Anchor Rode Storage on a Catalina 27 1978

[Y-RUSH]

I have a 1978 Cataline 27 , Y-RUSH , with no area to store the anchor rode/chain other than the port lazerette. I am thinking of cutting a deck plate opening foward of the air vent port and dropping the rode down a 4" poly tube into the area beneath the V-berth. This tube would be located as foward as possible in the bow of the boat, behind ( foward of ) the wooden panel that covers a small storage area.

The cutout into the deck of the boat does not concern me. I worry about compromising the strength in the bow area below the deck in the layer of glass that becomes the V-berth floor; although I will be leaving about 2 1/2" of glass all around this cutout.
Has anyone done this before or have any input ?

Jim
Friday Harbor WA.

 

[Jon_E]

Anchor rode locker on my 1977

My anchor hangs from the bow pulpit. The chain and rode are stored in the bow in the small area fore of the V-berth. This is right behind the navigation lights in the bow.

The problem with that configuration on my boat is there is no place for water to drain when I stow the wet rode. It sits on a small towel that absorbs the residual moisture of the rode as it is stored. If I didn't have that, some water would run onto my v-berth cushions.

I am thinking of drilling a drainage hole so any water runs to the bilge, but so far it hasn't been necessary. I don't anchor all that often, and when I do, the towel has been able to keep up with the little bit of water that drips off the rode.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I wouldn't worry about a hole in the V berth "floor" assuming you mean the flat part that the cushions lay on. You could make a 2 foot square hole there and not compromise the strength.