Hunter 376 owners,I am switching to an all chain rode and have seen concern on the rode jammimg up. A Jon Peterson reported re-routing the rode with 3 inch pvc pipe anyone have any info on this. Mahalo, Tom Clark Hoomalie Kaneohe Hawaii
Hunter 376 all chain anchor line
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Herewith my posting from 2002
Hawsepipe Fix - The Whole Hog
TopHi Bob, The trouble with the 376 anchor locker is that the anchor rode is delivered to the front of the chain locker and it binds in the "Vee" of the bow. After several disappointing attempts to cure the problem I decided to go the whole hog and deliver the rode into the centre of the locker from the greatest available height. Mostly I sail single handed and it was dangerous to have the chain foul in the down pipe and jam the windlass. This meant an urgent visit to the forecabin to throw everything off the bunks and then to dive into the space and open the small hatch and clear the chain jam. Also the breaker invariably popped so this needed to be reset before the windlass would work again. All the time to boat was drifting, out of control, with the anchor neither up nor down. My solution was to open up the panel in the forecabin and to cut off the GRP down tube completely just below where it left the underside of the windlass. Next I found some uPVC 1/8" thick wall rainwater pipe 2 1/2" od which fitted inside the existing stub. I cut several "V" shaped sections from one side of the pipe, almost through the whole diameter (kerfing), so that it would bend through 45°. The bend was then formed and held with black adhesive tape. The bulkhead was marked where the pipe would come through and it was cut across the centre of the ellipse athwartships and two halves of an ellipse cut so that the pipe could pass through. Two small backing plywood backing plates were screwed behind so that the bulkhead could be joined up again. Next I marked the top of the anchor locker hatch where the pipe was to enter. I chose dead centre so the anchor chain could make the biggest pile before binding up in the pipe and jamming the windless. Another 45° ellipse was drawn on the ply and another hole cut. Again the ply top was cut athwartships so that it could nestle the pipe AND allow easy access to the chain locker. Then I fitted the fitted the bent pipe in position with more black adhesive tape and trapped it with the two half bulkheads mentioned above. Lastly the pipe was cut to length and painted white. I freely admit it was a fiddly and time consuming job. Interestingly the berth cushions sit nicely either side of this pipe and did not need altering, and I still have 6'6" length of berth as it was much much longer before. Now anchoring is a breeze. I have 25 metres of chain spliced to 45 metres of nylon rope and it all goes up and down just fine. I still need to help the splice over the gypsy but, once that is clear, I have no trouble. Indeed I now have the remote buttons and chain counter at the helm position so anchoring and weighing from depths of 10 metres is done without leaving the cockpit and from deeper I just make a quick visit to get the splice round the gypsy when the counter says it is there. Best of luck with yours, Regards,
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