Double bow rollers

[Ric]

Why are most boats sold with a double bow roller? I guess that they may be important if you want to do a bermuda anchor - but still surprises me to see so many boats with a double roller. My boat has one and I have never found a use for it in thirteen years and I anchor out a great deal. Does anybody ever really use theirs?

 

[TimBennet]

bermuda anchor

Is that like a Bahamian moor, but much more expensive?

If so, I've used them quite regularly (especially in the Bahamas) as well as V shaped anchor configurations when expecting a right royal blow.

I think they are a 'nice to have' facility on serious cruising boats that anchor a lot, but probably not 'essential'.

 

[pyrojames]

Anchor lives on one, the mooring strop comes over the other. Previous boat, I used both for twin anchors in very windy conditions.

 

[NormanS]

Anchor lives on one, the mooring strop comes over the other. Previous boat, I used both for twin anchors in very windy conditions.

That's what I do.

Also, when rigging a Bahamian Moor, you only have a single chain coming aboard. The second rode is attached to the first under the water.

 

[doug748]

On the mooring the main line goes on one side, the backup on the other. At anchor, the chain goes in one, the snubbing line on t'oher.

Sometimes, but not very often, I leave the anchor on the bow like the others above, most often during a trip when I can't be rrrrsed to stow the anchor properly. You can also use it for a shoreline, convenient and secure because of the drop pin.

 

[TimBennet]

Also, when rigging a Bahamian Moor, you only have a single chain coming aboard. The second rode is attached to the first under the water.

Not necessarily. It's a real hassle to rig them like that.

If one rode is chain and rope, it's easier to unwind any tidal wraps with that than it is to rig the join under water.

 

[NormanS]

Not necessarily. It's a real hassle to rig them like that.

If one rode is chain and rope, it's easier to unwind any tidal wraps with that than it is to rig the join under water.

It may be easier, but it's then not a Bahamian Moor.

I am in the habit of leaving my boat at anchor in a sea loch in the Outer Hebrides, for four weeks each year. I use a Bahamian Moor. If I merely anchored with two anchors, with both rodes brought aboard, as you suggest, the two rodes would be all twisted together.

Getting back to the OP, when retrieving a second anchor, using the warping drum on the windlass, a second roller is almost essential.

 

[pallmania11]

great information
nice idea, fixme problem
thanks all

 

[Ric]

Even if I leave my boat on a mooring (which is not often so I am not an expert at this) I don't moor over the roller - I have always rigged a bridle through the fairleads to the cleats. I'm also very wary about bahamian (i.e. economical bermudan) moorings - if the anchor does end up dragging you then have an almost impossible job to retrieve both anchors. Nevertheless, interesting to hear that others find their second roller useful.

 

[Tranona]

Even if I leave my boat on a mooring (which is not often so I am not an expert at this) I don't moor over the roller - I have always rigged a bridle through the fairleads to the cleats. I'm also very wary about bahamian (i.e. economical bermudan) moorings - if the anchor does end up dragging you then have an almost impossible job to retrieve both anchors. Nevertheless, interesting to hear that others find their second roller useful.

Your method of mooring to a buoy is perhaps not suitable if you are on a permanent mooring. Usual to take the strop, which may well be chain over a bow roller. Prior to the advent of self stowing anchors this was not a problem as the single roller was free. However, twins became popular for the very reason that people find them useful. Of course if you never moor on a swinging mooring but berth in a marina and anchor or pick up a temporary buoy from time to time, the second roller has little value.

 

[charles_reed]

Why are most boats sold with a double bow roller? I guess that they may be important if you want to do a bermuda anchor - but still surprises me to see so many boats with a double roller. My boat has one and I have never found a use for it in thirteen years and I anchor out a great deal. Does anybody ever really use theirs?

Don't know if you're referring to rollers in tandem (usually to stow and self-launch an anchor) or side by side (so you have two alternative anchors to suit the different bottoms).

I can see that you're a minimalist - but nearly all the people who have either or fitted seem to use them quite happily.
In fact I converted my single roller into a tandem one to be able to safely stow the shank of the bower CQR.

 

[William_H]

Useful or not I think you will find the twin rollers one each side of the forestay tang is to maintain symetry of forestay in the centre. olewill

 

[[2574]]

This is ours here: http://kb.rocna.com/kb/File:Nauticat-39_custom-roller.jpg

In the photo the snubber line is coming back aboard via the spare roller but normally, as others have said, it has the purpose of accommodating the mooring strop. I can also deploy the Rocna from starboard roller and the Fortress from port. Pleased with the setup.

 

[Ric]

This is ours here: http://kb.rocna.com/kb/File:Nauticat-39_custom-roller.jpg

In the photo the snubber line is coming back aboard via the spare roller but normally, as others have said, it has the purpose of accommodating the mooring strop. I can also deploy the Rocna from starboard roller and the Fortress from port. Pleased with the setup.

Not sure why you lead the snubber back over the roller. The boat lies more stably both at anchor and on a mooring if you rig a v-snubber via the fairleads back to the cleats.

 

[[2574]]

Not sure why you lead the snubber back over the roller. The boat lies more stably both at anchor and on a mooring if you rig a v-snubber via the fairleads back to the cleats.

Easy, convenient, low chafe. Not noticed any stability issues.

 

[doug748]

This is ours here: http://kb.rocna.com/kb/File:Nauticat-39_custom-roller.jpg

In the photo the snubber line is coming back aboard via the spare roller but normally, as others have said, it has the purpose of accommodating the mooring strop. I can also deploy the Rocna from starboard roller and the Fortress from port. Pleased with the setup.

Grand, that looks a very nice set up.

The other case where a double roller is invaluable is when putting out two anchors in a v formation, in strong conditions or where a wind change is expected. A lot of people advocate this as the best way to get out 2 anchors. But I really don't care if this is correct, it is what people say, I don't want to provoke an anchor thread, please :nonchalance:

I always use the right side roller as it is handy to handle the anchor to the right. If I was left handed, or with left handed crew, I guess the opposite would be more convenient. The more I think about the matter, the more pleased I am to have twin rollers - I think they were an optional extra, the racers don't like them.

 

[Tranona]

The roller you use for the bower is usually determined by the location of the windlass feed which is on the right hand side for a good lead for the chain. My windlass has a drum on the left which can be useful for handling lazy lines or setting a second anchor with mostly rope rode.

 

[Birdseye]

Why are most boats sold with a double bow roller? I guess that they may be important if you want to do a bermuda anchor - but still surprises me to see so many boats with a double roller. My boat has one and I have never found a use for it in thirteen years and I anchor out a great deal. Does anybody ever really use theirs?

Most certainly. One roller is for the anchor and chain, the other for ropes. Mooring ropes for example. Any sort of rope where its an advantage to be able to use an electtric windlass.