Anchoring by hawse pipe in the keel,a faired in piece when hauled.

[Mrnotming]

Perhaps a section of the keel might be lowered,subject to proper design,so that no access to the foredeck is necessary to set the anchor.
All the weight of the gear would be central in the vessel when underway,not so when deployed.
There might be a tendency to weathercock,although if the deployment was from the forward end of the keel this might reduce.
The use of weighted cable on a drum might work better than chain but twist would always be a factor
The Anchor itself would have to fit snugly when retrieved.
Slippy plastics as a guide perhaps.
Might reduce tendency to snatch due to being nearer centre of weight distribution of vessel.
Hauling gear might need to be beefier.
Effect on motion of boat when anchored?
Just having a think!

 

[NormanS]

Mount mast in a vertical tube through the boat. When you want to anchor, just pull out a pin, and the boat is nailed to the seabed. (Copyright spud-legs).

 

[Mrnotming]

Used to do this with a fireball,just necessary to capsize first!stinking mud!

 

[bbg]

I assume you are posting more under the "tech and design" part of this forum rather than the "Yacht racing" part.

If the idea is to centralise weight, an easier solution would be to run the anchor chain back over the foredeck to the mast where the windlass was situated and let it drop into a pit inside the boat near the mast. You would have to deal with problems of mud / water coming in so the area would probably need to be sealed with both a very robust pump and potentially a way to rinse of the anchor chain (so you'd need an access port).

It would also interfere with fore hatches, so some thinking would need to be done to accommodate that. It would be ideal if the chain could run in a small channel with a hinged cover, so the chain was no exposed most of the time, but access was available if necessary.

 

[Poignard]

'spose you wanted to attach a trip line. Would you have to don snork mask and flippers and swim underneath?

 

[Woodlouse]

Some superyachts already do this. The anchor and chain isn't in or near the keel, but in the forefoot and either uses doors or an anchor that sits flush with the hull when retracted.

 

[Mrnotming]

That's interesting Woodlouse,
Maybe it's one of these ideas like Velcro,which the Christmas lectures proved was not scalable!
So a sort of vast bomb bay like locker could be made accommodate all anchoring desires,maybe the bow thruster also!
Shudder,hate to fall in there!

 

[Woodlouse]

I expect there are many reasons such ideas have not found their way down to smaller boats. Cost will be one and probably weight another. I would expect such a system to take up a fair amount of space in what would be the forward cabin too since the anchor, windlass and chain wouldn't be able to be stored right in the bow as is normal these days.

 

[Birdseye]

We like to think of ourselves as old sea dogs, eyes fixed on the horizon, just ready to sail the southern ocean if it werent for the wife and the kids. Boatbuilders know that the reality is that we need a floating cottage that wont go very far offshore if at all, needs to be big and shiny inside to get permission to buy from SWMBO and is highly unlikely ever to be out in a real F6 or greater. They build accordingly - big shower compartment, tiny wet locker, lots freeboard and windage, light weight cos materials cost money, sod all cockpit lockers because they take space from the two aft doubles etc etc. You get much more focus on the shiny interior bits than you will see on things like anchoring kit.

 

[Keen_Ed]

Some superyachts already do this. The anchor and chain isn't in or near the keel, but in the forefoot and either uses doors or an anchor that sits flush with the hull when retracted.

Apparently dealing with weed etc is a bit of a nightmare.

 

[Neil_Y]

Seen these in the Caribbean, looks weird as you don't see any anchor chain in front of the boat so at a quick glance in a busy anchorage it looks like they are underway, so they need an obvious anchoring ball.

 

[lw395]

Some superyachts already do this. The anchor and chain isn't in or near the keel, but in the forefoot and either uses doors or an anchor that sits flush with the hull when retracted.

Wally Yachts IIRC.
Many £££ and $$$$$$

 

[Woodlouse]

Wally Yachts IIRC.
Many £££ and $$$$$$

Well, you need something else to warrant the asking price to compliment the titanium rod guard rails.