Anchor Chain Locker

[mickmeck]

Ok, the anchor chain locker (in the attached image) is a lot cleaner now. The marks still on the floor and walls are rust from a wet anchor chain sitting in water.



Notice on the bottom of the picture the drain holes on either side. They are about an inch up from the bottom of the locker. When I removed the chain there was an inch of mud and debris sitting there. Also, it was very clear that standing water was present by the significantly rusted anchor chain at that point (I had to break apart the chain with a sledge hammer).



Question – Is there a valid reason that the drain plugs don’t drain the locker out completely? I am thinking of putting something in that would ensure that no water remained behind.



Thoughts? Am I too focused on cleanliness? Should I just let a muddy anchor chain locker be?

[Damir]

Look at that may help you

www.jeanneau-owners.com/hintsandtips/anchordrain.html

[sailbleu]

Nov 17, 2015 19:51:39 GMT Damir said:

Look at that may help you

www.jeanneau-owners.com/hintsandtips/anchordrain.html

Don't need to tell you or others this only works when you have acces to the front part .

But I can understand the TS , that water will ruin the chain and if I would have the same problem I would absolutely do something about it.

If drilling a new drain is not viable I would either elevate the bottom of the locker by pouring some epoxy resin in ( after cleaning , degreasing and sanding the area) up to the existing drain , or I would elevate that floor above the drain by using teak or plastic blocks as a base/footing/foundation and on top of that a thick plate of synthetic material ( plastic).
You can also use teak board , which will rather be expensive considering the size.
First make a template with a piece of cardboard so you have the perfect shape.
Don't forget to drill holes in the plate so the water can run through and your chain will remain dry.

Do not use S/S for the plate as this will be a wrong combination with a galvanized chain.

Regards

[rxc]

Thanks for this heads-up. I will add it to my to-do list, when I pull the chain out for inspection next month. I have a nearby marine supply place that carries a stack of inexpensive Starboard off-cuts, and I am sure that I can put together a Starboard grate at a very low cost. I already use some Starboard planks in the locker to separate the two anchor chains that I carry.

I only have one drain outlet, on the port side, and it is about 1 ft above the water line. I don't remember whether I have two drains in the locker, but if I do, then there must be a Tee below the locker. I bet that those drain hoses are miserable to accesss. Adding a drain from the bottom would likely require an additional thru-hull very close to the water line. But since it is a drain that connects to an open locker, maybe that would not be a concern. The link posted by Damir looks like a good option, if you can get the access. My forepeak bilge locker now has a bow thruster mounted there, so access to the underside of the locker is excrutiatingly difficult.

[so36idavid]

I have a plan (one of these years...) to add a second drain hole. My thought is not to go vertically through the bottom but rather horizontally as close to the base as possible. Then I plan to fair the inside of the base with thickened epoxy so that it slopes down to the new hole. 

Until then you could use the same workaround that I have.  My boat came to me with some corners cut out of a milk crate and shoved to the bottom of the locker. These keep the rode out of the inch of water on the base of the locker. 

David

[Tafika II]

We added a teak grate above the bottom of the anchor locker with an aluminum “U” channel installed along the edge to protect the wood from chain wear. This was installed with 8 SS screws along the sides into the existing horizontal stringers. This allows any water to drain away. We do have a on deck saltwater hose snap in connector to wash mud from the anchor and chain as it goes into the locker. The drain at the bottom is flush with the bottom. We have not had any drainage problems. Once a year we pull out all the chain for inspection and cleaning. We do rinse the entire compartment with fresh water when available.

[mickmeck]

Thanks everyone for your response. I was concerned that this was a design feature for some purpose. It is clear from everyone's response that it should not be this way. I am leaning towards building up the floor to the level of the current drains to keep the water out. I have all winter to work on this one. 

Thanks again.