Sealine S34 anchoring.

[thefatlady]

On the Sealine S34, the winch, chain and anchor are buried beneath the deck inside the chain locker, competely out of sight.

How do you know how much chain is out?

How do you know when the anchor comes up?

How do you attach a tripping line?

I suppose a chain counter could be fitted, but in my experience they rarely work for long. No point in marking the chain if it can’t be seen. I suppose there could be a second person watching through the open locker, but that is not always possible.

At least on the S37/8 the capstan is visible and rotations (0.3m) can be counted.

The S34 winch also looks pretty lightweight and does not appear to have the facility for a capstan. The chain also seems to be stored within a compartment, which does not lend itself to fresh water flushing.

Someone please tell me that this is not a triumph of cosmetics over function and that it is really easy.

 

[photodog]

It is a triumph of cosmetics over function. We needed to have someone on the bow anyways to operate the foot buttons for the windlass... so we never found it too much of a pain... though it is almost impossible to snub the anchor... the real problem that we had was that the breaker that was installed was A) Totally hidden 2 layers down below the forward berth...(We had a bowthruster so I think that it had been especially inconvenietly sited to allow for the wireing for this..) B) Vastly undersized.

So any sort of a continous run bringing the anchor up would inevitabley result in a annoying trip or 3... which then required a dismantling of the forward berth to get at the breaker.

So make sure that you are fully aware of the location of the breaker before use... ours was a 99 btw so later boats may have been sorted.

 

[hlb]

triumph of cosmetics over function .

Thats the problem with Sea LIne, but also there success. Built for folk that dont go anywhere. which most folk dont. What in another boat, would be a gas locker, is just another double bedroom for Sealine.

 

[thefatlady]

The boat I saw was 2004, so they hadn't fixed it by then. Is there no helm winch switch?

I have had several Sealines and found them mostly to be good on functional design but dubious on quality. My Sunseeker, on the other hand, was good on quality but lacking in practicality.

However, this piece of Sealine design looks like a disaster.

 

[[2068]]

>How do you know how much chain is out?
I count in seconds looking at my watch, having measured how much gets deployed in 20secs of "down" windlass whilst ashore. The helm station switch gets used to lower the anchor.

>How do you know when the anchor comes up?
Open the anchor locker, stand in it, use the deck switches, and watch it come up!

>How do you attach a tripping line?
Not sure that many do this, but you could let one go down the same hole as the anchor chain, then boathook it around and up as needed.

Hosepipe goes into the storage compartment for flushing via an access hatch.

 

[[2068]]

would be a gas locker, is just another double bedroom for Sealine.

Huh? Exactly how much gas are you expecting to store on a 28ft boat? It stores 2*907's, which is enough.

 

[Elessar]

On the Sealine S34, the winch, chain and anchor are buried beneath the deck inside the chain locker, completely out of sight.

How do you know how much chain is out?

How do you know when the anchor comes up?

How do you attach a tripping line?

I suppose a chain counter could be fitted, but in my experience they rarely work for long. No point in marking the chain if it can’t be seen. I suppose there could be a second person watching through the open locker, but that is not always possible.

At least on the S37/8 the capstan is visible and rotations (0.3m) can be counted.

The S34 winch also looks pretty lightweight and does not appear to have the facility for a capstan. The chain also seems to be stored within a compartment, which does not lend itself to fresh water flushing.

Someone please tell me that this is not a triumph of cosmetics over function and that it is really easy.

I can't see the windlass from the helm on the S37, and I inevitably lower it from there. I use my stopwatch - metres required x3 in seconds.
Coming back up - the motor speeds up as the weight reduces so you get a feel for "nearly there". I'm usually pulsing the motor when I hear the clatter on the anchor reaching the roller.
Tripping line or weed removal - acrobatics required.
Weighed anchor in Shell beach, Herm last year and set sail for Jersey. Boat not right, slow to plane, fuel usage up. A big clump of weed had made the clatter noise and stopped the windlass, and I merrily set off with 6ft of chain hanging out of the front of the boat thinking it was up. Amazingly the anchor didn't hit the topsides. So the sticky out design has its plus points, but the lack of visibility isn't ideal. The fact that I'm too lazy to go on deck doesn't help. From that you can read I'm too lazy to fresh water flush the chain too but that is straightforward on the 37 if you have the urge.
And after a night at anchor last year the Delta was well and truly stuck in the mud. I pulled in as much chain as possible and motored forward over the anchor. The whole of the front deck of the S37 bent noticeably as the chain went taut. It sprung back as the load was released but even so it was a worrying amount of flex when the load is effectively vertical. I let more chain back out and pulled on the chain in changing directions and after about 1/2 hr it finally let go. Just before it was going to get dumped in fact.

