anchor roller selection

P

pcg

Member
I'd like advice on what sort of anchor roller/retrieval system I should use on my 22' Cruiser. This is a restoration project starting from a bare hull so I can basically do anything I want at this point. I've purchased a Rocna 13# anchor and Lewmar H700 windlass.
What do you suggest for an anchor roller setup?
 
Be sure to put a backing plate or at least fender washers on the back side of the bolts attaching both the anchor roller and the windlass. I usually use 1/4 to 5/16 aluminum as the backing plate. Easy to drill with a hand drill (although I use a drill press). It cuts easy with a coarse tooth hacksaw.

I have just used the standard bow roller which comes on the boats--but at times it is better to have the articulating plate Colby mentions.

I noted that you have a chain stopper on the foredeck in your photos. This is only meant to hold the anchor when you are running or trailering. It should not take the load if you are anchored. You want the bow anchor line to be cleated off, no load on the windlass. You only use the windlass to take up slack as you power to right over the anchor. Use the boat to pull the anchor out of the sea bottom, and then use the windlass to raise the anchor from the bottom. Often you will need to either use a brush, or back the boat down with the chain and anchor in the water to get all of the mud off. Remove any debris manually.
 
I use one like the one Colby linked to and I like it even though I think my delta would launch with a fixed roller. The original anchor when I got the boat was the lewmar claw and it held well but I had to go on the bow every time to dislodge it.
 
thataway":1cwasl5c said:
...I noted that you have a chain stopper on the foredeck in your photos. This is only meant to hold the anchor when you are running or trailering.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I didn't even know what that was. All hardware has been removed from the deck now and all holes filled in so I'm starting from scratch. Is that chain stopper necessary to hold the anchor when running or trailering? Can the tension provided by the windlass serve the same purpose, or should the windlass not be used for that and the anchor tied off to a cleat instead, while running or trailering?
 
We also use the Pivoting Self-Launch Roller. It works really well. The other thing about this type of roller is that the anchor rides a lot lower When it is up, allowing for better viability while running.
 
pcg":l2bbmo4d said:
thataway":l2bbmo4d said:
...I noted that you have a chain stopper on the foredeck in your photos. This is only meant to hold the anchor when you are running or trailering.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I didn't even know what that was. All hardware has been removed from the deck now and all holes filled in so I'm starting from scratch. Is that chain stopper necessary to hold the anchor when running or trailering? Can the tension provided by the windlass serve the same purpose, or should the windlass not be used for that and the anchor tied off to a cleat instead, while running or trailering?
Click to expand...

That chain stopper is for when trailering or running. It is not made to take the load of anchoring. I prefer to tie the anchor with a line and carabiner (one of the few uses of a carabiner on a boat. I fix the inboard end with an eye splice over the main cleat, which I left right behind the Windless.

There are other chain stoppers, which are made to take the load of the chain (using snubbed) but I don’t see the sense of these on our small C Dorys.
 
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