Anchor Bow Roller for 30' Sloop

[Sailon1]

Greetings,

Sailing mostly single-handed and looking at facing Bday #69,
I don't care much for wrestling an anchor at the bow. So,
I would appreciate suggestions for type of bow roller to purchase
and do's and don't for installation, e.g. is a backing plate necessary,
will the anchor line and chain feed easily into the locker?

My Pearson 30 has roller furling, and the anchor now hangs from a SS
bracket on the bow rail.

Thank you in advance for your replies.

[Pete7]

Got any photos of the existing set up, or are there on line photos you could link to?

Without wish to create a 30 page anchoring thread, what is the existing anchor and are you happy with it? Does the manufacturer have a downloadable full size diagram that can be printed to test fit any solutions you might come up with. Rocna and Mantus do, as do some others.

Are you thinking of an electric windlass too?

Are you using all chain as a rode?

Worth thinking about the whole project.

Pete

[Sailon1]

Thanks, Pete, for the reply and questions.
To clarify, it's a Fortress 10 lb. anchor with 100 feet of rode
including about 10 feet of chain.
Yes, the anchor is more than adequate for my use on Lake Erie.
No plans for an electric windlass at this point.
I'll check the Mfc. website to see if they have any solutions.

[Cheechako]

Fortress , Danforth are a bit ungainly to handle for sure. There are Danforth specific anchor rollers that help with that and I would look at those. When building it, supporting the roller make sure it projects out enough to make sure the flukes will be clear of gouging the hull.

[Pete7]

I see your problem, we have a FX16 too, but stored as a spare under a berth. However on the pullpit its going to catch sheets and sails, not great. Fortress suggest the avg 30ft yacht will be subjected to at load of 700 lbs in 30 knots and 42 knots a load of 1400 lbs. So what ever you build needs to be strong and well bolted down with backing plates. Not helping is probably the need to extend the anchor forwards so the tips of the blades miss the hull.

Some photos on this page. The CQR anchor mounting photo might work.

https://www.christinedemerchant.com/anchor_clamp.html

I think you are going to need some scrap plywood sheet and a box of screws to come up with a design to be made in stainless, unless you can find another owner who has done it already. How to stow a Fortress Anchor - Trawler Forum

I will give a nod to Groundtackle, because he sponsors the forum and has some solutions.

https://www.groundtackle.com/bow-rollers

[Sailon1]

Thank you for the very helpful information. Am I correct to assume that
a bow roller system provides easier anchor dropping and retrieval than
the clip on type for the bow rail? In other words, particularly when lifting
the anchor, the roller makes the process easier, perhaps even safer.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Sailon1

Thank you for the very helpful information. Am I correct to assume that
a bow roller system provides easier anchor dropping and retrieval than
the clip on type for the bow rail? In other words, particularly when lifting
the anchor, the roller makes the process easier, perhaps even safer.

Yep easier pulling it, lowering it and storing it.

[jen1722terry]

Hi,

Our 31-foot cutter has anchor storage on the bow on a teak sprit with roller and anchor lock. However, we only use this for lowering/raising the anchor and for anchor storage. Once the anchor is down, we move the rode to one of the bow-chocks (with locking pin to keep the rode in place). Why? In rough weather the rode can put a heavy strain on the roller and bowsprit. Also, using the bow chocks makes it easy to rig a bridle or snubber.

So, if you decide up front not to use the new roller set-up for anchoring, just storage and lowering/raising the anchor, it may make design and reinforcement of the bow roller a bit easier.

Just a thought. Good luck.

[anacapaisland42]

I just read a Practical Sailor article where, talking about engine failures coming into harbour or running aground etc. they opined that the anchor that should be dropped is on the bow, not the stern,

THEREFORE :-)
maybe you should look at having capability of dropping your bow anchor whilst on the wheel
Just a thought
Bill

Originally Posted by Sailon1

Greetings,

Sailing mostly single-handed and looking at facing Bday #69,
I don't care much for wrestling an anchor at the bow. So,
I would appreciate suggestions for type of bow roller to purchase
and do's and don't for installation, e.g. is a backing plate necessary,
will the anchor line and chain feed easily into the locker?

My Pearson 30 has roller furling, and the anchor now hangs from a SS
bracket on the bow rail.

Thank you in advance for your replies.

[Sailon1]

Thanks for the ideas--a bow sprit may offer a good solution
for my setup.

[Sailon1]

Excellent idea--especially for single handed sailing!

[guyrj33]

you can see pictures of the bow roller I installed here
Pearson 10M Anchor Roller

[bootstrapper]

Hi, With the light weight of your gear just keep it in a stern locker. Makes life much easier when leaving a crowded anchorage, When you want to anchor take the end of the rode forward and fastten off to the cleat and drop the anchor from the stern. when you want to leave just take the rode off the bow , fasten in the cockpit, wait for the boat to turn stern into the wind and motor very slowly in reverse pulling up the rode as you go. you are in total control right at the engine controls and the boat will reverse into the wind with no problem. I've been 30 years doing this on a 34ft boat with no bow roller or windlass and at 72 can still manage with no trouble using heavier tackle.

[Mike OReilly]

I lacked any roller or bow storage on a previous boat of similar vintage to your Pearson (Grampian 34). With the great help of a skillful friend, I built a ss bowsprit of sorts which allowed me to carry and deploy two anchors quickly off the bow.

I went looking for some pics. These are the best I could find. Hopefully you can see how this works. (The sprit worked well as a kitty platform as well )

[Sailon1]

That sounds like a very good idea . . . thanks!