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There are many stock bow rollers that will fit. Generally I think it is
usually a mistake to mount oversize gear on any bow partly because you
don't really need oversize; but mostley because catilevering the roller
assembly way out from the bow plate creates bad leverage on the bow
plate you have bolted the thing to when the boat is pitching at anchor.
I chose an obsolete Ronstan fitting because it was the smallest that
would hold my 25lb CQR. It projects only a few inches, and has enough
plate on the back end for me to drive five bolts into my bow plate,
which I drilled and tapped.
This shot shows the roller I installed. It is made fast with five 1/4" studs I tapped into the bow casting.
Wharf vultures at my club came by while I was mounting it shaking their
heads forecasting that I would wish I had mounted a bigger and longer
one... I have to wonder why. The one we have is massivly strong,
doesn't spoil the look of the boat and does the job well.
The anchor looks precarious but in fact it is rigidly secure, and held with one line
holding the crown of the anchor with a snap hook, an single hitch around the
anchor roller and the anchor's shank, then making fast the forward part of
the jackline.
Looking at our anchor set up bows on... The line threaded through the shackle on the crown of the Bruce anchor serves to retain the anchor in the roller... it is utterly secure and can't move no matter how hard Surprise pitches. Making it fast in place is quick and easy.
Beneath the shank of the Bruce anchor you can see three of the five 1/4" studs and bolts that secure the anchor roller to the bow plate.
Looking aft you can see our Lofrans manual windlass. The chain running over it is 150' of 5/16" BBB. to the right of the windlass you can see the rope deck pipe through which runs the end of 200' of 5/8" three strand nylon rope; down below we have our forepeak divided into two halves. The chain falls under the windlass's gypsy in the starboard side, the rope to port. I keep a 3/8" bronze bow shackle in the spliced end of the rope ready for attachment to whatever anchor we may use there.
Cheers - Gord
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Offshore Sailing
by Bill Seifert with Daniel Spurr
We went to a Windjammers lecture to hear Bill Seifert and I was impressed enough to buy
the book on the spot. I've heard a lot of people talk about ways to improve a boat, but
I've never heard one person suggest so many good ideas that I hadn't considered. Part
of the charm is the specificity of the suggestions. Everyone says you should secure your
floorboards, hatchboards and batteries. Bill shows good suggestions on how to do so.
The suggestions are very practical for the do-it-yourselfer, too. Many show how to
make or adapt inexpensive solutions. Tip #12 on closing the deck blower vents is one
that will pay off for me without ever going offshore. I'll implement that one to
stop the wintertime storms from finding their way belowdecks.
Besides modifications, the book also includes advice for operating offshore, cooking,
boat selection, dealing with bureaucracy, and more.
Bill Seifert has worked at Tartan, TPI, and Alden Yachts. He's a veteran of many
Marion-Bermuda races and now runs his own yacht management company. His tips are
born of experience--not of book-learning--and it shows. He obviously knows his
stuff.
(Note: commissions earned from this link help defray the costs of this website)
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