I use 2 systems depending on the situation and I’m not really happy with either.

For heavy weather, I use a bridle from Mantus.  It is cleated on both sides of the bow cleats and hangs under the anchor bracket.    This system is pron to slipping under the bow in light conditions and smearing bottom paint.  It is also difficult to install because I have to get it under the anchor.   However, being cleated on both bow cleats gives me some peace of mind during bumpy weather.

The other system that I use is a simple piece of 12 or 14 mm double braid that has a big loop, bowline, that will slip over both cleats on the bow.  The working end has a chain hook that it lowered with the chain and over the anchor roller.  This is quick and easy and is usually my   “ go to”  system.  But,  if the line is not carefully routed down the center of the anchor bracket, it might chaff.  Also, when the boat swings on anchor,  the snubber line will sometimes rub against the anchor bracket next to the roller and will chaff.   This system is noisy and sends squeaking and clunking sounds through the boat.  The snubber is held away from the bow with the anchor roller which I really like.....and it keeps the chain from getting under the bow if the wind stops.

What do you use?  

What kind of chain hook or grabber?

We use a chain grabber connected to two lengths of 18mm three strand nylon rope. I spliced in a stainless steel thimble on the grabber end of each. One leg is laid off to one cleat and the other to the other cleat. I put 19mm ID reinforced hose over each line - about 2 meters long. This protects the line from chaff where the lines exit the bow roller and any other contact point. Both lines are lead over the bow roller. The lines are about 5 meters long. By cleating the boat ends off you can vary where the chaff is taken. I had the guys at FKG round off the sharp areas on the bow roller when they had it off. The washers, that a friendly, talented machinist made up for us for each side of the roller reduces the noise but would be better if they were the same diameter as the roller and even better if they were made of a slightly soft material. The protective hose needs to be replaced every so often. We have used this system for 7 years. Originally I had spliced loops into the boat ends of the lines which meant the chaff was always in the same place and required the protective hose to be replaced more often and once or twice one rope leg broke due to chaff in strong conditions. So in the end I cleat them off which although takes a bit longer but as I said the wear points can be altered and it makes it easier to replace the protective hose without having to undo the twice splices and then resplice.  Whilst we are discussing the anchor - after messing around with the anchor lock-in pin (to secure the anchor when up) we have cut the pin off. It was always a fiddle to get it in as the anchor needed to be in the exact position for the pin to pass through the hole in the anchor.  For the passed 4-5 years we have used a loop of climbing strap with a shackle on it. The loop drops over both bow cleats and the shackle goes through a chain link. This stops the anchor accidently deploying. It is faster to put on than the pin. If we are anchoring for a short period we sometimes just put the loop on the anchor chain instead of the "big" snubber and does the same job of taking the load off the winch.