The end of Chain Locker Tangles

[saltwater_gypsy]

Found this item in an Italian catalogue.
Do you think it would work?
Is it better than a traffic cone?
Do you have a better idea?

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Re: The end of Chin Locker Tangles

Interesting idea..... can't see what makes the chain go round, rather than just pile to one side though?

 

[sailorman]

Dont let Pauline see it for Gods sake /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Poignard]

Re: The end of Chin Locker Tangles

[ QUOTE ]
can't see what makes the chain go round, rather than just pile to one side though?

[/ QUOTE ]

Faraday's law? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Starfishbooks]

Re: The end of Chin Locker Tangles

I think we had one of those at school. A Van de Graff thingy that made your hair stand up!

 

[elton]

I would predict that it won't make the slightest difference. There's no active mechanism to prevent the chain piling up in one place, which is usually the root of the problem. If anything, it's going to prevent a stacked up chain falling to one side so it might even make matters worse.

 

[pollygonforty]

have very recently fitted similar device ,supplied by the owner of the boat and fitted under owners instruction,tested and failed miserably ,as you suggest chain just piles up to one side of the device!!

 

[Ken_Irby]

OK but where does the rest of the chain go then?

"If you assume that there is a locker wall there somewhere, then the rest of the chain will start a new stack in the rest of the vacant space which will still result in a lack of a tangle caused by the pyramid falling over, beause it can't" - boss's words, not mine.
Kentrina

 

[elton]

Re: OK but where does the rest of the chain go then?

I have spotted that pyramid falling over is a good thing; it's when it doesn't fall over that it all goes wrong and there'd be no room for it to fall over with that thing stuck in the middle. Plus, what's that about 'lack of tangle'? It doesn't get tangled it gets jammed.

 

[Salty John]

Re: OK but where does the rest of the chain go then?

I studied this at some length (funny how you have plenty of time on your hands when cruising!) and found that the problem is, in fact, the pile falling over. To run smoothly the chain must work on a 'first in, last out' basis. When the chain is allowed to pile up it can collapse and trap 'new' chain under 'old' chain. This causes a jam.
A cone shaped locker - like a giant icecream cone - is theoretically best because there is no danger of first-in chain getting on top of later-in chain. This is why the traffic cone works; it makes the whole locker smaller at the base than at the top.
The device in the picture won't work because it doesn't change the shape of the locker to be narrower at the bottom than the top.
I divided my large locker into two sections, side by side, one for each of my bow rodes and made each locker wedge shaped - narrow at the bottom, wide at the top. After that my chains ran smoothly and never jammed.
I believe that chain storage bunkers on older classic boats were always made this shape.
I hope I haven't sent everyone to sleep - there's only so much entertainment value in chain locker design!

 

[ChrisE]

Re: OK but where does the rest of the chain go then?

Oh noo, get rid of most of the chain and use multiplait instead /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[vyv_cox]

Re: OK but where does the rest of the chain go then?

<<< Oh noo, get rid of most of the chain and use multiplait instead >>>

Your neighbours will love you in an anchorage to leeward of high ground on a windy day. A place like Moelfre or Porth Dinllaen, where everyone sits quietly except the ones on rope, who act like Mayflies dancing over the water, permanently fending off from the static ones.

 

[ChrisE]

Re: OK but where does the rest of the chain go then?

Oh, with 30m of chain and 100m of multiplait we've spent many a happy night in crowded anchorages. How often does anyone anchor in more than 10m? I know in Moelfre and Port Dinlaen, I expect /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

Re: OK but where does the rest of the chain go then?

Thanks for the comments.
I think I agree with Saltyjohn and others that this device will just divert the pile of chain to one side. I did see a powered device in a magazine which distributed the chain as it came in but that is more expense and complication.
It must be possible to have something like a lawn sprinkler which will be self-powered and arrange the chain in a neat circle as it comes in. There is a fortune out there waiting for the inventor!!

 

[Poignard]

Re: OK but where does the rest of the chain go then?

What you need is an ordinary seaman with a hook down in the chain locker!

 

[Tidewaiter2]

Re: OK but where does the rest of the chain go then?

Our Southerly's chain locker is the classic shape(s); inverted cone towards keel+horizontal cone up to bows-so far, s'ok. 40m chain flakes down nicely /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
The windlass, at the moment, thats another matter /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[damo]

Re: OK but where does the rest of the chain go then?

[ QUOTE ]
How often does anyone anchor in more than 10m

[/ QUOTE ]

Almost every time in the Bristol Channel and the Channel Is /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[damo]

Re: OK but where does the rest of the chain go then?

It also depends on the condition of the chain - nice and shiny means it doesn't pile up in the first place. Last year I started getting jams as the pile built up, then fell over and trapping the live chain - due to rusting as the galv has worn.

I've just had it stripped and galvanised (about £1/kg at Wedge Galvanisers, Willenhall) and now it is as slick as wotsit /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

Just another gadget to buy...

I use all chain, and when winching the anchor and chain in, I see the pile accumulating, easy to stop and just push the chain pile over, and start winching again.

Low Tech I guess.

Never yet had any problems of chain jamming when letting it out.

Agree with the post about new chain. I make a point of hosing down the chain locker to was out the salt. So hoping to slow down the inevitable corrosion.