Tilting bow rollers

[Humblebee]

I'm thinking of replacing the bow roller on my old Westerly. A few chandlery websites sell tilting bow rollers but having had a good look round the boatyard recently I didn't see any. Could someone enlighten me, please, as to the advantage of a tilting or hinged bow roller over a non tilting one?
Cheers all,
Chris

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Perhaps someone more knowledgeable. or who actually uses one, will correct me, but I would guess that it is necesary to fit one if your anchor will not simply self-launch from the standard roller, under the influence of gravity, when "Down" is selected on the remote control.

 

[Tranona]

Yes, titling bow rollers are for self launching anchors. Usually seen on larger boats but need care in matching to anchor type and size to ensure they work as intended.

You can buy fixed bow rollers of various types off the shelf but unlikely you will find a direct replacement. Expect you will get useful information on possible replacements from the Westerly Owners Association.

 

[srm]

I fitted a Vetus tilting bow roller on my last boat (a smaller Prout catamaran) as the original single roller was far too small to be of any practical use. When recovering the anchor the chain angle is roughly half that of a single roller at each of the two rollers greatly reducing the friction and the recovery load. No small matter when handling biggish anchors with a manual windlass.

 

[BabaYaga]

Could someone enlighten me, please, as to the advantage of a tilting or hinged bow roller over a non tilting one?

As indicated above, you will likely have a smoother transition from horisontal to vertical shank when launching (and vice versa when retrieving).
Though, the same can be achieved by placing two fixed rollers, one after the other, at approx. 45 degrees. This works quite well in my experience and is perhaps less noisy than a hinged section?

 

[geem]

Perhaps someone more knowledgeable. or who actually uses one, will correct me, but I would guess that it is necesary to fit one if your anchor will not simply self-launch from the standard roller, under the influence of gravity, when "Down" is selected on the remote control.

Our boat bow roller incorporated a pivoting pair of rollers from new. I can confirm it does self launch the anchor.

 

[Mister E]

Our boat bow roller incorporated a pivoting pair of rollers from new. I can confirm it does self launch the anchor.

Ours is the same. The only thing I can add is that it bent with loading from the side.

 

[geem]

Ours is the same. The only thing I can add is that it bent with loading from the side.

Ours bow roller cheeks are 12mm plate. The roller section sits in between the cheeks so no bendy?

 

[Mister E]

Unfortunately ours are not that thick.

 

[jwilson]

I have a tilting hinged bow roller. It self-stows the plough type anchor (and flips it right way up if necessary) but does not self-launch - you have to push the stock out to get it to start to drop. Apart from that initial push of about a foot to get CG of anchor forward of the rollers, everything else gets done on windlass buttons.

 

[Humblebee]

Thanks all, I've got the idea now. I don't need the self launching facility and can (still, just about) manhandle our anchor so I'll stick with a single non tilting roller.
Cheers all,
Chris