Guiding the anchor chain

[GILow]

Hi all,

I have a vertical windlass, set back about a meter from the bow roller, with the chain turning 180 degrees around the windlass and exiting horizontally to the anchor chain locker which is between the bow roller and the windlass and has an open-top spurling pipe.

There is no significant change in height between the windlass and the bow roller, but there is a chain-plate for the staysail stay between the windlass and the bow, so I have the chain coming to the windlass on the starboard side of the chain-plate and returning to the locker on the port side.

I am trying to decide whether to run the anchor chain in a stainless steel channel from the bow to the windlass and then from the windlass to the spurling pipe, or whether to just use a reasonably wide skid-plate of stainless steel with no sides instead.

Thoughts on the pros and cons of each approach? (I'm a solo sailor with a remote control up/down on the windlass.)

Matt

[Jahwork]

Hola Matt,

Might not be of much value to you but I fabricated a plate from 16 gauge 316SS and affixed it to the deck to prevent the chain from chipping the deck. My setup is s simple straight pull and the plate is about 6-7” wide if I remember correctly. Certainly easier than a U channel and lower profile. Just an idea that works for me. Good luck with your decision whatever you choose

Safe Journeys,
~Jake

[Panope]

Channel might provide the benefit of containing muddy chain water. Could the channel be sloped downward towards the bow, thus draining overboard?

Steve

[Bill O]

SS plate or channel seems like it would be very noisy. We have two metal rollers and that is noisy also, but the SS may be worse.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Jahwork

Hola Matt,



Might not be of much value to you but I fabricated a plate from 16 gauge 316SS and affixed it to the deck to prevent the chain from chipping the deck. My setup is s simple straight pull and the plate is about 6-7” wide if I remember correctly. Certainly easier than a U channel and lower profile. Just an idea that works for me. Good luck with your decision whatever you choose



Safe Journeys,

~Jake

Very tidy and much like what I was thinking of, albeit a bit more complicated. Probably compact enough that guiding the chain isn’t really an issue though?

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Panope

Channel might provide the benefit of containing muddy chain water. Could the channel be sloped downward towards the bow, thus draining overboard?



Steve

Hmmmm.... excellent point in favour of the channel approach. Yes, I think I can get it to slope towards the anchor locker without much difficulty.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by GILow

Hmmmm.... excellent point in favour of the channel approach. Yes, I think I can get it to slope towards the anchor locker without much difficulty.

No better place to stow your mud.....

[mlydon]

My last boat had a 3’ teak bowsprit, with the anchor roller on the end, and the windlass back on deck, of course. The bowsprit had an aluminium plate about 5” wide screwed down flat under where the chain ran, to prevent the chain from messing up the teak/varnish.....

Matt

[s/v Jedi]

We have a strip of Treadmaster protecting the deck and a mud dam with drain to stop mucky water from running aft along the deck.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by mlydon

My last boat had a 3’ teak bowsprit, with the anchor roller on the end, and the windlass back on deck, of course. The bowsprit had an aluminium plate about 5” wide screwed down flat under where the chain ran, to prevent the chain from messing up the teak/varnish.....

Matt

Aluminium would be nicer than stainless, in terms of weight and cost. Any problems with it oxidizing or similar issues?

[GILow]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

We have a strip of Treadmaster protecting the deck and a mud dam with drain to stop mucky water from running aft along the deck.

I think I saw a picture of the setup when I was googling this question. Is it stainless or aluminium or some other material?

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by GILow

I think I saw a picture of the setup when I was googling this question. Is it stainless or aluminium or some other material?

Treadmaster is a product, readily available, check it out. It is a synthetic rubber-like material.

[Vasco]

Starboard does a good job.

[Matt Johnson]

Originally Posted by Vasco

Starboard does a good job.

We developed a groove in ours after a few years, but since it's the same color throughout, it looked fine with the wound. It was also quiet, light and easily replaced with hand tools.

Matt

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by Vasco

Starboard does a good job.

Starboard, or a piece of polyethelene cutting board, or some old telephone cable jacket, or black water pipe. All pretty similar stuff, real slippery.