Anchor windlass rode bunching, 376

[superiorsailor]

One of the previous owners of my 376 modified the anchor well so chain and rode (110’ rode, 90’ chain) go straight down into the area in front of the V birth. I recently pulled out the entire 200’ to measure and mark increments and now only the first 20’ of rode freefalls into the well area before no more falls in as the rode has coned up to top so no more will free fall into the area. When at anchor recently only chain was deployed each time which the windlass brought in and it fell in easily, due to it s weight.

Suggestions on how to get all 110’ of rode to fall down into the well until chain is reached?

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Same as I do for my first 250 ft. of nylon rode. Keep sweeping it from side to side to help it down to the bottom Even when the chain appears, I'm down to about 2-3 inches of fall and it still requires a bit of organization to fit in the remaining 60 ft. of chain. Small lockers always require a bit of organization.

 

[superiorsailor]

Thanks-the hole is directly under the windlass, I ll look for a long metal rod to use to “stir”

 

[capta]

Has the line become stiff? If so, you could try washing the salt out of it w/fresh water. However if the line doesn't soften up, then you might want to buy some new plaited line, as it is very soft and lays nicely..

 

[justsomeguy]

washing the salt out of it w/fresh water.

He's on lake Superior, I think.

 

[jssailem]

He's on lake Superior, I think.

Well that should make it a simple project.

One of the other challenges with nylon rode, it gets stiff and eventually brittle as it is stretched trying to hold your boat in place. The is some times called heat treated. The pull/release motion of a boat bobbing on the surface stretches and heats the individual fibers. They stretch and shrink upon each other. Progressively stiffening and tightening as the line looses it’s elasticity.

As it gets to this condition it is time to replace the rode.

 

[duck21]

@superiorsailor Fellow 376 owner here (in your neck of the woods, we sail out of Washburn, WI).

I have 75' of chain and 150ish' of rode. I have the same problem if I let out more than about 120' (total) when anchoring.

I'm assuming you have the same Simpson Lawrence windlass. I've found I don't need a stick to mash things down, but I do keep a flat blade screwdriver in the shallow anchor locker so I am able to quickly remove the cover and hand-stuff some the rode into the hawsehole. Once I get to the chain then I replace the cover and the chain running through the windlass compresses everything down for the rest of the weighing process.

Luckily, we mostly anchor in 12-15' of water (with no tide, of course, and good holding), so we can obtain 5:1 scope with 105-110' of chain/rode (mostly avoiding the issue).

Doug

 

[superiorsailor]

On.Lk Superior, fresh water only, rode is thick and just cones upward, a stick or thin long rod will be used for now. After talking to other sailors and comments here I may

 

[superiorsailor]

Thanks Doug-I have no removable plate but only a 2” hole that all falls through. After talking with others on the dock, and comments here, adding more chain is the only way it will fall down inside.. Present chain and rode are now in good condition so, for now, I just keep it piled ontop rather than the cost of replacement

 

[duck21]

Interesting. Mine looks something like this:

On my unit the cover on the top/right side is what guides the line down into the pipe. I tried running with out the cover, but the rode did not seem to feed properly (I didn't try it with the chain portion of my line).

Doug

Thanks Doug-I have no removable plate but only a 2” hole that all falls through. After talking with others on the dock, and comments here, adding more chain is the only way it will fall down inside.. Present chain and rode are now in good condition so, for now, I just keep it piled ontop rather than the cost of replacement

 

[Windpilot]

Pull up 20' or so, use a boat hook to flatten out, repeat till anchor up. Easy, easier on your windlass also as you slowly drift over to on top of the anchor.
Patience when hauling up an anchor is a good thing. Pulling in 150' or more in 1 big fast shot, not such a good thing, imho.

 

[capta]

He's on lake Superior, I think.

Oops, my bad.