Where to store the anchor?
- Thread starter Doug J
- Start date
- Status
choices
you have several choices, build a locker, attach it to the bowrail, and install a rode locker, or put it in a milkcrate, as I often do. some deploy the anchor from the stern, and then move the rode to the bow.
you have several choices, build a locker, attach it to the bowrail, and install a rode locker, or put it in a milkcrate, as I often do. some deploy the anchor from the stern, and then move the rode to the bow.
a few ideas I've seen...
I used to carry mine in the laz. Worked fine for years. Then a few years ago, while singlehanding on a 30 mile passage I got caught in a severe, unforecasted storm. I lost my main when I tried to put in a reef. It took me about a half hour to get it back on the boat...in a wadded clump. Fortunately, I had enough seaway to prevent going on the rocks while I was preoccupied with the main...but I almost did. That's when I decided it was necessary to keep the anchor at the ready on the bow. I now hang my anchor on the pulpit, the challenge is rode storage. I've seen several methods. The bag or milk crate idea is probably the most common; cheap, simple, convenient, effective and ugly. There used to be (might still be there) a site on Macgregor-boats.com showing how a guy removed foam from above the V-berth, cut through the deck and built a very handsome rode locker...extensive fiberglass work, done by a pro. Another way is to use the space between the very front of the V-berth and the bow, installing a deck pipe over it...that space goes into the bilge under the berth. Seems like that might get a little rank with both mildew and the septic odor of sediment...but it's an easy and good looking solution. I built a removable, sealed, self-draining locker that sits on the "rails" of the liner in the very front of the V-berth. Access is through a deck mounted Nicro deck plate with a deck pipe installed on the cover. Holds 150 ft. of 3/8" rope and 10 feet of chain. I love this mod...but it might be harder to do on the S with the foam overhead.
I used to carry mine in the laz. Worked fine for years. Then a few years ago, while singlehanding on a 30 mile passage I got caught in a severe, unforecasted storm. I lost my main when I tried to put in a reef. It took me about a half hour to get it back on the boat...in a wadded clump. Fortunately, I had enough seaway to prevent going on the rocks while I was preoccupied with the main...but I almost did. That's when I decided it was necessary to keep the anchor at the ready on the bow. I now hang my anchor on the pulpit, the challenge is rode storage. I've seen several methods. The bag or milk crate idea is probably the most common; cheap, simple, convenient, effective and ugly. There used to be (might still be there) a site on Macgregor-boats.com showing how a guy removed foam from above the V-berth, cut through the deck and built a very handsome rode locker...extensive fiberglass work, done by a pro. Another way is to use the space between the very front of the V-berth and the bow, installing a deck pipe over it...that space goes into the bilge under the berth. Seems like that might get a little rank with both mildew and the septic odor of sediment...but it's an easy and good looking solution. I built a removable, sealed, self-draining locker that sits on the "rails" of the liner in the very front of the V-berth. Access is through a deck mounted Nicro deck plate with a deck pipe installed on the cover. Holds 150 ft. of 3/8" rope and 10 feet of chain. I love this mod...but it might be harder to do on the S with the foam overhead.
Anchor storage
My anchor is stored in a piece of 4" PVC pipe attached to the bow pulpit with pipe clamps. You can just about see it to the left in this picture. When I go out on the water, I attach the rode and like most everyone else, I keep it in a milk crate.
My anchor is stored in a piece of 4" PVC pipe attached to the bow pulpit with pipe clamps. You can just about see it to the left in this picture. When I go out on the water, I attach the rode and like most everyone else, I keep it in a milk crate.
Ancho on the bow
I put mine on the bow. I definitely did not want this anchor flying around, so I restrained it in a bow roller. I store my rode in the front of my boat through a deck pipe. I sail in fresh water, and I have not had any odor problems. Anchor deploys off of the end of the roller assy without hitting the hull. See pics at www.photobucket.com and album "oreana123". John S
I put mine on the bow. I definitely did not want this anchor flying around, so I restrained it in a bow roller. I store my rode in the front of my boat through a deck pipe. I sail in fresh water, and I have not had any odor problems. Anchor deploys off of the end of the roller assy without hitting the hull. See pics at www.photobucket.com and album "oreana123". John S
Slight variation
I also keep my main anchor at the bow, on a commercially made bracket mounted on the pulpet rail. I keep the rode on deck, flaked into a climbers rope bag that is fastened to the pulpet stantions. The bag just lays on the deck. It's quick and simple to attach the chain to the anchor and deploy, but a little more time consuming to flake the rode back into the bag after. So far this is working, but I am new to this and have only used my anchor once so far.
I also keep my main anchor at the bow, on a commercially made bracket mounted on the pulpet rail. I keep the rode on deck, flaked into a climbers rope bag that is fastened to the pulpet stantions. The bag just lays on the deck. It's quick and simple to attach the chain to the anchor and deploy, but a little more time consuming to flake the rode back into the bag after. So far this is working, but I am new to this and have only used my anchor once so far.
Build a Locker
I cut out a triangular section at the bow and built an aluminum locker for my Venture 25 and will probably do the same for a Mac 26 when I buy one. I used 1/8" Al and while I have not done a finite stress analysis, I feel that I have lost very little strength at the bow. This would not be cheap if build by a welding shop. I'd guess at 4 hours of shop time and $100 of material...so about $400 to$500 for the Al well. But I love my anchor well!!! Making a locker that sets on the deck would also be a reasonable option if you don't like the idea of cutting a hole in the deck. Actually I'm a little surprised that someone has not offered a fiberglass version of this for sale. Quinton
I cut out a triangular section at the bow and built an aluminum locker for my Venture 25 and will probably do the same for a Mac 26 when I buy one. I used 1/8" Al and while I have not done a finite stress analysis, I feel that I have lost very little strength at the bow. This would not be cheap if build by a welding shop. I'd guess at 4 hours of shop time and $100 of material...so about $400 to$500 for the Al well. But I love my anchor well!!! Making a locker that sets on the deck would also be a reasonable option if you don't like the idea of cutting a hole in the deck. Actually I'm a little surprised that someone has not offered a fiberglass version of this for sale. Quinton
- Status