Pageant anchor locker

[Randolph]

I'm looking at buying a Pageant. The anchor locker is very small and too close to the deck - so the chain won't drop. Before anyone suggests getting someone to pull it down from below, it will mostly just be me and the dog.
Not enough space for a reasonable length of chain either.
I'm thinking of moving the hawse pipe so the chain goes down a length of drainpipe into the fwd locker under the V berth. Anyone done this? If so should I just let the chain pile on the bottom, or should I build a shelf for it halfway up? The anchor locker drains into this locker anyway, so drainage won't change.
Any advice gratefully received..

 

[scruff]

I understand what you are proposing from a weight distribution point of view, but wont a hawse pipe running through the middle of the double bunk be somewhat inconvenient?

 

[Neeves]

Assuming you have accepted any inconvenience of a hawse pipe the other issue is storing dirty chain in the accomodation. However if the existing anchor locker already drains into that 'berth' area - it will not make much difference.

I don't know the yacht, at all. You need to ensure there is enough room under the 'new' hawse pipe to allow the chain to spread, or not, and thus not block the hawse pipe. Iff the hawse pipe blocks - you might be worse off than you are now.

Another option - if you are retrieving by hand? - is your chain oversized, might you manage with a smaller chain, which will take up much less room.

Jonathan

 

[Randolph]

Plenty of space in the locker under berth, so chain will spread out OK, smaller chain not an option.
I posted hoping anyone familiar with the Pageant would comment on how they cope with the chain locker arrangement.

 

[Tranona]

No reason why you can't do it. I have had a similar arrangement for years. The problems are first having a vertically opening hawse pipe rather than the usual one that goes through 90 degrees. I have an SL Anchorman windlass that has this built in, but if no windlass then you need a means of sealing the hawse when not in use. Second, from experience an open top 3 sided chute is better than a drain pipe as even 6mm chain (which is the right size for your boat) can lock up and jam. Third, and perhaps most important the chain may not spread out in the locker as you would like, mainly because there is not enough fall and the links lock together and form a cone shaped pile at the bottom of the pipe or chute. This is where the latter is better as it is easier to clear.

The reality is getting a self stowing chain locker in the bows of a small boat is very difficult. The alternative that may work is to build a deep locker further back against the forward side of the main bulkhead. This needs to be large enough in cross section and deep enough to take the chain without a need to spread out horizontally. This type of arrangement was common in the past when the forepeak was not a sleeping cabin or in working boats.

 

[Randolph]

Good points. I was hoping that the extra drop would overcome the effect of a 90 degree hawse. If not there are a couple of other options to keep (most of) the water out. In any case I would position it with a future windlass in mind. Excellent idea about a 3 sided chute, perhaps with a clip on cover to save any splashes.

 

[Mister E]

My Pageant had an access hatch to the smaller upper anchor locker.
The rode and chain used to stick there and had to be helped to drop to a larger locker.
I was going to sort it out but sold the boat before doing so.

 

[Randolph]

I'll have a look next week - possibly cut out the bottom of the small anchor locker so chain falls all the way down. Never thought of that! Funnily enough the attachment for the bitter end is in the lower locker, but hole between the two not big enough for chain to drop.