302 Anchor question

[Mackaroni]

I was wondering what sort of setup you guys use for the anchor while under way or in the slip. Right now (ignoring the mess of the lines), the rode is tied off to the front cleat with another lined tied to the anchor itself, and I'd rather not use the cleat for this.

There has to be a better way.

 

[Stu Jackson]

There's almost not enough picture to show the whole deal. I assume you mean the single middle cleat, don't know if you have side cleats, too, for the chocks shown. Also don't know if with all that chain you have a windlass or not.

I agree, the cleat is a VERY poor place to hold the chain, and a windlass capstan is even worse.

If you could tell us, better yet show us, more area back from the bow, we'd be able to help some more.

One very obvious thing: ditch the swivels, right away.

Here's why:

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4990.msg30409.html#msg30409

 

[Mackaroni]

This is the only other picture I have of it right now, and I didn't upload this one before because the bow lines look disgusting. For some reason I decided to take this picture while in the middle of cleaning it all up instead of waiting until I was done.

I only have a center cleat and nothing else. There is no windlass or another cleat. You can see from this picture that the chain locker is right behind the cleat and is holding about 80 feet of chain rode and another 100 feet of nylon rode.

I will get rid of the swivel tomorrow when I go visit the boat. Thanks for that advice.

 

[woodster]

I was wondering what sort of setup you guys use for the anchor while under way or in the slip. Right now (ignoring the mess of the lines), the rode is tied off to the front cleat with another lined tied to the anchor itself, and I'd rather not use the cleat for this.

There has to be a better way.

as Stu said ...ditch the swivel...you can let all the rode and chain down in the locker and secure the anchor (still attached to the chain via shackle) with a lashing/lanyard and/ or snap hook to that u bolt/pad eye on your deck in order to be safe while underway......

 

[Mackaroni]

Ok...swivel will disappear tomorrow. I think I was looking for an elegant way to lash the thing to the deck while underway.

 

[woodster]

after looking at your pics again it appears to me that your anchor is not all the way up in the bow roller...if that is the case does the eye of the anchor stem come further back than the u bolt when in the resting position...if so make a lanyard with a snap hook on one end and a eye splice on the other end to secure to that cleat and hook he snap shackle to the anchor leaving only enough slack to use the snap shackle and so as not to let the anchor slide forward.....or look for another u bolt in your anchor locker to attach the lanyard........ to hope this helps

 

[Stu Jackson]

woody's right, that's one way to do it. Sometimes you'll find that if/when you pull the anchor as far back as it will go, it will balance much better on the bow roller and the weight of the chain going down into the locker will keep the anchor on the roller without assistance, except of course in boisterous conditions where you'll want to tie it off.

That said, we had exactly the same issue of only a single bow cleat.

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4457.0.html

Scroll down for pictures. And please read all three pages.

What many of our skippers did was add one (or two) MORE bow cleats. I added only one on the port side shown in the pictures in the link. Some made the mistake of taking out the original centered BIG cleat and adding two big ones on the port & starboard. I find that center cleat PERFECT for holding the anchor rode when anchored. I also found the single added poprt cleat plus the OEM center one just fine for berthing: I use the center one for the starboard dock line.

Your boat, your choice.

Just figure out access to down below (they were able to access the stanchion bases, right?) and add one or two cleats, keep the big center one, and you're done. You may have to cut a hole in the anchor well wall down below, so buy a round or rectangular Beckson port and add it for access.

This is a problem the builder should have figured out, but many, many didn't. You're not alone, but the problem has been solved by folks who have come before.

Try this, too:

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5064.msg51112.html#msg51112

Good luck.

 

[Mackaroni]

Thanks so much for the great posts. I appreciate it!

 

[the_alpine]

On my 302, I pull the anchor all the way up and use a stainless springloaded snaplink and simply clip a loop of the chain to the toerail. Easy peasy.

 

[jibes138]

Seems like a really bad idea to wrap your chain around a cleat. As mentioned by others use a short piece of line with one end tied to the cleat and some type of knot or device you can release quickly tying the anchor to prevent it from releasing while underway. I learned this lesson the hard way early in my sailing career. I was racing the "J" boat Shamrock IV in my O'Day 35 out of Newport RI when my anchor decided to deploy itself causing severe drag and forcing us to round up to retrieve the anchor. Luckily all the line didn't go out before we caught it. Pulling in an anchor in heavy surf is tough and Shamrock IV was able to pull away from us and win the race.

 

[Chief RA]

I havn't analized all the inputs to this problem, but, I use a piece of short line with a figure eight stop knot on one end. Then I take the tag end and run it through a chain link and tie it off to the cleat! Don't you just love it Stu?
Chief