Question from Lawsy

[Philiz]

Lawsy has asked me to post this question for him as he has not yet mastered how to put pics on the forum.

'Could any forumites offer advise on how they would get up front to safely set Blue Moon's anchor, bearing in mind that both Sue & I are in our 50s & there is only limited space to climb out of the cockpit & get up front'.
Pictures to illustrate.

Thanks in advance on behalf of Lawsy! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Philiz]

Liz's advise is to adopt a youngster /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Lawsy]

Just to clarify, the canvas side panels in the 'tent' will be unzipped most of the time we are on the water. Indeed, if we ever get a decent summer, all of the tent will be down when out.

 

[Pinnacle]

Out the front hatch??

 

[Lawsy]

Not really on in it's current configuration. It is on a screw system that only allows the hatch to open part way. Plus, the hatch is smaller than it looks & I'm broader than you might imagine /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif.

 

[trying]

Much like ours. Although if we can be bothered we can open the centre section of the screen. We can squeeze through the deck hatch but to be honest I ususally carefully pick my way round the minimal side decks!

 

[hlb]

The hatch is there by law, it's an escape route in case of fire.



Waddayermeanitdontwork.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Just a thought but why not anchor from the stern? Presumably you won't be anchoring in anything other than decent weather.

 

[hlb]

Or better still, move the anchor to the stern if your going to need it, then just chuck it in. Course your going to need a method of letting it down and retrievel, but nothing difficult with a little boat.

 

[ebbtide]

Re: Access to the foredeck

[ QUOTE ]
The hatch is there by law, it's an escape route in case of fire

[/ QUOTE ]

"I'm broader than you might imagine"

Then you mustn't live with that 'impasse'.

If this reads like a 'money no object' solution, that isn't my style nor my OAP resource, promise!
But seriously, I wouldn't sleep (with or without company) on a boat that didn't have an escape route away from a possible inferno in the engine room or galley.

So I went to the Houdini guys who customized their sizeable hatch with locking handles that could be opened from inside and out (an ocean-racing gizmo). You won't see much change from £400 but that's boating for you.
After that, going forward to anchor should be much less of a problem.

But why not keep your anchor in the cockpit? All mine are. And there are several ways to transfer the fall of the anchor warp to a foredeck cleat/bow roller using a short line to avoid that perilous excursion . . .

 

[hlb]

Re: Access to the foredeck

So to sum up. First you need to be able to get your body out of the hatch, cos that is what it's for.

Secondly, you dont actually have to get out of the hatch for anchoring, well not on a little boat anyway. Thirdly umm, you need a deck.!! Fourthly. I got told to piss off to Scotland, forthwith. So you need to do that as well. No probs going to Scotland, just that Kwackers had my outboard. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

As said above, just chuck the anchor off the stern, or rig up a thingamigig, so you can operate it off the stern.

 

[Kawasaki]

Re: Access to the foredeck

Lobbing it off the arse end is ok in calm conditions and no flow as we know.
Crawling out the front is ok for a short runt as we know.

Lawsey aint the latter we know that.
Even forward the side rails are low.

Lobbed one off the back in Me first boat about the size of Blue Moon.
In the Menai Straits.

Probably about Our third trip out.

Hadn't a clue what was going on.

'Hmm, strange', said to swmbo

'There is water comin in over arse end'
Tide had flooded and was trampin a bit as it does there.
Couldn't shift the anchor.
Panic mode 1 set in.
Didn't even have a knife aboard in those early days!
Cept the one to spread the butter on the sarnies.
Let the whole lot go in the end!
Probably still there by Plas Newydd.
Unless some poor sod collected the rode on his prop later!

Anchoring off of the stern also brings the question of engine and prop getting involved Would not want to encourage a relative newcomer to boats to start off anchoring at the back for obvious reasons.

I have the answer.
Due to the Credit Crunch/ Resecion however.
I need 2 more customers for me next IRA course on anchoring.
'Lawsey hlb'? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[davedpc]

Re: Access to the foredeck

Rather than loose the anchor and chain etc. should you not have tied a fender and line to the end then pulled it out from a different direction or later in the day? Or did that dawn later with experience?

 

[davedpc]

I used to have an electric winch on a sealine 220 which is about the same size which was operated both from the foredeck and at the control

 

[SolentPhill]

I dont know how it works exactly but I have seen a pulley system so you do the work standing in the rear.

You have a rope alone the side of the boat, so the anchor goes down in the right place at the front but due to a pulley or 2 in places you tie off at the rear and store any lose rope in a basket at the back.

engineers step forward please and take over.

 

[DavidJ]

We always pick up bouys from the stern and let a line take us pointing towards the wind. So maybe attach a bouy with a ring to your anchor line at say 3 or 4 times the normal depth and treat it as a bouy pick up.

 

[hlb]

Re: Access to the foredeck

No yer clot. You just chuck the anchor in from the back, maybe pull it back there with a bit of string.

 

[Mr Googler]

I would attack the problem from a different angle.

Put a line through the front D ring (Paynter line) obviously no longer than the boat but long enough to reach the cockpit.

When you get to a lovely spot dig out the anchor and tie the anchor line to the paynter leaving plenty of anchor line left so you still have the end of it in the cockpit. pay out the line etc..
When the anchor digs all the weight will be on the paynter whilst the remaining anchor line coming to the cockpit will be slack.
When its come time to go pull it all in and thats that. All this can be done from the cockpit and either side of the boat. No scarey balancing acts required. The D ring is also a better anchor point on a boat of that size as it lets the front rise higher over waves as the pull is lower on the hull.
Who would like to recommend a knot for puting the two lines together!

 

[Kawasaki]

Re: Access to the foredeck

[ QUOTE ]
Rather than loose the anchor and chain etc. should you not have tied a fender and line to the end then pulled it out from a different direction or later in the day? Or did that dawn later with experience?

[/ QUOTE ]

Twas back in 84 the third time out on Me little 16ft Virgo cathedral hull thinghy.
I crapped meself when water started pouring in over the transom!

Read books and asked peeps for help after that.
The only 'Course' I could find at the time was the RYA Dayskipper theory.
Did that asap.
Thought 'Marvelous' now I know what I,m doing!
Made more mistakes.
Did the Yachtmaster theory next
Thought 'Marvelous' now I know what I,m doing!
Made more mistakes.

25 years later.
Now a Commercially endorsed Advanced Instructor.

Not making many mistakes but still learning.
I think every time I go to Sea I learn something.
Benefit of all the above is I can now pass a bit on to Newbies.
And it's good fun.
'Yer can't teach an old Dog new tricks'?
Rollocks




/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Kawasaki]

[ QUOTE ]

Who would like to recommend a knot for puting the two lines together!

[/ QUOTE ]

Rolling hitch or a Sheet bend.

Lawsey.
I think you might need to get knotted.
I,ll sort you out Son, next time We meet! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif