On Sat, 11 Sep 2004 09:15:55 -0500, Courtney Thomas
wrote:

Wouldn't a fixed stopper be better in that... [it conceptually seems to
me]... the chain could "fall out" of the grabber [I realize it's under
tension] in that it has no restraining "lock", as do the fixed ones [in
effect] ?

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What we are talking about here is a "chain hook" not a "chain
stopper".

I have both on my trawler. THe chain stopper came as standard
equipment and is deck mounted just forward of the windlass. It is of
heavy duty bronze construction, with a pivoting pawl which flips down
and grabs a chain link. I believe it may have been made by Galley
Maid in FL but I'm not sure. Their phone number is 561-848-8696. Ask
for Jimmy, he is alledged to know everything.

The chain hooks were purchased at W-M. Mine are shackled to 3/4 inch
nylon line via an eye splice and thimble. The slot in the hook is
barely larger than a 3/8 chain link and tends to grab on fairly
snuggly. I've never had one shake loose accidently and it would be
virtually impossible unless the hook line were totally slack.