The W42 has a pretty nice chain locker (see above). It is divided into two parts, the starboard side for chain (which on my boat does not drain) and the port side for rope (which drains into the bilge via a channel under the forward water tank).
One problem that I have encountered on a number of boats (including 2 W42s') is that the chain tends to pile up and jam the naval pipe (the drop pipe from the windlass). This requires you to go into the vee-berth and push the chain down in the locker in the middle of weighing anchor. This is not fun in a crowded anchorage or when single-handing.
An interesting solution has been adopted by the crew of Windtraveller a lovely Brewer 44;
http://www.windtraveler.net/
I have yet to decide what to do but I am open to ideas, including the one above. Keep in mind that I have just removed the bow water tank. I did this mainly to gain access to the hull in order to bolt on the lower fitting of the bob-stay for the new bowsprit. I may incorporate this lower locker as part of my anchor storage.
This has now given me a large area which I plan to shelve and use for storage.
3 comments:
Hi Gerry,
Yes, I have this problem too, as you know. Thanks for posting some nice ideas.
Do you have a link to the windtraveller.net post where they show their solution?
Cheers,
--Kevin
S/V Real Life
I used to keep 300 feet of chain in a Hughes 35. The locker was much smaller than yours. I fixed the chain Pyramid problem by making a ramp with a 2x4 for the chain follow. The ramp is set at about 45 degrees and doesn't have to be very long, say 18 inches. The chain follows the ramp down and piles up at the end, when that fills, it climbs the ramp a bit and naturally flops to one side. When that side pyramids up to the ramp, the chain climbs the ramp a bit more then falls to the other side and pyramids there. You end up with three piles of chain where you used to have only one. If this explanation doesn't suit, just mail me at svquintana@gmail.com and I'll try to do better explaining.
Nice job on the rebuild, we did the same thing with our old Corbin 39.
Cheers.
Paul.
PS, you'll love the Bahamas.
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