A KELLET sometimes referred to as an Anchor Sentinel (although that’s the name of the line attached to the Kellet) is simply a weight that is lowered down the anchor rode.

There are many advantages to using 100% anchor chain and one of them is that it’s heavy so it hangs down in the water, anchor line not so much. And that’s where the Kellet comes in.

The Kellet is used primarily for three reasons. There are those who swear by it’s ability to boost the holding power of an anchor in rough weather by altering the angle at which the anchor pulls along the bottom. There are those who swear by it’s ability to reduce the bounce felt when taking on a bit of a swell. But me I’m a fan of the third reason to lower a kellet.

In dreamy calm weather, especially in tidal waters it’s not uncommon for a fin keeled sailboat to wrap around it’s anchor rode. Moving to all chain is one solution if you have the money for the chain and the windlass. But for those of us who do not lowering a kellet to just above the bottom at low tide can keep the line under your keel when you’re dreamily wondering the anchorage.

If you lower it to the depth of the bottom you can also reduce your wondering and reduce your swing. This is less of a concern for me since I love wide distances between me and other boats.

Wrapping the anchor line around the keel can be uncomfortable, even in relatively calm conditions. Even in just a slight breeze you can find yourself taking a bit of chop on the transom for a rougher night and if you have your dinghy tied to the stern it can move alone side in the breeze and start banging along the side of the boat. And it can be dangerous if the winds pick up.

So where do you get a kellet/anchor sentinel? I simply recycled a small mushroom anchor that had been used with an older dinghy. Attached a line and then a carabiner so it could be clipped to the anchor rode and lowered. Cleat it off when you have it down where you want it and your good to go.

You’ll want to keep an eye out on your anchor rode for chafing in this new spot where the carabiner is going to settle but that can be done each and every time you bring up the anchor as well as at the regular inspection times when you stop for a while at a mooring or dock.