I do a lot of anchoring - over 120 days a year - and require that my anchor bridle setup is robust and reliable. The Mantus M3 chain hook adds a new dimension to that setup - ease of use. Is the 3rd time the charm?

Mantus Chain Hook History

I had the Mantus version 1 and version 2 chain hooks and liked parts of both of them, but they had some shortcomings.

The v1 hook was promising - very beefy construction, but it kept the chain at a bit of a side-load, and was a nightmare getting through the bow roller. The plastic retaining piece always worried me, even though it never broke, I was worried about it sliding down and releasing the chain. I used it for a long while, but didn't love it.

The v2 was another story. While it had a more streamlined approach, and two big "fangs" to grab the chain, the single point of failure was the rubber strap to hold it onto the chain.

I went through many of the straps, and it was irritating to have to replace them, and also really not cool when the whole thing came off the chain while at anchor. I didn't use the v2 for very long as a result of this issue.

Mantus Snubber Pendant

The Mantus snubber pendant has been my primary anchor bridle connection to my chain for several years now.

It is made of UHMWPE fiber which is extremely strong, and attaches to the chain by making a loop around a link. The easiest way to do this, short of taking the shackle apart every time, was to loop the whole bridle through the snubber, which took a bit of time, and meant for some tangled situations.

The other limiting factor is that if you want to adjust the bridle, you need to pull the whole thing in and pull the bridle back through the snubber to remove the connection to the chain. If you're trying to deploy more chain in a storm or other situation, this isn't as optimal.

I also had the snubber pendant slip several times when it wasn't snugged down tight against the chain. This also happened a couple of times when the bridle became un-tensioned while deployed.

However, this has been the best snubber + bridle setup I've had for a long time. I went through three of the snubbers in the last 5 years with all of the anchoring I do, especially in the winter when the weather is not as nice.

Mantus M3 Chain Hook

The Mantus M3 chain hook is an evolution of the previous hooks, and while not as flexy as the snubber, is a lot easier to use.

It's made of stainless steel and is quite a chunk of metal. It has a slot for the chain to sit in, and a spring release pin to open the jaw. It also comes with a nice shackle to connect it to your bridle.

The M3 is very easy to use and attach to the chain. Pull the ring on the pin, and the whole thing swings open.

I did a quick video on the chain hook so you can see it in action:

The biggest downsides are how big and heavy it is - you can do some damage if you drop it on something. It could also get caught in your bow roller on retrieval if you're not attentive.

The chain hook stays put even when the chain and bridle are unloaded, which was a bit of an issue with the snubber pendant. It's nice to know that where you put the hook, it will stay without moving around.

I would recommend buying a spare spring for the pin just in case it wears out. They're really inexpensive ($2-$3) and I always like buying spares at the same time as initial purchase so I know I have everything I need for any maintenance required.

My Bridle

The other half of my bridle is a wonderful setup from 48 North Marine in Bellingham, WA. I chose the 3/4" line size and customized it for a length of 30' overall, and two 18" soft eyes with chafe protection at the boat end.

I've used this bridle for almost 2 years, and it has held up better than any other I've used. I also have dock lines from 48 North Marine as well, but that's a subject for another article. When this one wears out, I will be moving to their dual independent leg snubber given Aruna's weight and how often I am out in storms.

Conclusion

Overall I've been very impressed with the M3 chain hook. I've used it for the last few months and had a great result.

Pros

• Easy to attach and remove from chain
• Deploys through bow roller easily
• Secure connection to chain - even when chain & bridle is unloaded

Cons

• Can get hung up in bow rollers on retrieval
• Heavy - can damage things if you drop it

Let me know what you use for your setup in the comments below!