Anchor chain lockers

[Hunter34]

Is it unheard of to have a chain locker that is below the waterline and therefore not self draining?
I am about to install a vertical windlass but as the existing locker is only 400mm deep I thought about running the chain through a hawsepipe to an existing sealed void under the vee berth and installing a bilge pump and auto switch to remove any water.
I know the space is pretty much watertight as I had a 25ltr water container burst under there last year and nothing leaked out until I emptied weeks later via an access hatch in the top.
An added plus is that the weight of the 50m of 10mm chain will be below the waterline but I cant help wondering whether its a good idea or not.

Does anyone else have an arrangement similar to this?
Any advice much appreciated.

Many thanks

Andrew

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[bedouin]

I thought this was fairly common.

We certainly have a set up similar to what you define. A pipe down from the windlass to a locker under the V berth. That then just drains into the main bilge as normal.

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[Mirelle]

I thought this was the normal set up?

Mine does not drain into the bilge; I prefer to mop it out occasionally.

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[Benbow]

As has been said this is a common arrangement. But don't allow it to freely drain into your bilge, fit a short length of pipe with a valve. Then if you are pounding into waves for days on end you don't fill your boat with water !

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[oldsaltoz]

G'day Hunter,

The main problem with arrangement is the god awful stink inside the cabin from time to time depending on what comes up on the chain.

On a delivery some years ago we had to tape up the access cover and close off the self draining hose (No valve fitted), clean out the filthy water an add disinfectant, even then it took 3 days to clear.

I do hope you bunk access is air tight, having an auto start pump inside the well help.


Avagoodweekend...


<hr width=100% size=1> Old Salt Oz /forums/images/icons/cool.gif Growing old is unavoidable. However, growing up is still optional.

 

[snowleopard]

if you go for this option, be sure to allow some access to the locker in case a kink in the chain jams in the pipe.

it's also a really good idea to secure the bitter end with some light cord which reaches up to deck level. this stops you losing the lot if you let out too much but lets you cut it loos in extremis.

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[Guest]

Most older boats ....

Most older baots have chain that drops via Hawse pipe to the forpeak area that reaches right down to the bilge. If you check various older boats you see allsorts of arrangements like ... vertical drain pipe to guide chain down and keep clean area, removable bottom boards to allow manual stowgae of chain along bottom etc.

All my boats including present have chain stowed down vertical forepeak to the under fore berth bilge .....

A quick look around your marina etc. and you will notice that many boats - particularly older do not have nice deck lockers for chain and anchor .....


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[Guest]

Most older boats do drain naturally to bilge .... later mods etc. can affect this of course.

Need for auto pump etc. there ? Why ...... if you have good bilge pump arrangements generally..... plus you won't have possibly to have stuck switch on auto-pump from gunge and crud picked up.



<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
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[Mirelle]

My reasoning is much more mundane; whilst I do my best to wash the chain as it comes aboard, sometimes muck does come aboard with it and gets into the locker. I prefer to clean the locker rather than the bilges!

I agree that stopping water entering via the chain pipe is no simple matter. Perhaps the old design of angled chain pipe, opening aft, placed ahead of the windlass gypsy, is the best for normal purposes, but having a vertical straight through pipe I just stuff a rag into it. Of course, off soundings, one can break the chain and hang it off.

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[JunkMale]

I am arranging an anchor chain locker also. I have a SS naval (?) pipe fitting that I bought on ebay, it is vertical pipe, oval, 5omm dia, 60mm high, open ended, with a stub of rectangular stainless steel to hold a chainlink, flanged to deck with bolt holes.

I was a bit worried about using it, in case the locker became full of water, I was wondering about turning a wooden bung and attaching that.

Anyone seen this type of fitting in use? Can I just rely on a drain hole in the bow chain locker to drain away water or is a connection to the bilge required?

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[Hunter34]

Thanks

Many thanks for the replies.Just wanted to check before I got stuck in.

Andrew

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[muchy_]

I was thinking of doing the same thing but didn't know if it was acceptable but after reading this thread it sounds like a lot of chain lockers are done like this so I'm going ahead with it.

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[Mirelle]

Yes, a turned wooden bung, covered in canvas, with an eye at the upper end (for prising it out) and a hook at the lower end (for hooking the chain only when it is unshackled from the anchor) is the traditional fitting for this purpose. Rarely seen, but nice.

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[ean_p]

What sort of quantity of water will come aboard with for example 50meters of 10mm chain if it were all to be immersed and then all stored ???....and would not a double bottom in the chain locker be preferable so that the water etc could drain off and hence the chain not be laid in water for any length of time ????

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[Hunter34]

Good point

I was thinking of putting in a raised grill for the chain to rest on while the excess water goes through to be pumped out.
I guess its one of those projects that will evolve as I go along.

Andrew

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[Mirelle]

That\'s exactly what I\'ve got

I find that very little water and mud comes in with the chain - the grating is a bare inch clear of the bottom of the locker, and is quite adequate. More water will come down the pipe in heavy weather, rag stuffed in or not. I do like the idea of a drain pipe with a valve on it, though, and I will be fitting that as a "spring project"!

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