Anchor locker issue

[RobAL]

I recently purchased a 2002 Hunter 326and found a loose piece of wood in the anchor locker and discarded it. When first using the electric winch to raise the anchor chain, the chain piled up in a zigzag fashion against the rear wall of the locker and jammed the winch, instead of piling into the middle. I thought it must be the boat sloping backwards when I was in the boatyard, but had same problem on the water even with the bow dipping slightly. I surmised the piece of wood was probably wedged across, to guide the falling chain towards the middle. What baffles me is the winch fits the molding and can't see any deviation from the original build. Surely the single previous owner from the outset didn't accept a faulty new build and patch the issue with a lump of wood! Is there anybody out there who has had the same issue?

 

[Juice6576]

We have a 2016 Marlow Hunter 37 and A 2011 Hunter 33. The anchor chain clogged up on those as well. The wood was probably just for pushing the pile of chain around.

 

[sail sfbay]

Same issue on my Hunter 46 so I fabricated a platform out of 1/2 inch thick fiberboard with legs screwed into the underside. This mitigated bunching up the anchor chain and warp on one side of the anchor locker and kept it above the drain hole so they would dry out as discussed in this thread
(1) Anchor Locker Does Not Drain | Sailboat Owners Forums

By the way, recently moved back from your lovely coastal resort of Tenby, Wales where I spent 3 years.

 

[jssailem]

Hi Rob.
First the Cabin heater now the Anchor locker... Sounds like you are becoming one with your boat. Discovery of design hiccups in ones boat is a right of passage. Boats are compromises. The issue of chain falling into the locker can impact many boat designs. Anchor winches generally require about a .5 meter fall to the middle of the locker in order for the chain to not pile up. In todays modern boat that is a lot of space that designers identify as wasted. So they shrink the space and the new owner discovers why that element of the design was a compromise.

If you were hauling up the anchor by hand with lots of rope and little chain then it would be a non problem.

With boats I have always found it safer to live with what is on the boat for a while to discover why the previous owner left that widget sitting in the place it occupies. Out sailing or mucking about on the boat the reason for the object being apparently out of place will be revealed. Then is when I usually comment... Why that was bloody clever.

How about sharing a picture of your 326 in the coastal waters of Wales?

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Learn to live with it as I did after installing the winch several years after purchasing the boat. Exactly as @jssailem described the compromises of a boat.

BTW hunter does not install winches from the factory. Installed either by the dealer or the PO.

A picture will tell us if it's installed correctly or not.

 

[RobAL]

Hi Rob.
First the Cabin heater now the Anchor locker... Sounds like you are becoming one with your boat. Discovery of design hiccups in ones boat is a right of passage. Boats are compromises. The issue of chain falling into the locker can impact many boat designs. Anchor winches generally require about a .5 meter fall to the middle of the locker in order for the chain to not pile up. In todays modern boat that is a lot of space that designers identify as wasted. So they shrink the space and the new owner discovers why that element of the design was a compromise.

If you were hauling up the anchor by hand with lots of rope and little chain then it would be a non problem.

With boats I have always found it safer to live with what is on the boat for a while to discover why the previous owner left that widget sitting in the place it occupies. Out sailing or mucking about on the boat the reason for the object being apparently out of place will be revealed. Then is when I usually comment... Why that was bloody clever.

How about sharing a picture of your 326 in the coastal waters of Wales?

Hi, My boat "Meganza" has just been moved to Lytham, Lancashire but here's a pic of her in the Menai Strait, by chance featuring in this cute dolphin video

As you say, my issue a "feature" that I'll have to live with for a while but it would be a shame to leave it uncured as there are remote cockpit switches to raise and deploy the anchor, much better than having my head in the locker shuffling the chain by hand!

 

[RobAL]

Learn to live with it as I did after installing the winch several years after purchasing the boat. Exactly as @jssailem described the compromises of a boat.

BTW hunter does not install winches from the factory. Installed either by the dealer or the PO.

A picture will tell us if it's installed correctly or not.

Thanks for the info. I haven't a picture to hand but it looks like the windlass is as far forward to the centre of the locker as it can possibly go, so I think I need to as suggested insert some sloping board underneath to divert the chain towards the centre. If that dosen't work then a more drastic solution is re-route the chain so that instead of the chain dropping through the windlass exit hole, it goes around the gypsy and over a second roller suspended over the centre of the locker. I've learned from this forum that it's a "feature" but I have remote windlass switches in the cockpit and it's a shame not to use them instead of juggling the chain with my head in the locker!

