Help...Bow Roller Installation

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Gary

84 H31 Installing a anchor bow roller and just realized I have two problems: Question #1, the underside of the SS bow plate is not accessible (that I can tell) and thus, I will have to drill and tap threads into it. Is this sufficiently stable without a backing plate? Check the link which is on the 31 project forum.....Did he weld his onto the plate? Question #2, with this bow roller setup, once the anchor is deployed, how can you cleat off the anchor rode to the bow cleats without the rode chafing on the sharp edge of the roller? Those of you who have rollers......do you install another cleat directly aft of the roller? Thnaks
 
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Gary

I bet I know now.....

how you bow roller guys do it......once the anchor is set, do you just reach over and bring the rode from OUTBOARD of the roller around to the cleat? Just thought of this after posting.
 
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Daryl

On my H34, I added one and ....

I found that there was an aluminum plate molded inside the fiberglass. I was able to drill and tap holes that were strong enough to hold the bow roller in place. Drill a test hole and see if the drill chips turn to aluminum after you get through the plastic. My back up plan was to add a backing plate from inside the anchor locker which would require some cutting and fiberglass work.
 
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Benny

Install cleat inside anchor locker

Not familiar with the 31 but the roller should be through bolted. You may use large washers as a backing plate. Disasemble the V-Berth interior bow bulkhead and slide under there to install lock washers, washers and nuts; it is a tight fit even for your hands. Make sure you do not drill through the hull when coming down the front holes. The cleat can be installed inside the anchor locker this time with a good backing plate. If you want to use outside cleats install chaff protection. I use a bail over the roller to prevent the rode from jumping the track, so to take it over the side for me is not an option.
 
Jun 4, 2004
844
Hunter 28.5 Tolchester, MD
Anchor Locker Cleat

After you have the roller bolted in place, you can probably install a cleat in the anchor locker as folows. On my 28.5,I have installed a 10" stainless steel cleat inside the anchor well vertically on the forward face, with a 3/4" plywood backing plate epoxied to the hidden forward side. First I needed to remove the decorative teak bulkhead from the 'V' berth and make sure I could fit a backing plate up in there. Then I pre drilled the four 1/4" holes thru the anchor well face and matching holes in the plywood backup. At this point check for fit on the screw holes. Then apply a layer of PC-7 epoxy adhesive to the hidden side of the anchor well forward face and slather a good coating on the plywood before you put it in place. This will take care of any irregularities in the two surfaces and get a permanent bond. Having one screw in one hole may help with the alignment as it wil be difficult to get the cleat, the holes and the backing plywood aligned otherwise. It obviously will take two persons to allign and tighten the bolts. I used aircraft nuts on stainless fender washers in case I ever want to lift the boat out of the water using just this cleat. I needed to cut an access slot in the forward edge of the anchor well lid to clear the anchor rhode when it's cleated off. I would consider the alignment from the anchor roller to the cleat for chafe protection. I just keep a rag in the locker to wrap around the line.
 
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Gary

Will be sailing tomorrow....

So I'll check to see how much room I have to get a big cleat mounted inside the anchor rode locker, and take a closer look to see if there is any access for a backing plate. Otherwise, maybe my 31 is designed like Daryl's 34 and I can drill and tap threads for the roller. Thanks for the advice
 
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Tim Op't Holt

Roller installation

Gary, Katrina took my old bow roller that was installed by the previous owner by drilling and tapping the bow plate. E. Shore Marine will fill the old holes and drill and tap new holes. I don't have the drill and tap equipment for a job this big. Fit depends on what type of roller you bought. I bought a roller made for the 22kg Bruce I have. Tim
 
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Gary

Tim......

Do you know if our boats have aluminum molded into the fiberglass, as Daryl mentioned? I have the taps and bits necessary for this job. You're welcome to use if you want.
 
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Doug Washburn

Bow Roller installation...

Go to the mid-size archives to October 6, 2003. There you will find pictures and narrative for installing a bow roller on a H31 without drilling any new holes in your boat.
 
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Gary

Totally inaccessible.....

Good idea Doug. Looks like that will work using the existing screws and holes for the roller. However, I still need to install a cleat to cleat off the rode when anchor is deployed, and there's no way to access the underside of the bow or the anchor rode locker for a plate. Hunter installed a u-bolt on the forward wall of the anchor rode locker. I could use it for securing the chain with perhaps a caribiner while the anchor is resting on roller, but I'm puzzled as to how I can cleat off rode when anchor is deployed. The way I see it, my only options are to either mount a cleat waaaayyy back in front of the forward hatch (with backing plate), or bring rode from outboard of the roller, around to the existing bow cleat. Hey Doug....I found an old post of yours offering pictures of your setup. Would like to see some if you still have 'em. gwpeaden@hotmail.com Thanks
 
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Gary

I have concluded....

that the underside of the H31's bow is inaccessible. Using a mirror and a flashlight, laying in the v-berth, you can see the underside of the bow looking up in front of the anchor locker, but you can't get your arm in there to get washers or backing plate on....it's just too tight. So.....I have decided how I'll mount the roller on the SS bow plate using new tapped holes, but I can't decide where I can mount a cleat. The only place I can imagine installing one with a backing plate is on the deck aft of the anchor locker lid. Anybody got a better idea?
 
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