Muddy and smelly chain stowage

[gunnarsilins]

In Sweden many of the anchorages is on mud/clay. I´m tired of getting tons of mud into the bilges, and a having the chain spread all over a huge chain locker (or rather the entire bow area of the boat) resulting in snags and catches when letting chain out.

So I plan to make a massive grp cylinder above waterline, accessible through a hatch on deck and draining overboard. This would stop the dirt to enter the bilges and allow the chain to be flushed with a couple of buckets with water.

1. Now I wonder, are the any "ideal" dimensions to consider for chain storage, I mean diametre/height proportions so the chain stows itself nice and tidy without resulting in the "pile" to fall over itself.

2. Does anybody have any knowledge for the minimal vertical distance between the hawse-pipe and top of the chain-pile for self-stowing. The horisontal distance from where the chain exits the (vertical) windlass to the hawse pipe is about 15 cms.

Any thoughts on this matter would be appreciated!

 

[markdj]

Mmm, I remember on my dad's last boat, that we cut the anchor locker in two horizontally really because the extra shelf was good for stowage - there was a hatch into the chain locker from the forward cabin.

We put a long pipe through the shelf into the bottom half of the locker. This meant that EVERY time we pulled up the anchor, someone had to go and open the hatch and keep the chain moving in to stop it piling up and blocking the long pipe.

On our current boat the depth of the locker would be about 2.5 to 3 foot deep and the chain still manages to climb fairly close to the top before falling to the side. It all depends on the size of chain, how much you have and the directing pipe on the windlass.

We have half inch chain and about 40 metres of it I think. The chain does create more of an anthill than a sand dune when stowing. Our chain locker has 2 drains going to each side of the bow in small stainless half cups covering the holes. If the chain creates an anthill then go for something more like that in shape and make with a very slight tilt so that it fills up nicely. As for the height, 40m and a 2.5 foot anthill !!! your guess is as good as mine...

MDJ

PS. For an easy solution go for 10 metres of chain and the rest rope - this would give enough weight to keep the anchor digging in at a good low angle.

 

[Mirelle]

There is a table of volumes for chain of different sizes and lengths in Skene's Elements, I think.

Basically, to self stow, the chain locker should be a tall narrow pyramid, looking a bit like an Egyptian obelisk, with of course the aft face opening to clear any blockages, and extending up to the deck.

Needless to say, I did not do this......opting instead for a flat topped locker which makes a seat and a wooden chute to feed the chain to it, and only the first 30 metres of my chain self stows!

I did something very heretical and made the chain locker a plywood box lined with GRP with no drain holes at all. I just muck it out once or twice a year. In my case this has worked rather well.