 

[RobAL]

Same issue on my Hunter 46 so I fabricated a platform out of 1/2 inch thick fiberboard with legs screwed into the underside. This mitigated bunching up the anchor chain and warp on one side of the anchor locker and kept it above the drain hole so they would dry out as discussed in this thread
(1) Anchor Locker Does Not Drain | Sailboat Owners Forums

By the way, recently moved back from your lovely coastal resort of Tenby, Wales where I spent 3 years.

Thanks I'm going to try that

 

[sail sfbay]

Happy to provide a photo when O get back to my sailboat tomorrow.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

but I have remote windlass switches in the cockpit and it's a shame not to use them instead of juggling the chain with my head in the locker!

Yes ................. I see your problem.

The luxury of windless switches in the cockpit on the one hand. Now get out there and hand feed the rode into the locker while the rain is pelting down on your backside.

Or ................... you could have your wife feed the rode down into the locker . Or maybe not .

 

[RobAL]

Yes ................. I see your problem.

The luxury of windless switches in the cockpit on the one hand. Now get out there and hand feed the rode into the locker while the rain is pelting down on your backside.

Or ................... you could have your wife feed the rode down into the locker . Or maybe not .

I'm just plucking up the courage to tell her that!

 

[RobAL]

We have a 2016 Marlow Hunter 37 and A 2011 Hunter 33. The anchor chain clogged up on those as well. The wood was probably just for pushing the pile of chain around.

I think you're right. It appears to be a Hunter feature!

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

The wood was probably just for pushing the pile of chain around.

I think that was offered by Hunter as a $175.00 option.

 

[RobAL]

I think that was offered by Hunter as a $175.00 option.

View attachment 194095

Oh dear, I've I think I've put it in my log burner! (Was that cheap for Hunter)?

 

[jssailem]

You can check here in the SBO Hunter store, but I think that option has been discontinued.

It is a shame. Several owners have it glowing reviews.

 

[Rick486]

I recently purchased a 2002 Hunter 326and found a loose piece of wood in the anchor locker and discarded it. When first using the electric winch to raise the anchor chain, the chain piled up in a zigzag fashion against the rear wall of the locker and jammed the winch, instead of piling into the middle. I thought it must be the boat sloping backwards when I was in the boatyard, but had same problem on the water even with the bow dipping slightly. I surmised the piece of wood was probably wedged across, to guide the falling chain towards the middle. What baffles me is the winch fits the molding and can't see any deviation from the original build. Surely the single previous owner from the outset didn't accept a faulty new build and patch the issue with a lump of wood! Is there anybody out there who has had the same issue?

It's just a Hunter thing....apparently they never got this right....my 44 DS had the same issue...

 

[sail sfbay]

The photos below is my anchor locker before shelf (left and middle) and after shelf built (right). Before the rode was all bunched up and after is is neatly flaked on the shelf and has stayed that way even after sailing in heavy winds and waves.

 

[RobAL]

Thank you. I will need to do a similar alteration to my anchor locker.

 

[MFD]

I have the same issue on my 41DS. Vertical recessed windlass under the anchor locker hatch. The drop for chain goes hits an angled section (I would guess about 30 degrees) and then bunches up in a little pile. I always bring the boat hook (without the hook on the end) to push it port/starboard bit by bit. Don't even get me started on how the rode flakes after ~100 feet of chain are up.

I do like the amount of space in there, just the drop/tail or whatever is called from the windlass on down is less than ideal.

In one way, kind of a small complaint, but I do single hand a lot. And having to run back and forth between both locations (I guess I should get a remote for the autopilot and Yanmar throttle?) is a major hassle.

 

[RobAL]

I am going to try a curved strip of PVC across the locker wall just underneath where the chain drops down. My theory is this will persuade any piled up flaked chain to topple over into the bottom of the locker instead of continuing to pile up and jamming the gypsy. In another reply to this thread I notice a solution using a small shelf, but that locker is a bit different to mine. It will be a week or so before I try my method and will post photo if successful. The previous owner of my boat had switches mounted by the wheel for the electric windlass, my dream is to be able to deploy and raise the anchor without leaving the cockpit!