Bow Protection for SO380

[richarda]

Hi

Have had my new SO380 for 1 month now here in New Zealand.

The inverted bow design means when the anchor is lifted and just comes clear of the water there is minimal clearnace if the boat is not flat at anchor - this means the point of the anchor  can swing into the lower part of the bow if you re up achoring in less than flat conditions.

Any suggestions on how anyone else has approached this. Thinking of installing a stainless strip to prevent tking a chunk outof the gelcoat.

Thanks

PS love the yacht - have the perfromance sails and is such a dream to sail and fast.

[MalcolmP]

Hi Richarda

Congratulations on your 380, looks a fabulous yacht for sure. I have sailed the 410 in the UK, Lombard was such an artist, and will be greatly missed.

We currently sail in Greece and many of the charter yachts have stainless bash plates on their bows. To me they look simply ugly, plus they often still have dents, which makes it even worse.

My solution is to rig a FenderFlex which are distributed in NZ by Bob Littler Associates BLA, most decent chandler's should be able to order one. More info at www.fenderflex.com Good luck with your wonderful new boat. Malcolm

[richarda]

Hi Malcolm

Thanks for the response. We thought about stainless alss - or may look at a carbon sleeve. Will certainly check out the fenderflex.

Regards

[Charlie-Bravo]

Wow! a great looking yacht, and the thought of putting the first ‘ding’ in the gel coat is probably enough to avoid anchoring.

Whilst you consider the fender options, would it be possible to utilise the bow sprit, say, attach your anchor tripping line to a pulley mounted as far forward as is possible, winch up the anchor, and when the anchor is just a few feet below the water surface pull the anchor up with the tripping line, and then winch in the chain slack and park the anchor , easing the trip line as required.

this isn’t a perfect full solution, and you would need a stout tripping line to be hand friendly, but just thought to post another way perhaps, controlling the swinging anchor rather than allowing it to swing and fending it off, 

CB