pipe dreams

[john]

I have an O'day 22, and always seem to have trouble dealing with my anchor rode.I'm no great shakes rope handler, and that two hundred feet of line always ends up a mess. I have divided it in half, and leave theend coiled up, as I seldom need more than one hundred feet. My question is this; I have seen boats with a hole in the bow, with a cover on it, for storage of the rode below decks. I believe it is called a "pipe". I would love to simplify my anchoring woes, and wonder if stuffing the rode into a bucket below proves out to be a tangle free method. Does anyone use this, and how does it work? thank you!

 

[Stanley J. Rogacevicz]

Bucket works for me

John,I do have an anchor locker with a door (no hawse pipe) which makes it easy to flake the 200' of rode into a 16" high by 12" wide bucket that I keep my primary rode in. I can sit on the rear edge of the locker and straddle the bucket so it works well for me manually or using the windlass. Don't know if that helps with your question except to say that a bucket helps to kind of coil and flake the rode at the same time with me tamping it down occasionally. Never had a knot or jam. I wouldn't expect the rode to flake/coil itself very well blindly through a hawse pipe although I never used one. I think they work better with chain.Stan"Christy Leigh"c320 #656

 

[Rick]

Rode Bag

I made a rode bag out of Sunbrella material for the rodes of each of my three anchors (approx. 18" diam. X 2'). Takes a little longer to stuff the bag after taking in the anchor, but they store much better than a bucket and they always come out of the bag withot knots.

 

[Wanderer138]

Just drop it in

A hawse pipe is probably not worth the hassle. I've had all-chain rode tangle under the hawse pipe on a bigger boat. Your anchor line shouldn't tangle if you drop it straight into the locker. The trick is to leave it where it lies and pull it out vertically the next time you anchor. I've also stored anchor line in a 5 gallon bucket. In a smaller container the line has less chance to move about under way and get into a tangle. Good luck.PeterH23 "Raven"

 

[wb]

this may help if you dont mid a pile of rode

I used to do an electricians wrap when i owned a motor boat it stayed in a tight pile and never tangled.works best if you know the depth,but you simply throw the whole thing or what is needed over and wait to settle then pull back in.most of the rode will still be wrapped that hasnt been pulled by the anchor then let out what you need and tie of.just so you know this wrap is how most construction workers tie there extension cords to keep from tangling.now matter how you store it or throw it if tied wright will not tangle.its kinda pain in the butt but it works.