Is it just me or this is a terrible idea?

[crankysailor]

I saw this recently while seeing a boat I was thinking of buying and I just ran into this picture from a similar boat..it seems it is a bit of a „design feature“ on Najad boats.. this strikes me as a reaaaally bad idea... but then again a reputable yard can’t be *that* wrong now can they?

[Jd1]

It's just you!

[newhaul]

It seems to me to be a great idea. Anchor / chain lockers are traditionally sealed from the rest of the vessel. They also have a direct overboard drain mounted at the lowest point of the locker. With no hoses that can get kinked or create a waterlock. If my boat was big enough it would be a great change to make.

[crankysailor]

But, but.. what about all that violent shaking while beating? Fittings do get loose you know?

[GeneM]

It's OK, but I have a need for a capstan on top of my anchor winch. Now in my 60's, pulling hard on a mooring buoy line in heavy wind does tendon and ligament damage.
I once wrapped my chain around an obstruction, freedove to attach a line closer to the anchor then pulled the boat to slack the chain. I did elbow, wrist and finger damage.

[NahanniV]

I have a similar setup on my Scandinavian boat.
Was told by surveyor that ABYC requires a dedicated propane locker.

I still store extra rode, extra anchor and fenders there, but moved the Electric windless further back so that there was no electric motor in the propane locker.

As far as motion, everything needs to be well secured, has not been a problem.

[roverhi]

Really think on deck opening anchor locker are a bad idea. For one, the windlass will probably self destruct from the damp, salty environment and heaven help it if the drains get plugged and the winch goes underwater. I wouldn't have a vertical windlass without a capstan. The ability to warp into a berth or off a rock is priceless and has saved my boat on one occasion. Hope the chain has enough drop to self stow. Worst is the large hatch which is just asking to be ripped off by a boarding wave. On smaller boats, the locker will only fit a Danforth Pattern anchor. Worthless if you want a Manson or other new gen. anchor.

Guess you could claim it's a water tight bulkhead in the case of a ramming collision but you could install a water tight hatch for a chainlocker accessible from below.

I'll stick with my under deck access anchor locker where I can seal off the openings with tape for ocean passages and not have to worry about the hatch.

[B_Hunter45]

Same reason cars do not have the gasoline tank in the front, what if you hit something?

[crankysailor]

Actually the electric motor thing right next to it is yet another aggravation.. I dunno this really gave me the creeps when I saw it. My Contessa had a separate locker in the cockpit for the gas tanks and that seems ideal to me..

[Jim Cate]

Actually, it is not clear what the OP was asking about: the windlass or the LPG installation.

IMO, neither is very good! Most of the reasons have been raised by previous posts, but my biggest gripe is the exposure of the regulator and the solenoid valve to the water ingress common to foredeck lockers. Bad juju! And rust on the little gas cylinders would be an issue of they are owned rather than swapped... I dunno what practice is in that part of the world.

If this is a Najad as stated, I suppose that the gas installation must meet EU standards. Seems odd...

Jim

[deblen]

It may be acceptable in UK/EU for propane.
Definitely not acceptable per ABYC for propane.

However,if your insurance co. will accept it, it is better than many propane lockers,as long as the bulkhead is totally sealed from the v-berth & rest of interior(not common on N.A. built boats) but common on EU boats(crash bulkhead).
Also,a 1/2" minimum drain is reqd to let any leaked propane run outside the hull above the w/l.

See this thread for ABYC & UK propane standards.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...-193012-3.html

[crankysailor]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Actually, it is not clear what the OP was asking about: the windlass or the LPG installation.

Well the question was if stuffing explosives in the part of the boat that sees the most action was really „ok“ or if my fears are unfounded.

But the point about electric motors potential for „sparkiness“ kind of settles it for me...

[newhaul]

Ok I'm not quoting anyone in particular . Here are a couple of observations I made .
1) the verticals windlass , the electric motor appears to be sealed off from the anchor locker .
2) There also appears to be drain " gutters" molded into the enclosure.
3) from the closeness of the photo we can't see how the deck locker secures when closed.
If it has a secure latch on the top just forward of the windlass that negates the possibility of it becoming dislodged.
4) with a locker this large it would be my choice to have at a minimum a 3/4 inch drain.


Lastly to correct the myth. ABYC IS RECOMENDATIONS NOT REQUIREMENTS.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by B_Hunter45

Same reason cars do not have the gasoline tank in the front, what if you hit something?

nope the fuel tanks in vehicles are not normally in the front due to lack of space due to the engine being there. Most tanks are located towards the rear ( where most collisions impact first.)

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by crankysailor

Well the question was if stuffing explosives in the part of the boat that sees the most action was really „ok“ or if my fears are unfounded.

But the point about electric motors potential for „sparkiness“ kind of settles it for me...

ruptured propane/ natural gas tanks won't auto ignite.
The motor for the windlass does appear to be located in a different space from the tanks.