Chain locker pile up.

[AMOREST]

Just googling around how to stop chain piling up under the windlass (actually piling up against the back wall of the chain locker because the windlass platform is a bit far aft)

I came across this. - Genius idea.

Chaine qui s'entasse et bloque sous le guindeau, ma solution

But has anyone actually got a robust version working well ?

This looks like a real possibility.

https://www.hisse-et-oh.com/store/medias/sailing/61a/e04/a4c/large/61ae04a4c1c64565d86622fa.jpg

Cheers

 

[sailoppopotamus]

This is extremely interesting to me, as I have very little space under the windlass and have to push the chain forward every meter or so. Looks like a good idea, but the construction seems very flimsy. What if you're trying to haul the anchor in 30 knots of wind? In such cases it's very likely the rode would at times be under some tension, which could cause the whole thing to pop out.

 

[MontyMariner]

Looks like a great idea. I was thinking of just putting in a 'ski slope' from just under the chain drop under the windlass forward to the centre of the locker.

 

[AMOREST]

This is extremely interesting to me, as I have very little space under the windlass and have to push the chain forward every meter or so. Looks like a good idea, but the construction seems very flimsy. What if you're trying to haul the anchor in 30 knots of wind? In such cases it's very likely the rode would at times be under some tension, which could cause the whole thing to pop out.

I was thinking a metallic solution would be more robust - and using the convenient hole in the front of the Lofran Cayman

I agree it can not be unreliable or a fankle

So - if it is set up correctly- then the tension in the deployed chain should - just - rotate the pulley to pick up the slack chain and no more. It can’t be in the load path. - I may experiment.

 

[AMOREST]

Looks like a great idea. I was thinking of just putting in a 'ski slope' from just under the chain drop under the windlass forward to the centre of the locker.

Yes. Seen a good ski slope idea also.

 

[AMOREST]

Better pic of the Ski Slope

 

[Halo]

Very interesting! Will have a measure up and see what I can do. Let’s see a photo of your version if you do one !

 

[sailoppopotamus]

Another thought: Since I have to push every meter forward, I don't always flake it correctly. So, sometimes, when dropping the anchor, the chain going into the windlass has to work its way out of under the chain I've mistakenly thrown on top of it. This would impose a load on the contraption shown, likely pulling it from its mount and potentially jamming it against the windlass. I'm not saying this isn't a great idea, I'm just looking for things that can go wrong I'd really like this on my boat.

 

[Neeves]

Next time you are considering re-galvanisng, replacing chain or windlass or buying a new yacht - think of smaller chain.

The worship of catenary is now very last century (but highly relevant for older more traditional yachts, and their owners). Current chain strength seems about right (as chain failure or stretching has been unheard of for years, decades) and there is adequate higher tensile chain readily available. You have more space in your locker, can use a smaller windlass/motor, use less electricity and can use smaller power cables - towering would be reduced.

Its not only me that thinks smaller chain is advantageous and I'm simply saying what Starzinger and Dashew have said much more convincingly.

One of the owners of this business down sized the chain to 8mm for his yacht:


- so the idea has endorsement from a reputable builder

Norman R. Wright & Sons – Custom Boats Since 1909

The top 2 drums contain 50m of 8mm chain, the bottom 2 drums contain 75m of 6mm chain. The 6mm chain has the same strength as new 8mm chain, both were tested for tensile strength.



Jonathan

 

[Roberto]

Just googling around how to stop chain piling up under the windlass (actually piling up against the back wall of the chain locker because the windlass platform is a bit far aft)

I came across this. - Genius idea.

Chaine qui s'entasse et bloque sous le guindeau, ma solution

But has anyone actually got a robust version working well ?

This looks like a real possibility.

https://www.hisse-et-oh.com/store/medias/sailing/61a/e04/a4c/large/61ae04a4c1c64565d86622fa.jpg

Cheers

I tried the transversal bar with two clips, on one side the bar is pushed down so a ring it's needed, on the other side it is pulled up so just a sturdy U clip; it is then easy to take everything quickly away towards the end. Check beforehand the position of the anchor shaft with regards to the rollers position when the anchor is at rest.
Also, I tried a single rubber wheel and found it definitely needs some sort of notches so the chain can make the roller spin and transport the lazy side of chain.
So far not yet found paradise but trying little by little.

 

[Refueler]

An old trick was to use a traffic cone stood in the locker .... or similar so that chain drops and is deflected by the cone ...

If the chain locker is an open hatch on deck job - I don't really see the problem. Most chain lockers with problem are where chain drops through naval pipe into a bilge space in the bow ...
My 25 - suffers that build up of chain below the pipe .. pipe is plastic that is fitted to base of naval pipe and exits down on the locker ... quite often I can make the boat rock side to side and hear the chain fall ... I have considered a plywood slope to force chain aft into the larger space.

 

[Daydream believer]

We put a slope of stainless steel in the club committee boat & all that happened was that the chain collected at the bottom of the slope & just formed a pyramid that still blocked the chain recovery.

 

[Boathook]

Looks like a great idea. I was thinking of just putting in a 'ski slope' from just under the chain drop under the windlass forward to the centre of the locker.

It's something that I have done for my chain etc, as the windlass is over a shallow section of the locker. Made mine out of ply and used a bit of 40mm waste pipe for the 'end' of the slope which makes the chain come up more smoothly.
Unfortunately no pictures of this at present.

 

[Stemar]

It's something that I have done for my chain etc, as the windlass is over a shallow section of the locker. Made mine out of ply and used a bit of 40mm waste pipe for the 'end' of the slope which makes the chain come up more smoothly.
Unfortunately no pictures of this at present.

Does a Catalac have a deep section? Mine doesn't!

I only have 10m of chain, the rest of my rode is rope and, left to itself, it quickly fills up the part of the locker under the windlass, so I have to keep pulling it out of the way.

 

[Boathook]

Does a Catalac have a deep section? Mine doesn't!

I only have 10m of chain, the rest of my rode is rope and, left to itself, it quickly fills up the part of the locker under the windlass, so I have to keep pulling it out of the way.

I use the port 'sail' locker. Still store other bits there as well.

Edit. Picture added. The bulkhead separating the deep and shallow lockers is to the right of the windlass. The right hand foot switch is in the shallow locker. An inch aft of the windlass is another bulkhead separating bunks from the lockers. Space was tight !
This is an early picture. I have modified the bow roller and got rid of the chain swivel plus a few other bits.

View attachment 1706693167277.jpeg

 

[Stemar]

Every Catalac I've seen is different!

I think I'd want to keep the anchor chain coming aboard in the centre of the boat, but it did cross my mind to move the windlass to above the port locker and put a block where the windlass is now, but I'm getting old and lazy...

 

[MontyMariner]

We put a slope of stainless steel in the club committee boat & all that happened was that the chain collected at the bottom of the slope & just formed a pyramid that still blocked the chain recovery.

Yes, that's always going to be a problem unless you can drop the chain onto something like a lateral wedge to make it flake.