Wintering the anchor chain

[sailorman]

Storing anchor and chain on a pallet at the bow on the ground seems to be very common in our marina, but I've not figured out why so many do it?
If it was wet and needed drying out / cleaning?
If access was needed to the chain locker?
There might be several reasons, but I see many doing this as if its a ritual.
Is there a good reason?

It goes back to the daze when boats were made from wood when tha unsupported weight would / could cause the hull to "Hog"

 

[EuanMcKenzie]

its also a usefull exercise in checking you're anchor chain, shackle mousing etc. for wear or damage, and also the painted bits at 10 m intervals to see if they need a touch up

Plus, who would want to be the odd one out in the yard!

 

[CharlesSwallow]

It goes back to the daze when boats were made from wood when tha unsupported weight would / could cause the hull to "Hog"

Plastic hulls can distort too.

Chas

 

[pvb]

What next? Remove the engine over winter to take the weight off the hull?

 

[jordanbasset]

There are pros and cons to the removal of the anchor but I find it hard to believe the weight of the anchor and chain would cause any problems as regards distortion of the hull. This is especially so when I think of a boat bashing into a big sea, with the bow rising and coming crashing down into the water without damage (hopefully!).
If it really did cause distortion of the hull to leave the anchor and chain on there would be large scale problems across the yachting industry as the majority of owners do not appear to take the anchor and chain off the boat.

 

[Poignard]

JB

I'm sure you're right. I do it to let the chain get washed off by the rain and also to give the chain locker an airing, and to take the opportunity to clean it out. When I get a dry day I'll wind it in again. (if and when my back gets better!)

 

[CharlesSwallow]

What next? Remove the engine over winter to take the weight off the hull?

Well, YES if it is a large outboard sitting on a motorboat transom for example if the hull could only be supported forward of the back end of the planing surfaces. heavy diesel engines on sailboats however are usually fitted to built-in bearers designed to spread the load and they tend to be much nearer the keel than a chain locker at the extremity of the hull with all the load concentrated on one point. My chain & anchor weighs just about half of the weight of the engine but has no direct support whatever in lay-up. The moment of it's mass around the forefoot of the keel must be many times that of the engine which is just behind the keel and supported directly underneath by the aft cripple and props.

Chas

 

[reeac]

I've always assumed that it's to get the salt washed off the anchor and chain by the Winter rains and to clear the chain locker to permit a scrub out to get rid of accumulated mud. That's why I do it anyway.

 

[CharlesSwallow]

There are pros and cons to the removal of the anchor but I find it hard to believe the weight of the anchor and chain would cause any problems as regards distortion of the hull. This is especially so when I think of a boat bashing into a big sea, with the bow rising and coming crashing down into the water without damage (hopefully!).
If it really did cause distortion of the hull to leave the anchor and chain on there would be large scale problems across the yachting industry as the majority of owners do not appear to take the anchor and chain off the boat.

Your first point is not a true analogy as a boat allowed to fully leave the water will re-enter it as a whole and not on just one point. If it did then an effect like that which destroyed Pete Goss's cat. would ensue.

As to your second point, looking around our laying up yard and hard in Corfu, the majority of boats have disgorged their ground gear.

Chas

 

[jordanbasset]

JB

I'm sure you're right. I do it to let the chain get washed off by the rain and also to give the chain locker an airing, and to take the opportunity to clean it out. When I get a dry day I'll wind it in again. (if and when my back gets better!)

Yes agree it is a good idea to get it out to have a look at it, clean, put markers back on etc.

 

[Enya]

I agree with all that but am now concerned about the rats. Should I be?

 

[vyv_cox]

I agree with all that but am now concerned about the rats. Should I be?

Yes, they do seem to love to climb. I take the whole length of chain off the boat but some people use a water bottle or a funnel to make the hanging chain rat proof.