Anchor Locker Headache

[jgurley]

I have a First 38, and I assume a previous owner installed a windlass forward , the chain forms a stalagmite in the forward portion of the chain locker, which backs up into the windlass. I need to open the chain locker and "stir up" the chain every 25 feet or so. A few sailing friends claim it's a common problem in many boats. I often carry a dinghy on the foredeck, which means opening the locker requires moving the dinghy.

Yesterday, I installed a piece of "starboard" (HDPE cutting-board plastic without the texture) to tempt the chain into sliding aft in the locker. The piece is a trapazoid that essentially makes the bow "vee" into a flat surface. With the new change, I can now get about 50' of chain hoisted before the same problem occurs, since the stalagmite starts in the bottom of the locker instead of in the vee directly under the capstan.

My next idea is to, again using startboard or maybe glassed in ply, to install a sloped surface a few inches under the windlass that extends over the middle of the locker, forcing the chain to "fall over a cliff" into the locker. I'm a little concerned that the underside of the cliff might hook the chain on the way out, so I thought I'd see if anyone has a better solution. A big round knuckle on the edge might fix the outbound issue.

 

[Jackdaw]

Had this happen to a friend. He replaced the chain and the problem went away. Seems some chain lays better then others. Sorry I can't tell you the difference is! ;^)

 

[jgurley]

I had considered that Stailess might fix the problem, but it's way expensive!

 

[Joe2954]

Twisted chain has a tendancy to stack. With windlass - the rode is spliced directly to the chain mo swivel. My anchor rode twists as it winds back in. Since the plow does not spin in the water at the same rate as the rode twist, the chain gets twisted up. A swivel at the anchor attachment might help. Alternately, remove the anchor and play out the chain and rode to the length you most often anchor with and let the twist wind out of it, then reconnect the anchor.

 

[Ron20324]

I thought I'd see if anyone has a better solution. A big round knuckle on the edge might fix the outbound issue.

The 323s have the same problem. I have a board that I am putting a rubber roller on a trailer roller bracket at the end of the board for the chain to roll over. That seems to work on the bow's anchor roller at least, so should work in the locker?

 

[jgurley]

My rode is all chain, and the windlass doesn't allow it to twist, so it's not chain twist. I have a firm plan for a second pass fix, and will report the results in a few weeks.