bow anchor roller

[damason]

I have a 2008 C-Dory 25 cruiser.

I installed a Fortress FX-11 (7 lb) anchor and it sticks in the bow roller. When I switch down the winch the chain loosens but the anchor stays. I installed a 15 lb Delta Fastset and the same thing happens. I hate to have to go to the bow to wiggle the anchor to make it drop.

What size and type anchor do you use on your CD-25? If you use the above anchors how do you get the anchor to drop?

My CDs name is CHARITY cause that is where all of my money goes.

 

[Dreamer]

Dave,

What would really help is a photo of your anchor in the roller. Some anchor davits have to have one roller removed to work with the Delta. See empty hole in pic.

 

[Al & Pat Parker]

Hi Dave,
We have the same setup, a 2008 CD-25, one of the first, we took dely in July 07, and I think it's a Delta anchor, can't remember the size. Same problem, but if I bump the windlass "up" it seems to loosen things and the next "down" does the job. I expect you've tried that with no success. It's a matter of balance. I think there have been some posts in the past 6-8 mo.s about it, not sure of any particular solution. Maybe a pin across the roller holder that holds the shank up just enough to tilt it over the edge, so to speak.
More of a problem for me is to remember not to run out the rode too fast and let it jump out of the gypsy, then I've gotta go forward.

 

[jlastofka]

Lewmar makes a tilting bow roller bracket designed to work with their Delta anchors. I have one and it works EVERY time. Best thing the dealer did for me when setting up my boat. He recommended upgrading from the small fixed bow roller on the CD22 to this one. It's great. It does a nice job of capturing the anchor on retrieval, too.

They're availabe most everywhere. Look on Lewmar's site and you'll see it. I think people use them with other anchors and get good results, too.

Jeff

 

[JamesTXSD]

Hi Dave,

We use a Delta 22 pound anchor on our 25. It is a good match for the boat, having used it in a variety of bottoms and conditions. The Fortress is a much lighter weight anchor, and may be the reason it won't drop (chain is likely heavier and holding the anchor in place).

We have had no problem with the anchor not self launching. We have the factory anchor roller and windlass.

Unless you are using either the Fortress or the lighter Delta in benign conditions, I'd recommend moving up a size on the Delta if it is your primary anchor.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

 

[Sea Wolf]

Dave-

Roger is right about the need for a photo to help analize your problem, but let me see if I can help you figure it out.

For an anchor to self-launch with a windlass and bow roller, the center of mass of the anchor must be far enough forward, low enough, and massive enough to pull more chain from the windlass gypsy, otherwise the extra chain simply piles up by the windlass and the anchor stays put.

Put another way, if the further most bow roller is too far forward on the anchor shaft so that the center of mass of the anchor doesn't have the weight and leverage to lift the anchor shaft and pull the new chain forward, you're stuck in the up position.

To remedy this, several things can be done:

Add another bow roller behind the first one that tilts the anchor shaft up to lower the center of gravity of the anchor. This works because it both raises the anchor shaft and moves the center of gravity forward and down, helping pull out the chain.

Or you could get another anchor with a center of gravity further forward. Your Fortress FX-11 probably wasn't heavy enough forward to pull the new chain forward. Anchors differ a lot in mass and balance.

The easy solution is to get a pivoting bow roller like the one below which drops the anchor and it's center of gravity when the chain is slacked. I use a Fortress FX-16 on my CD-22 with such a pivoting bow roller and it works perfectly.

Hope this helps!

Joe. :teeth :thup

 

[damason]

SUCCESS!!! Thanks very much.

I removed the upper roller on the bow roller and the 15 lb Delta Fastset anchor will now come up all the way and then drop every time.

I would include some pictures but cannot remember just how to insert them into this post. Next time I see how to do this I will make a copy.

My CDs name is CHARITY cause that is where all of my money goes.

 

[Sea Wolf]

daamason-

Grad it worked out for you! Roger's set up was similar enough to yours that his advice fit perfectly! Apparently removing the middle roller lowers the center of mass of the anchor and changes the fulcrum enough to do the job just right. Enjoy your new windlass set up!

Joe. :teeth :thup

 

[damason]

I finally with help figured how to insert a picture into a post. Many thanks to TyBoo. This picture is in the cruise mode with the Delta 15 Fastset anchor pulled up high and when I down the chain it drops and the anchor goes down every time.

I took out the upper roller (see arrows) to make this work.

When I travel trailering I hold the anchor with the pin so the weight is not on the rollers.

 

[flapbreaker]

I was wondering if any of you with the delt fastset have issues with it coming up pointed the wrong way? I have an achor swivel on mine but the delta seems happy hanging in either direction. Half the time when I try to ease it into the anchor roller it's pointing the wrong way and requires a trip to the bow to manually correct it. Grrr.

 

[Sea Wolf]

I was wondering if any of you with the delt fastset have issues with it coming up pointed the wrong way? I have an achor swivel on mine but the delta seems happy hanging in either direction. Half the time when I try to ease it into the anchor roller it's pointing the wrong way and requires a trip to the bow to manually correct it. Grrr.

Spencer-

I have the equivalent of the Delta FastSet on my Sea Ray and a Fortress FX-16 on my CD-22, both with windlasses.

Somemes the first one wants to come up upside down, and sometimes the second one wants to come up sideways (upside down on a Danforth style anchor is the same as right side up). You may want to put a piece of colored tape on one side of your anchor shaft to denote the top side if you can't tell the top from the bottom of the shaft when just seeing the very end of it.

The secret for me is to stop pulling it in just when I can see the anchor shaft reaching the front roller, or ease it up slightly to see if it's oriented right or backwards. If it's backwards, I drop it again a few feet then bring it back and repeat the process, also using the technique below. (Don't let yourself haul the anchor aboard sideways or upside down, as it will often jam when pulled into the bow roller set up that way.)

If you learn to do it right, just bringing the anchor shaft a few inches up onto the front roller bounces the anchor around and gives it some momentum and energy, then dropping it quickly a foot or two uses that energy to spin the anchor on the chain. You do have to be careful not to bounce it around so much you ding the bow of the boat, however.

It takes a little practice, but so do a lot of things!

Hope this helps!

Joe. :teeth :thup

 

[Dora~Jean]

Mine also comes up "upside down" about 50% of the time (seems higher than that -- but I don't remember the ones that work properly!). But just as it begins tilting on the roller, I bump the UP switch momentarily once or twice, it always flips itself over. I also have the SS swivel between the chain and the anchor shank. The bail at the end of the anchor roller keeps it from jumping off the roller.

 

[damason]

I am finally figuring out (with help) how to insert a picture into a post.

I removed the top roller (see empty holes with arrows pointing). The top photo is how I cruise with the anchor pulled all the way up. When I hit the down switch the anchor drops and pulls the chain every time. The bottom photo is how I trailer with the pin in. It takes all the weight off of the roller.



Here in our area of Florida we have lots of mud/silt over sand and when I bring up the anchor if it is covered with junk, I lower it into the water and put the CD in reverse to let the water/current clean it off. Do not go forward or you will chunk a big gouge in your hull.

When I bring up the anchor, I bring the last few feet up slowly and if the anchor is turned wrong I just let it down and pull it up again. I have a swivel between the anchor and chain.

Many thanks to all the C-Brats who have answered all of my questions as a new CD owner. Most everybody has already been there and done that. No sense inventing the wheel again. Thanks again.