Chain bunching up in the locker..

S

SamanthaTabs

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When I've got almost all the chain out it bunches up on retrieving, stock pile effect, and then jams the gypsy.

Chain is stored in a tray directly underneath anchor winch and chain goes through (need to measure but reckon a 50 mm) hole into that locker. Obviously I shove the chain over as I go, not always effective.

Solutions? :)
 
Locker deep enough to get a good fall. Sometime possible to use a cone like a traffic cone to encourage it to fall in more than one heap. Stainless steel chain is better as the links don't stick, but several times the price.

So, there isn't a magic solution. Most anchor lockers are in a part of the boat where you can't get enough fall. Some boats have their anchor lockers further aft, just forward of the mast, but few people want to share their sleeping quarters with a load of smelly old chain, never mind the 3 or 4m of chain running across the foredeck!
 
a good chain locker will have a steeply sloping base so that incoming chain falls in a heap to the bottom and then piles up evenly on top. Using a cone is another way of introducing a steep slope. The other advantage of a self-regulating heap of chain is that it feeds out without jamming.
 
On my boat the windlass is a Lofrans Tigress, which is designed to drop the chain through a hole after it has turned through about 90 degrees. That never worked well because the hole was right at the back of the chain locker. The solution was fairly difficult to do, but works. Firstly the original stripper arm on the windlass was removed and the projecting part of the casting that it fitted to was cut off. that allowed the chain to pass about 180 degrees around the gypsy and drop over a plastic roller fitted ahead of the windlass, into the deepest part of the locker. That worked, but the chain could bunch and jam between gypsy and roller, and once the chain did its party trick; stuck to the gypsy and carried on round until it met and went under the incoming chain, causing it to come off the gypsy and drop the entire chain. The final solution was to do away with the roller and make a stainless steel ramp to take the chain down to the locker without the horizontal run that caused bunching. This was coupled with a new stripper arm fitted to prevent the chain doing its party trick.
 
The answer is to shove the chain over.

But Ive only sailed about 80 odd different boats so when it comes to an anchor debate WTF do I know??? :rolleyes:
 
capnsensible said:
The answer is to shove the chain over.

But Ive only sailed about 80 odd different boats so when it comes to an anchor debate WTF do I know??? :rolleyes:
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Judging by my experience (no boat of own, so multiple charters and flotillas) a majority of those odd 80 would have had the bunching problem. Glad to know a cone works since I imagined such a solution. Have always had to use a boat-hook or winch handle wielded like a hook to pull the chain away from the heap...

Mike.
 
mjcoon said:
Judging by my experience (no boat of own, so multiple charters and flotillas) a majority of those odd 80 would have had the bunching problem. Glad to know a cone works since I imagined such a solution. Have always had to use a boat-hook or winch handle wielded like a hook to pull the chain away from the heap...

Mike.
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If anyone can show me how to use a (excuse me while I larf) cone on either of the 2 yachts I own right now to solve the bunchy chainy thing, then I will happily buy them a cone. Filled with the ice cream of their choice.

CS
 
Splonking is the answer.

Well that's what we call it when the anchor retrieval person disappears down the forehatch, puts their head down the chain locker via the already cleared forepeak bunk, knocks about and generally redistributes the chain by hand, every 10m or so. Pain in the wotsit but after half a world we haven't found a better solution- neither a cone or a stick would do the trick.
 
Same, same. We can lift 30m of chain and then we need to lie on the foredeck and shove the 30m aside. It is impossible to shove 30m of chain very far or effectively and the next 10-20m can also jamb. Most of the time its not an issue - but becomes so when the chain is muddy, its raining and sea a bit lumpy. For obvious reasons I'm the chain man and for equally obvious reasons I have a hankering to anchor where we only use 30m or less, after that (ie more than 30m) does not matter, so use it all. I have a friend with a very inaccessible locker - he has a dedicated pole with a little 'T' fitting on the end to shove the chain about.

Jonathan
 
I have a Lofrans Tigress feeding into a fairly shallow locker. I have 210 feet of chain, I can retrieve about the first 100 ft before it jams.

At this point I use a piece of 1/2 in stainless steel rod about 4 ft long deployed through the hawse pipe to encourage the pile to fall sternwards.

Repeat as required.

Only the last bit should be allowed to go forward, other wise if it is rough the chain pile turns upside down making deployment impossible. Ask me how I know this.
 
"Splonking" is what I do, will adopt shoving chain over more frequently. Appreciate replies :)

Cap'n S, you unboubtedly know a darn sight more than I ever will! Don't like ice cream though.. Belated thanks to you both for giving me an excellent medical kit list :)
 
If the cone on the bottom doesn't work (and there is no reason why it shouldn't), see if it's possible to cut 1/4 of it out said cone, and attach it like a funnel under the hole so it funnels the chain to the deepest part of your locker.
 
SamanthaTabs said:
In the name of vanity, how the heck do I get the grit, mud and rust out from under fingernails or just accept it as part of the boat look?
(Think I've accepted it actually...)
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Well- a) get the other half to do it; b) wear gloves- cheapo gardening/builders are best c) bake bread :) d) wear your boat muck with pride.
 
SamanthaTabs said:
In the name of vanity, how the heck do I get the grit, mud and rust out from under fingernails or just accept it as part of the boat look?
(Think I've accepted it actually...)
Click to expand...
Erm, with a nail brush?


Anyway, just so you all know, I can lift all of my anchor chain without having to shove it about or anything. It comes up, goes over the gypsy and down the hole without problems where it makes a nice heap that also causes no problems.

I just thought you'd all be pleased to know that.
 
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