boat owner

by Dick Everitt

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PUZZLE SOLUTION: North Cb1, East Ba4, South Dc3, West Ad2

http://www.dickeveritt.com

A. Some anchor cables are stowed in a deck locker, where you

can brace yourself, if you have to haul the cable in by hand. It

could also have a windlass fitted, which keeps the deck

clear. But some manufacturers don’t like this, because

it can’t dry out properly, when surrounded by wet

lines. Also, in rough weather the locker might

fill up with water, drowning the windlass, and

adding a huge weight to the bow. Locker

drains are often small, and need to be

kept clear of the mud and weed

that can come in with the

anchor cable.

C. Internal lockers need quick access, just in case the chain jams. Some

vertical windlasses, or capstans, need quite a ‘free fall’ of chain to keep it

flowing off the gypsy. A plastic chain pipe can help to keep the splashes off

the motor. D. Horizontal windlasses often need less ‘free fall’ of chain.

E. Some people reckon that tall thin lockers, like those used on ships, are less

likely to get a cable jam. But, because it puts a high weight near the bow, the

chain might have to be flaked, or faked, back along the bilge on long deep-

water voyages. F. Slopes and cones have been tried to stow the chain evenly.

G. With a big open chain locker,

a crewman can stow the cable

more evenly, using a stick.

On ships, matelots were often

showered with muck and rust!

I. Moving the weight of the chain aft slightly can improve the handling of some boats.

This one used a couple of big stemhead rollers to do it.

J. A few boats have mounted manual windlasses on a strong coachroof. This gets the

stowed chain weight aft, and makes for a more comfortable winching position.

B. This locker lid has a tunnel for the chain, so the lid can be opened at anchor.

There have been problems when a second anchor was needed, and it was

trapped in the locker, because the chain passed over it.

H. Extra storm chain, kept aft,

can be deployed up a big pipe

to the normal locker.

A

B

C DEF

G

H

I

J

‘Free fall’

of chain

Taking a close look at anchor locker design