anchor chain stowage

[pathfinder]

I have extended my anchor chain (8mm) by 25metres unforunately when hauling it in now it piles in a pyramid shape in the chain locker and can jam the windlass.I have heard of people using a traffic cone to overcome this but the bottom of the locker is too narrow to fix a cone on.Has anybody come up with an alternative to prevent this happening,the only access to the locker is from below.Any suggestions would be welcome.
Regards,
Pathfinder.

 

[RupertW]

I have a similar issue but I can deal with it from above so every time I lift the anchor I have to hold a broom handle and windlass remote in my hands and keep whacking the chain into shape.

My regret is that when I spent £700 getting a new chain I was far too stingy to spend over £2k on stainless steel chain which would have fallen slinkily into the bottom of the locker. My locker is deep enough but has a sloping bulkhead which allows the chain to build up the slope.

 

[Salty John]

You can try lubricating the chain to reduce its angle of repose.

More practical would be to experiment with a partial division plate across the locker so that the chain first fills up one side and then tumbles over into the other side. You're trying to force the chain into a smaller area so the pyramid formed isn't as high as the present broader based pyramid. This worked for me, needs a bit of trial and error.

 

[Tranona]

There isn't an easy answer. You can only experiment as SJ suggests with diverters to direct the chain to the deepest part to reduce the size of the pyramid.