve Connally]

Hey that's my boat! Spent 4 years on the America

 

[Treezybreez]

I think one of those links would make a fine anchor for my boat.

 

[TimBr]

Hey that's my boat! Spent 4 years on the America

Thanks for your service.

 

[Steve Connally]

They are amazing and that space is immaculate. Or was until they sunk her during weapons testing. The sound of those links running is deafening.

 

[JeffGu]

I think one of those links would make a fine anchor for my boat.

I was thinking along those lines... sort of. I thought, "Man, they'd never find the bodies with one of those chain links tied to them!"

 

[TimBr]

I was thinking along those lines... sort of. I thought, "Man, they'd never find the bodies with one of those chain links tied to them!"

Hey Gu! Any chance you were a mob hit man in a past life? Just askin'. But I ain't sayin' nothin'.

Tim