 

[moonraker 36]

OMG!!! I think i will stick to my 1972 moonraker!(although it as just had a 20k refit)
if the last post is anyting to go by.

 

[thefatlady]

>How do you know how much chain is out?
I count in seconds looking at my watch, having measured how much gets deployed in 20secs of "down" windlass whilst ashore. The helm station switch gets used to lower the anchor.

>How do you know when the anchor comes up?
Open the anchor locker, stand in it, use the deck switches, and watch it come up!

>How do you attach a tripping line?
Not sure that many do this, but you could let one go down the same hole as the anchor chain, then boathook it around and up as needed.

Hosepipe goes into the storage compartment for flushing via an access hatch.

Ok, counting seconds is an approximate way.

Standing in the locker using the deck switches is unacceptable, especially when single-handed or in bad weather. At least you have confirmed that there is a helm switch - I wondered from Photodog's post.

I sometimes want to attach a tripping line and found it just about possible on an S37. I had a permanently attached link from the anchor back to the chain which I could release and connect to. This could be possible on an S34, but the line attachment hole is buried way forward in the bow and is much more difficult to get to. Getting the link back in place afterwards would be difficult.

For flushing, do you mean that there is an access hatch in the chain enclosure? The point is that the chain appears almost totally enclosed beneath the winch with only small holes for ingress of chain and egress of water.

Another question is how to fit a strain-relief yoke. The chain comes out way under the bow and appears virtually inaccessible.

Thanks for your comments. Bear in mind that mine result from a quick look at an S34 and not from experience of using one.

 

[thefatlady]

Elessar, I had an S37 and, from memory, I could see the top of the capstan. I painted a black line on top and counted revolutions at 3 per metre. I also painted red markers on the chain.

See my last post for tripping line fitting. Flushing no problem.

I found the S37 arrangement just about useable, but the S34 looks a lot worse.

I have had various Sealines since the very early 90s and this aspect of the design seems to have got progressvely worse.

 

[cloud7]

anchoring

here we go again, typicial , should a good skipper not check out the operating of a craft before going to sea


(A) dual switch at helm and on deck

(B) trip easy to access in 5 years mine has never tripped.

(C) with experience the anchor comes onto the roller to let you know its up.

(D) safety line is on the end of chain

(E) chain can be washed with fresh water the bow locker is self draining

(F) sealine owners don't go anywhere ? no comment

 

[Nautibusiness]

triumph of cosmetics over function .

Thats the problem with Sea LIne, but also there success. Built for folk that dont go anywhere. which most folk dont. What in another boat, would be a gas locker, is just another double bedroom for Sealine.

...that would probably be why the Sales Director at Sealine owns a Jeanneau?

Or did last time I saw him.

 

[thefatlady]

here we go again, typicial, should a good skipper not check out the operating of a craft before going to sea

I don't see the relevance of that comment. Who do you think is not doing so?

Since you have an S34, your input is valued.
A and B - good.
C - I don't enjoy the heavy thud and alignment noise as the anchor hits the roller.
D - define safety line. Clearly not a tripping line.
E - I would expect any chain locker to be self draining. It's being able to get the water over the chain which concerns me.
F- Thanks for your response. I was looking for sensible answers/information, not the ill-informed sniping that emanates from some.

Nautibusiness. I am well aware of the shortcomings of Sealine (and some others). However, to counter your silly example, I purchased my last Sealine from a member of the Murrant family. He clearly thought they were OK.

 

[Nautibusiness]

I don't see the relevance of that comment. Who do you think is not doing so?

Since you have an S34, your input is valued.
A and B - good.
C - I don't enjoy the heavy thud and alignment noise as the anchor hits the roller.
D - define safety line. Clearly not a tripping line.
E - I would expect any chain locker to be self draining. It's being able to get the water over the chain which concerns me.
F- Thanks for your response. I was looking for sensible answers/information, not the ill-informed sniping that emanates from some.

Nautibusiness. I am well aware of the shortcomings of Sealine (and some others). However, to counter your silly example, I purchased my last Sealine from a member of the Murrant family. He clearly thought they were OK.

Geez
You are having a bad day aren't you.
Chill out, it was a joke!

The Sealine is a nice boat. ALL are compromises and some you only realise once you take ownership.

I suggest you go and lie down for an hour and see if you feel any better afterwards.

