e36 anchor locker improvement

[Oliverhg]

We are having problems with the chain not falling away from the windlass when weighing anchor. The chain simply bunch up on the inclined floor in front of the main locker well where the chain should fall into.

Just occurred to me that maybe we can put some low friction tape or surface on that incline to help the chain fall and untangle.

Anyone tried this? If so, what tape or material did you use and was it effective?

 

[seadaddler]

Slippery metal

I have a very short piece of stainless that is suppose to help but the chain
still bunches up any way because it the locker does not drop off and not deep to allow chain to fall free down so maybe more thin metal to help it slide down like a door kick plate from HD.
I have not done this yet but I use a wireless remote I got from the internet for a jeep winch that works real good and I hold the remote and help the chain with my hand has been working OK for me.
I guess Hunter did not want to take room away from the Vee Berth for bigger anchor locker,I have 07 H-36 and they I think lewmar also makes a wired remote.

 

[Oliverhg]

My friend the material handling consultant told me about UHMW (ultra high molecular weight) material which they use in transfer chutes in conveyor systems to prevent material hanging or sticking to the chute surface instead of falling down the chute. This material supposedly have a very low friction coefficient, lower than Teflon.

I just got a piece today so will try out and see.

Also I was thinking that the anchor locker is too small. I have 100 ft of chain and then another 150 ft of line. The line sits under the chain taking up all the deep space.

Since we usually just use the chain and anchor in 20 to 30 ft of water, the line is only backup for when we need to anchor in deeper water.

Thinking that we will bundle up the line and get it off the bottom of the anchor locker so that there is more room for the chain to fall.

My wife is the one that operates the windlass foot switch when we weigh anchor. I don't think she appreciates the tremendous forces involve when the chain jams. The stereo goes and the chart plotter blinks and she is still stepping hard on the switch. So we must find a way to make the chain slide off better instead of her just wishing that it will.

I am also a bit concerned about getting fingers caught when freeing jammed links stuck in the narrow channel just out of the windlass.

We usually just keep stopping and pushing the chain away with our foot but it is a pain.

 

[Bob 04 H260]

I have the same issue with our H356. I usually bring the chain up in short bursts of the windlass and if I get some chain that does not fall down into the anchor locker I give it a poke with the tip of a boat hook. It discourages the need to put fingers near the windlass, and I don't even have to bend over. I added a few blocks of scrap Styrofoam to the bottom of the chain locker to keep the chain up high and dry. The lower drain hole tends to get plugged up and I don't like the chain sitting in saltwater. I keep the rode coiled and to one side. I will be interested in hearing how the high density plastic works out as a solution.

I intend to add a wash down hose to the locker and wondered if that might help to move the chain along ?

good luck, Bob

 

[seadaddler]

Wife

I only let my wife drop the anchor and she does a great job at the helm while I at the windless controls and we use sailing solutions head sets to talk to each other is a great plus keeping us married.
I do use my hand to keep the chain from jamming up but always make sure hand and figures are no where near the windless part of the chain entering the windless.
Nick

 

[Oliverhg]

Just got back from the boat trying the various options to the anchor issue.


Tying up the rope and putting it to one side helped. There is now more room for the chain to fall but it still tends to hang at the slightest hindrance after filling up the well.

Putting the low friction surface also helped but not enough as the chain still sit on top of each other instead of spreading itself out in the well.

The boat hook as a pusher turned out to be the best in helping things along while having one foot on the windlass button.

All in all, situation is much improved with the there measures though still not ideal.

I think that the anchor well would work with 25 ft of chain, not 100 as I have. So those who use the standard setup from Hunter likely will not have an issue.

Unfortunately, we have 14 ft tide variation here and anchorages are too crowded for 7 to 1 or even 5 to 1 anchoring. Everyone is swinging around 3 to 1 with chain so 30 ft depth at high tide anchoring with 90 ft of chain is the norm.

Half a solution is a lot of improvement over the previous frustration.

 

[PKFK]

I vote for the boat hook idea as well - seems to help keep from getting chain jams and I don't have to bend over !

It is a drag that the chain doesn't fall away on its own though - basically rules out working remotely from the cockpit to pull up anchor.

Paul

 

[Ivan]

Closet rod solution for 356/36

I cut a 2 foot long piece of closet rod, which is 1 inch thick and easy to hold and push with, and just keep it loose in the anchor locker. When weighing anchor I kneel, hold down the "up" button with my right hand, and periodically push the chain downward and to one side or the other with the closet rod with my left hand whenever it bunches up. I can continuously and completely retrieve the anchor from any depth without any snarls due to bunching up chain in this way. Yes, it is kind of a pain, but it works and the total cost was about $2.00.

 

[Bob 04 H260]

Great idea for picking up a mooring or anchoring, we call them "marriage savers", it does cut down on the entertainment for those on other vessels watching boats come in to anchor........

Bob

I only let my wife drop the anchor and she does a great job at the helm while I at the windless controls and we use sailing solutions head sets to talk to each other is a great plus keeping us married.
I do use my hand to keep the chain from jamming up but always make sure hand and figures are no where near the windless part of the chain entering the windless.
Nick