Why we think its acceptable to use a stainless steel hook inline with a snubber/bridle?
One first look one might make an argument that stainless steel hooks are too weak to use for snubbers and bridles especially when using hi test chain. But let us examine how snubber is stressed and how these loads differ from the ones chain experiences in the absence of the snubber. For examples lets assume we have a 35 foot boat and according to ABYC loads table at 42 knots of wind we can expect a load of 1800 lbs on our anchor rode, and a load of 3600 lbs at 60 knots of wind. A typical 35 foot sailboat will be outfitted with 5/16 chain WLL 1900 lbs and breaking strength of 7600 lbs. So why does the chain have to be so strong? Shock loads produced without the use of the bridle or a snubber can produces loads on the chain that are 3 times (or more) the average load experienced by the chain. In the worst situation in a 60 knot blow the shock loads on the chain would produce estimated loads of (3600lbs x 3 = 10800 lbs). So the chain is tasked with having the breaking strength to 4 times the recommended working limit, and if we were using the hook to connect two pieces of chain the same requirement would necessitate.
However, the very fact that we are using the hook to connect a snubber to the chain these shock loads are to be dissipated by snubber and the snubbing hook will never see the loads the chain can see when used without shock dampening. So assuming you are using a Mantus Chain Hook in 42 knots the Mantus hook you still have a safety factor of 3.17 and in 60 knots you have a safety factor of 1.58. Further we had no reports of hook failures after being on the market for 3 years and thousands of hooks in use.
When an argument is made that the chain hook weakens the chain, the answer is yes if it is used a to connect to chains together or is used to shorten the chain without a snubber. With the use of properly sized snubber one should never even approach the breaking strength of the chain an exemplified above.
What gives our hook an advantage over competition is it is easy to take one and off and yet it positively locks onto the chain. In a storm a dislodged hook could be a disaster… or try to pay out chain in a storm when the hooks keeps falling off is at best frustrating and possibly dangerous. So we are still of a firm opinion that Mantus Hooks is the best pick for a serious cruiser outfitting his/her boat.