...I would be a little concerned if a member of the Murrant family didn't think his boats were any good. Wouldn't you?

Have a relaxing second half to the day!

 

[ancientsailor]

Tripping line - easier than it sounds?

I can only speak from photographs of the boat, but you might be able to adapt a technique used on big ships.

To be fair it’s a “highly engineered” approach and you’d have to be keen to do it this way!

1. Attach the tripping line to the anchor
2. Bring the tripping line on board (outboard of everything)
3. Attach the tripping line in a series of short coils (each only a couple of metres) to (eg) the pulpit. Use very light line that will snap under strain (eg cotton). Work from forward aft

The anchor goes down, the first coil follows it, then the second until just enough line is out – with the end still on board.

I have used it when beaching single handed – rigging the tripping line on one quarter and the (rope) rode on the other. I then drop an anchor from the stern as I approach the beach, and let the tripping line and rode go out.

Given the configuration from photos, you might be able to rig a short tail to the anchor and bring that back in board as a permanent(?) attachment.

Believe it or not, we used to use this to attach anchor buoys. It first meant lowering a seaman in a bosn’s chair! Buoying the anchor was necessary when the anchor was dropped off a berth, the ship pushed alongside and then the anchor used to haul the bows off the berth.

Well, in my defence, it is a cold wet Sunday afternoon here ...

 

[thefatlady]

Thanks ancientsailor. I have used tripping lines many times, in the UK and in the Med and with a buoy at times. It's your item 1 that is the problem on this boat. The anchor is tucked right under the bow.

On the S37 I did rig a short tail to the anchor and bring that back in board as a permanent attachment and, as I said earlier, that may work here. I could even make that tail longer, leave both ends attached and attach the tripping line part-way along it, allowing enough chain such that the chain could go slack if I needed to use the tripping line. That would make for easier removal of the tripping line on retrieval.

I have had boats with conventional anchor stowage (above deck) and all the possibilities were simple. I like that, and having a capstan accessible. Unfortunately, Sealine have gone to great lengths to hide the anchor and winch and, in the process, have taken away that simplicity of use.

I am considering an S34 because, having acquired some nasty medical problems, I would just like something not too big to get me back on the water. In terms of value and size, it ticks quite a few boxes, but the anchor arrangement concerned me.

Any more suggestions very welcome.

 

[thefatlady]

Geez
You are having a bad day aren't you.
Not really. Apologies if I came over a bit strong.

Chill out, it was a joke!
Ah! I see.

The Sealine is a nice boat. ALL are compromises and some you only realise once you take ownership.
Can't disagree with that. I would love to have taken the designer of my Camargue on board and asked him about 50 times why he did that and whether he'd ever spent any time on a boat.

I suggest you go and lie down for an hour and see if you feel any better afterwards.
Went out and bought some horsey things with SWMBO. That made me think boats are cheap, so good therapy.

...I would be a little concerned if a member of the Murrant family didn't think his boats were any good. Wouldn't you?
It was actually a very nice boat. Anything he wanted was done/added/replaced/renewed and it was in unusually good order.

Have a relaxing second half to the day!
Thanks.

John

 

[ancientsailor]

Leaving a tail attached

Really what I had in mind - and it's inelegant - was that the tail would remain attached and lead over the bow externally. Then when the anchor's home the tail would be attached to (eg) a cleat on deck

Frankly I don't know if there's enough room in the hawse or whether this would lead to the possibility of jamming

However, my suggestion does involve going forward when the anchor's being recovered - to bring in the tripping line.

I have seen tripping lines seized onto the cable with cotton, so that as the line is hauled on it breaks away from the cable - but that was when cable was brought in by hand - not windlass or capstan


Still thinking however ... think I'd need to try it!

 

[thefatlady]

I hadn't considered that. As you say, a bit inelegant, but it is a solution and I doubt that it would jam.

 

[[2068]]

>For flushing, do you mean that there is an access hatch in the chain enclosure? The point is that the chain appears almost totally enclosed beneath the winch with only small holes for ingress of chain and egress of water.

On my S28, there is a circular hand-sized plastic access hatch on the front wall of the locker that un-twiddles to get access to the enclosure.

>Another question is how to fit a strain-relief yoke. The chain comes out way under the bow and appears virtually inaccessible.

I've been thinking about this too. Probably the best way would be to attach it to the same box section that the windlass is mounted onto, but this would mean opening up the anchor locker each time to release and re-attach.

(I'm fairly certain that the S28 anchoring arrangment is almost identical to the S34 - any actual S34 owners please feel free to correct me)