What is this?

[SeaHarlequin]

I apologize in advance -- I know what Google is and I know how to use the forum search but I haven't yet found the keywords to search. In fact, I'm not certain this post belongs in the Anchoring & Mooring section...

I'm a new boat owner and am trying to figure out what this is. It's located in the bow where I normally see windlasses on other boats but my boat doesn't have an anchor locker and as far as I can tell, the previous owner never set up for anchoring from the bow (there is no anchor roller in the bow for instance.)

My initial thought was that this might be a reinforced area for future cutlass installation and this part is a cap which can be removed once an installation takes place but then I noticed the opening on one side. It's too small for a chain and seems too large for wires (just in case it might be some type of cutlass mount).

Could someone point me and my research in the correct direction? Many thanks!

[Island Time O25]

It's a cap for an anchor chain opening. Can't recall the proper name now but you can pull it up to expose the opening. It may be stuck though due to oxidation and seldom use. If so, use lots of PB Blaster or some similar spray.

[gamayun]

A hawse pipe cap.

[AKA-None]

Originally Posted by gamayun

A hawse pipe cap.

We have a winner

[SeaHarlequin]

Y'all are awesome. I'm off to look up hawse pipe caps and buy some PB Blaster. That thing is so fused I thought it was one piece.

Thank you for the help!

[DefinitelyMe]

Originally Posted by SeaHarlequin

my boat doesn't have an anchor locker

If your boat doesn't have an anchor locker, what is underneath the cap?!

[Sailmonkey]

What are you calling a cutlass?

[mike d.]

That is a bronze anchor chain cap and base! I would use PB blaster as noted above ! Have you checked inside the chain locker, to see if p/o secured it from inside ! It does not look like it is corroded that badly to be seized !

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by AKA-None

We have a winner

Not quite. It is NOT a hawse pipe. It's a cap for the spurling pipe. On a ship the hawse pipe homes the anchor, the spurling pipe is where the chain goes
to the chain locker.

[gamayun]

Originally Posted by Vasco

Not quite. It is NOT a hawse pipe. It's a cap for the spurling pipe. On a ship the hawse pipe homes the anchor, the spurling pipe is where the chain goes
to the chain locker.

Ha, good to know! It seems the hawse pipe is the opening at the side of the bow through which ships drop their anchor chain. The spurling pipe is the one from the forecastle to the anchor locker. Caps are caps.....perhaps?

[SeaHarlequin]

Originally Posted by DefinitelyMe

If your boat doesn't have an anchor locker, what is underneath the cap?!

Good point, I may be getting the terminology wrong. Most boats I've seen so far have an opening on the bow that lifts to reveal a locker where anchor chain and rode are stored. My boat has no such opening.

As for what's underneath, there's a removable section of the wall in the V-berth which leads to an empty space. If I were to drop heavy chain down that hole, it'd hit the bottom of the hull which seems odd to me. I suppose if I wanted to set up an anchor on the bow and feed the chain and rode down the hawse pipe, I'd first need to build some kind of locker so the chain doesn't hit the bottom of the hull and doesn't splay all around?

[SeaHarlequin]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

What are you calling a cutlass?

Sorry! I meant windlass.

[SeaHarlequin]

Originally Posted by mike d.

That is a bronze anchor chain cap and base! I would use PB blaster as noted above ! Have you checked inside the chain locker, to see if p/o secured it from inside ! It does not look like it is corroded that badly to be seized !

I'll check again when I'm on the boat but from I recall, there wasn't any type of attachment or tooling in that section of the boat. That opening just opened into an empty space ahead of the V-berth and dropping anything down it would directly impact the hull below.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by SeaHarlequin

I'll check again when I'm on the boat but from I recall, there wasn't any type of attachment or tooling in that section of the boat. That opening just opened into an empty space ahead of the V-berth and dropping anything down it would directly impact the hull below.

That’s called the chain locker, most are the hull.
I bet that cap is just stuck on, it’s sort of an interference fit and step on one and you can jam it on, take a big screwdriver under the hole in its side and I bet it pops right off.
It should have a little ball chain connecting it to the hole too.

[SeaHarlequin]

OK, thanks. I'll try the screwdriver approach before picking up PB Blaster.

I may be underestimating the strength of fiberglass but it seems like a bad idea to continually drop and drag chain across the hull bottom. If I set things up for anchoring from the bow, are there recommended modifications for doing so or am I being excessively paranoid?