Anchor chain stacking

[obuque]

Hi everyone. I would like to know if there is a system to prevent the anchor chain from bunching up, causing problems to the windlass

[element]

On my previous boat the extremely complex and expensive system we used was a piece of wood or the deckbrush to push the stacked pile of chain downwards  .

Our SO 39i chain locker is deep enough to have sufficient height difference so gravity can take care of the problem.

[Charlie-Bravo]

This is a problem on many boats I have sailed. The expensive solution is stainless steel chain, it’s slippery and refuses to stack. Other options include a mushroom shaped item in the locker to distribute the chain randomly, also I have seen a cut down plastic traffic cone inserted into the locker to produce the same effect, and perhaps the most elaborate was a hawse pipe  which would swing port to starboard driven by a geared wheel driven by the chain …… not cheap and would probably jam at some point, the fact it exists shows this to be a known boating issue. most folk with the problem stick to a deck brush handle for prodding the stacked chain during retrieval, or a shipmate below re arranging the chain if the locker has access.

On my last boat I created a slippery floor to the anchor locker with acrylic capped plastic sheet, mounted at a good angle to steer the chain to the deeper areas of the locker, it wasn’t perfect but helped .
I am fortunate with the SO35 that the locker is huge, deep, and doesn’t suffer the issue at all, it’s a joy to pull up anchor.

Hope your deck brush has a stiff handle.
CB

[MickeyB]

I once saw someone put a traffic cone directly underneath the drop point to try and push the chain around the locker - which is similar to the mushroom idea, but kind of free :-) 

I just lay it out manually watching my fingers all the time.

Mike

[Zanshin]

I store my mooring hook in the anchor locker and use that when pulling in the chain to distribute it evenly.

[OhWell]

On the subject of the chain locker,  I was surprised to find the drains in our 2001 43DS to be too high, forcing the chain to sit in 2 inches of water.  Ended up throwing away 80' of rusty 3/8 BBB.  Easy fix was to pour 1.5 quarts of resin (in 4 separate pours to avoid heat) to raise the bottom.  

[Zanshin]

I have the same problem with a wet anchor chain floor due to the drains sitting quite low. After debating the various means of lifting the chain higher to keep it out of the water (I, too, had badly rusted chain that I needed to replace), I opted for a cheap and quick McGyver method: I put a layer of empty plastic water bottles in the bottom of the locker.

[obuque]

Thank you very much to all for your indications, in the SO37 the windlass pours the chain to an inclined plane and still the chain ends up piling up, I think I am going to design a mechanical solution that organizes the chain in the well. I will keep you informed of the progress.

[obuque]

As a general rule, most boats, due to their correct and functional design, have this automated and effective maneuver to avoid any mishap of hitting and/or blockage of the anchor or chain of the anchoring system.

On the other hand, there are many boats in which this maneuver is a possible source of problems because the chain receptacle, known as the anchor well, is not deep enough and the chain ends up piling up under the windlass or collection mechanism until the lock point chain pickup. To avoid this problem, users are normally forced to organize the chain manually, during the raising of the anchor, preventing it from piling up and blocking the windlass, putting their own boat and those nearby in the anchorage at risk. In addition, this maneuver itself is dangerous for the integrity of the sailors and this manual organization requires great skill from the skipper as he has to run from the wheelhouse to the bow on successive occasions to hoist the anchor; or have a second experienced person at the bow or at the helm so that the boat that raises its anchor does not put the other nearby anchors at risk

[rxc]

I carry two anchors on the bow, each with a length of chain. The anchor I use most has about 250 ft of 5/16 while the other one has only about 80 ft. I have subdivided the anchor locker into two separate sections with a Starboard divider. When my wife and I anchor, she is on the helm while I deal with the anchor. I retrieve the anchor and use a piece of about 1/4 inch (6mm) SS rod, about 2 ft long, that came off of a Scuba tank with a J valve. I "reconfigured" it so that I can hook the chain as it drops off the windlass and into the locker and lay it out evenly. It is not much work, and it makes sure that the chain is ready to go out, if necessary. It also provides a nice flat surface to stand on, inside the anchor locker, to tie down the anchor.


I have only anchored by myself once, using this system. It was not difficult to deal with, because I just took in the chain till the anchor was up-and-down, washing the chain as much as possible as it came up, and then hauled the anchor just above the water line. Went back to the helm to make sure the boat was pointed in a safe direction at idle, with autopilot, and then went back to bow to stow it, wash up, and stow all the gear. We anchor a lot, so I have a good system for the evolution. If the conditions would have been nasty, or the anchor hooked really hard, it might have been harder, but not that one time, this past spring.

[papawads]

I have 100m of chain which use to back up.  Another forum member ‘Salty metals’ has a great solution I’ve replicated.  

1. I have 316SS plates both sides on the locker, with small steel loops, each with 4m of chain on.  That takes the final 56m OFF the floor of the locker.  The chain is hung from the loops with plastic cable ties, strong enough to hold the chain, but easily ripped off by the windlass.  2 plates x 7 loops x 4 meters

2. A SS plate on the near side of the locker, just past the windlass, holds a steel throw plate, casting the chain further into the locker and the drop is now much greater, with half the chain now off the floor.

3. There’s a tough plastic mesh (think is sold as a garage floor tile…) cut to shape on the locker base to raise the first 44m of chain just out of the water.


Papawads 

[capnbob]

Can we have some photos please?

[pedroln]

Sept 15, 2022 5:21:33 GMT Zanshin said:

I have the same problem with a wet anchor chain floor due to the drains sitting quite low. After debating the various means of lifting the chain higher to keep it out of the water (I, too, had badly rusted chain that I needed to replace), I opted for a cheap and quick McGyver method: I put a layer of empty plastic water bottles in the bottom of the locker.

This is to avoid the blockage of the drain with mud, mine has 2 drain holes, one at bottom other 10 cm high.

[obuque]

Hi Everyone again, regarding the anchor chain build up problem under the windlass, I have developed the ultimate (patented) solution that prevents chain bunching using windlass turn. I'll post photos and a link soon.

[jy51]

Sept 15, 2022 5:21:33 GMT Zanshin said:

I have the same problem with a wet anchor chain floor due to the drains sitting quite low. After debating the various means of lifting the chain higher to keep it out of the water (I, too, had badly rusted chain that I needed to replace), I opted for a cheap and quick McGyver method: I put a layer of empty plastic water bottles in the bottom of the locker.

Nothing quite as sophisticated as empty plastic bottles, 😂 but I use a couple of very thick rubber door matt with diamond shaped holes designed to brush off mud from the feet , this keeps the chain above the water level.

[MickeyB]

Hey, sorry about the Facebook link, but a real clever solution to chain stacking on a 34.2. Probably will work on others.

www.facebook.com/reel/1089306028461538?s=yWDuG2&fs=e

[capnbob]

We saw this idea and have been trialling a variation of it on our 1999 SO40, based in Greece (often anchoring twice a day!).

It is a 30cm stainless mixing bowl, screwed the locker bulkhead. At the start it was amazing, in that we could bring up all 70m of our galvanised chain without human intervention!
Subsequently, as the bowl has become less slippery, we find it needs an occasional shove with a walking-stick if it looks like it will bunch up under the winch.
We have also lowered the bowl about 75mm compared to this photo. 
More modifications will be tested, but the Boss (she that must be obeyed and who does all the anchor work) says it is much better than using her hands!

[Charlie-Bravo]

Genius!
And ingenious, wish I had thought of the mixing bowl on my last boat, but the SO35 has a forward locker without the issue (thankfully)

CB

[Trevor]

That video certainly tells the story. That is very smart indeed.