My 2000 380 Searay 380 Sundancer was built from the factory with the optional 200' all-chain
rode.
This was a great option, with terrific holding
power under lots of conditions. I built a snubber w/ a hook to hold the chain / absorb the shock during usage.
There was a silent problem occurring, with the
delamination of large sections of gel coat inside that
anchor locker, then then clogged the two drain weep holes, causing rust near the bitter end of the chain.
There was also exterior rust stain dribbling on the
hull exterior below the drain weep holes, but it wasn't possible to see the
interior problem, concealed below the
anchor chain.
An examination during the problem resolution, of my empty
anchor locker revealed the exposed bare
fiberglass hull to have a glossy surface, making gel coat adhesion difficult.
My guess is operation during rough conditions had the chain bumping around, breaking away the poorly bonded gel coat. There were large
sheets of loose gel coat, with pieces many inches long.
My solution was to first scrape away whatever was possible to remove with a
paint scraper.
The next step was to vacuum sand the exposed
fiberglass hull and to sand away any gel coat that was possible to remove without difficulty.
All of the problem areas were above and below the internal loop eye, on either side of the centerline of the
boat.
That exposed bare fiberglass was painted with
epoxy.
A fitted plastic "wood" slatted shelf was made for the floor to space the
rode an inch above the drain weep holes, while permitting the rode to drain / shed
water and air dry.
The rode was exchanged from all-chain to
rope / chain. When I removed the original 5/16" chain it filled two five gallon buckets. Each bucket was very difficult to move because of the weight. My entire new
rope / chain rode can be moved by me without difficulty.
A cardboard template was created that fits the shape of the locker, an inch above the base. A tee bevel was used to get the internal hull slope.
My Ridgid 4511 granite table saw was used to make all the compound cuts for this new plastic "wood" floor.
The end result is exactly what I wanted. Now I don't have to worry about the drain weep holes being blocked. Everything will stay dry. Nothing will be beating on my hull. LOTS of weight was removed from the bow!
Initial Condition - Chain Rode Removed
Shelf Location Marked w/ Tape
Cardboard Template Created / Fitted
Ridgid 4511 Granite Top Table Saw Ripping Frame to Match Hull Slope
Base Frame
Parts w/ Cuts Permitting Bending to Match Hull
Base Frame Trial Fit To
Anchor Locker
Base Frame Covered w/ Slats to Full Locker Width
Platform w/ Extended Nose Added Covering Forward Gap
Glossy Hull / Loose Gel Coat Sanded Prior to
Epoxy
Bare Hull Covered w/ Epoxy
Anchor Rode in Completed Locker