Anchor violently "jumps" onto bow roller

[Matt White]

Hello all. I tried searching here for any previous discussion but failed -

I just installed:
A) Mantus bow roller BR2
B) Mantus M1 45# anchor
C) Maxwell HRCFF-8 Windlass

In my initial testing when the anchor arrives at the bow roller, the energy needed to get it up and over onto the roller causes the anchor to leap quite violently as it comes up. I suppose I will need to learn some finesse to bring it aboard with less excitement. The windlass has only one speed.

See the video - is there any advice other than just working out how to tap the up button to get it over smoothly, or pulling it over manually?

Thanks!

Matt

 

[dlochner]

I have the same issue with a different setup. With practice it can become smoother. It takes quite a bit of force to bring the anchor shank up over the roller and the only way to do that is to have some momentum working for you. The shank has to be high enough above the anchor roller to lever the weighted end of the anchor up and into the roller.

Modern anchors, Spade, Rocna, Mantus, etc have heavily weighted tips that help them to set quickly. Trying to swing a 45# weight from vertical to horizontal is hard. Try it some time by hand.

 

[dLj]

I use both the windlass and hands. I'll get the anchor up tight to before it jumps and then I just go pull it over the hump by hand. By hand I can change the angle of the pull to make a smooth entrance. With practice it only takes a second or two and ends up quite smooth. For my set-up it's quite easy. You'll have to figure out yours. I have to actually weave my anchor into place as I have a bow sprit and both setting and retrieving I have to do hand maneuvers when passing all the support structure. Once figured out, it's not at all difficult, just have to be aware of all the critical points where I have to go from windlass to hand back to windlass. In your video, looks a lot easier - bring your anchor up to where there is tension but it hasn't done it's flip-flop, go up and pull by hand over the hump, so to speak so the anchor is coming in at a better angle.

In the first part of that video, before you backed the anchor back down, see if you can just walk up to the roller and hand pull the anchor up and more into place. Then go back and tighten everything up with your windlass. I'm not sure how much room you have up there to do this, but that's what I'd try first off.

Another observation - I don't see how you are holding your anchor in place once it's up. I'd suggest having some sort of positive holding mechanism that is not your windlass. The windlass is not the only thing that should be holding that anchor in place when it's on deck. Maybe you have something, but I didn't see it in the video.

dj

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

On our previous boat, we installed a second (lower) roller which facilitated tilting the shank toward the winch avoiding that problem. I’ve also seen bow fittings which used two rollers on a swivel allowing the shank to pivot on the lower roller to serve the same purpose. It required some minor mod to the bow fitting but was an effective solution.

 

[Matt White]

@dLj Thanks for the tips - and I have tied the manual pull as you mentioned. I have the roller set to self-launch the anchor, so it is a bit of a dance going back the windlass once I have it over the hump, but that will come with experience.

I do have a positive holding mechanism that you don't see in the video - literally just setting this all up, so it was not in place at the time of the video.

Thanks again!

Matt

 

[Matt White]

@dlochner - thanks -yes I think practice is the key. This morning I did it better. I also raised the middle roller on the bow roller, creating a better angle for the chain.

-Matt

 

[JamesG161]

Wait till you have mud on your anchor.

It looks normal to me, except we have have two roller as other noted.
Jim...

 

[jssailem]

Others have stated, the video (nice one by the way) shows what normally happens during the last bit of retrieval. Your observations mimic my use of the mantus anchor

Mantus markets a swivel that helps to untwist the chain and orient the anchor shank with the anchor point down. There are pros and cons regarding swivels. This one appears to be robust. I monitor it regularly to see how it will hold up.


That said some times the amount of wind, current, and boat wake wash during a 48 hour period can conspire to put a twist that seems impossible to resolve. I tend to slow the last 4-5 feet of retrieve down so I can to let the anchor settle.

I also acquired the Mantus Anchor Guard. It is an attachment to the bow roller.

It fits on the roller and catches the point of the anchor as it is retrieved.

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

You could easily modified your anchor roller to make it swivel down. It would help lower the anchor by letting it go down easily because of its weight and it woud help when retrieving it by the front portion of the roller now being at more or less 40 degrees rather the the 90 you currently hav. That is what I did. My anchor is a 39 lbs Bruce and I never have to go to the bow to either deploy or retrieve the anchor. I also have a double swivel between the chain and the anchor. Jsailem is right about the pros and cons of such a swivel but in 17 years since that install I have only seen pros. I do check it for wear on regular basis and have replaced it this year. And I do put Loctite on the threads.

 

[Mark Maulden]

i have the same boat and roller setup. I’m not really a swivel guy so I just take a boat hook forward and use it to get the anchor in the right position before the anchor hits the roller..you can go to deep water and deploy all chain and let the chain remove a lotof twist.

 

[jssailem]

you can go to deep water and deploy all chain and let the chain remove a lotof twist.

Just don't hook anything as you're heading out into deep water.
A Whale would be an unpleasant addition to your anchor.

 

[JamesG161]

I also have a double swivel between the chain and the anchor.

Wait till @jssailem get his Anchor caught in rocks

The Swivel is needed then.
Jim...

 

[Matt White]

Thanks all! I have worked on the finesse of tap-tap-tapping the shank over onto the roller. I also raised the middle roller on the Mantus bow roller, which helped with the angle.

I do have a Mantus swivel, now in place. I also have the anchor guard, but it is not needed due to how I positioned the roller. Might put that up on ebay.