Split anchor locker

[Salty19]

Saw a mod on the net the other day that looked interesting.

A split anchor locker.  Basically a shelf that sits roughly halfway up the locker.  Chain/rode sits on top, open storage on bottom (for batteries, extra line/parts, water tank, whatever).  Doesn't look like it would take much to put a shelf and access door in place. With some carpentry skills it could look factory.

Or if there is enough space for your boat/rode combination, you could put the rode below the shelf through a 2 1/2-3" PVC tube leading down to it from the hawse pipe.  That would probably free up more storage space on the upper shelf due to the V hull shape. And would put heavy chain down lower.

The new anchor locker would look something like this.

\      /
-----    <--New shelf
  \  /


Anyway thought I would share as it sounded like a pretty good idea and potentially cheap with parts already laying around in the garage.

[Bob23]

One similiar modifications to Koinonia was to separate the locker into 2 spaces using removable panels. In the forward locker, I store my main anchor line- 100 feet of 1/2" line. In the rear compartment I store a secondary line- 200 feet of 5/8" line which is led to my second anchor, stored in brackets on the bowrail. I like setting 2 anchors and in conjunction with my riding sail, I minimize swing to almost zilch!
Bob23

[capt_nemo]

In my larger sailboat days we often had split lockers for separating and stowing the rodes for two anchors, whether all chain or a combo of chain and nylon line. However, it is very important that the fall of each rode be properly directed with well designed guides for trouble free operation.

If dividing the locker for additional storage, keep the environment in mind when deciding what to stow there. Unless sealed off, the anchor locker can be a moist, damp, and  damaging environment indeed!

Based on my study of anchoring techniques and many years of cruising experience, under normal conditions I would strongly recommend anchoring with only ONE well set anchor suitable for the bottom condition and designed to reset itself should wind direction change.. Cruising literature contains a number of all too common horror stories associated with using TWO anchors.

In the face of storm winds from a given direction I have set out TWO separate anchors at approximately 60 degrees with the primary wind direction bisecting the anchors. This is primarily an insurance policy, should any one give way another is already set. As long as the wind stays from the original direction the load on the two anchors is divided almost equally. If the wind shifts even slightly however, the load is almost all transferred to a single anchor. This can be temporarily remedied by adjusting the scope of the slack rode if possible and attended to by a vigilant crew. (Until you run out of rode like I did during a storm at Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas.)

The two separate anchors set "Bahamian Moor" style should only be used when necessary in tight quarters AND a swiftly running reversing tidal current when no other anchoring choice is available. (In two separate cruises to the Bahamas I used it only ONCE.)

On the other hand, using TWO anchors set in TANDOM with the first a short length ahead of and attached to the second with normal rode is an accepted alternative for increasing holding power and efficiency of an anchor system.

[Salty19]

Thanks for sharing your experiences here.   

[curtisv]

Salty,

I would hesitate to split the locker top to bottom because that put the weight of the chain higher.

Splitting side to side for two rodes is fine as long as you have two rodes and not one taller pile or rode on one side and the other side empty.

Splitting front to back as Bob suggested instead of side to side avoids that.

There is less room on the 19 that the 23 and Bob and I have 23s.  I've not stuck my nose up in the far forward reaches of a CP19 cabin so I don't know how much space you are dealing with.  There is quite a bit of dead space forward in the CP23.

I did a little mod on mine not to split it.



That is the door to the chain locker with the head hose antisiphon loop in the space between locker and the cabin bulkhead.  To the right of the doorway you can see four nuts and washers, that is the back side of the ring that is there to provide something to tie the bitter end of the rode to.



and I made the opening to the cabin a little bigger to get my whole body in when working up front and in the photo you can see that I hung my table from the cabin top liner to get it out of the way when not in use.

btw- I have 80' of chain, 250 feet of 1/2" rode so I can anchor in deep water.  That fits easily in the CP23 chain locker but with the changes the nylon rode will not pile badly and pile over the top of the original short wall and then try to take a head hose with it next time I anchor.

Like Bob, I try not to be a swinger.

Curtis