Hawse Pipe - How do YOU plug when sailing

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by GILow

I used to have a conical foam plug and a length of 4mm line, made from a few layers of those foam floor tiles they use for kiddie play areas. A cut along the radius to allow it to wrap around the chain.

Worked very well.

No longer use it because I changed the whole anchor chain setup, but I'd replace it with the same if I needed something like it again.

I like this idea. I’ve always just jammed a sponge down the hole, wrapped snuggly around the descending chain. This seems to prevent most water from getting in, but it’s not very elegant looking.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

… This seems to prevent most water from getting in, but it’s not very elegant looking.

I’m very much a function over form kinda guy.

[AKA-None]

Originally Posted by Eidolon65

Thanks All,

It looks like there’s no new magical fix for this…

The expanding foam in a Ziploc bag is quite interesting though, but in any case, I’ll likely have to disconnect my chain from the anchor.



I thought about re-machining the windlass base to accept one of the standard chain pipes with the lids with the hook on the under side, you know the oval stainless kind that are quite common on board many smaller sailboats. I do currently have one of these on board for an extra nylon rode it’s just not in a position where the chain would fall through into the locker.



I’ll keep digging around and thinking about this thanks for all of your input I appreciate it!

Expanding foam in a plastic bag doesn’t set
Been there done that

[Benz]

My spurling pipe extends 8 or so inches above the deck, since the windlass is mounted over the bowsprit. I only plug it when things might get squirrely, and that just by stuffing rags around the chain.