Yacht maintenance is a symphony of problem solving. The tasks are endless variations on themes (like scales in music)--screwing, drilling, caulking, etc. The tools are 'simple machines' (like notes)--incline plane, lever, screw, etc. Occasionally mechanical advantage or electrical amplification helps, but always there is twisting, bending, and reaching into confined spaces (just as a composer is confined to 13 notes in an octave). However, the results of these simple tasks repetitively applied can be amazing.
Today I finished the most difficult project I have ever tried on the White Pepper. I finished putting on the bow rollers.
The anchoring problem is certainly the key to success in our planned adventure. I studied Art Heinz' book about anchoring intensely. I chose to go with relatively light tackle and shallow depth, but dual anchors for a 'Bahamian moor'. The problem is at the 'point of the spear'.
She is a racer at heart with a moderate bow but plenty of reserve buoyancy to handle a good chop. These wonderful concepts do not leave much room for two heavy anchors and the tackle it takes to recover them.
One solution would have been to take the boat to Houston. There skilled craftsmen could have fashioned a new bowsprit out of stainless steel rods. There was just not enough time or money left for this option.
Instead I purchased a Royal Lofran manual windless, 2 rodes (100' chain + 150' rope) and chain hawsers from Blue Water Marine. Off the Internet I bought two bow rollers from Windline Marine. One was a BMR-3 for the 45 pound claw (i.e. generic Bruce). I put this one on the starboard side. The other a URL-1 for the 45 pound Rocna (a plow style anchor). It went on port. Also purchased were two anchor tensioners and a very stout chain stopper.
The problem was putting all of this on a sharply tapered bow and in an anchor locker designed for weekend sailing. Alan Dinn helped with constructing a divider to separate the two rodes in the locker. I re enforced the lid to the anchor well and bolted on the windless to it without too much difficulty. The problem was the rollers! They had to go over the 1 1/2" toe rail, not foul the stem or the chauks, and still give enough room to hang the anchors without banging into the hull. The solution seems efficient, albeit not elegant. It has elements of a freshman's high school shop project. Charlie at Flour Bluff Plastics cut me some backing plates out of high density polyurethane (cheap Starboard without the UV protection) and some nifty 1" topping plates made out of Nylatron. Nylatron is plastic steel. I am sure that the bolts will give way before it does. Thanks Charlie!
The BMR-3 for the Bruce has to hang out at an accentuated angle to accommodate its wide flukes. I could only get 3 bolts of 1/2" x 4" to hold it, but it seems rock solid and probably could stand a full on collision with the dock. The URL-1 is held by 5 bolts of 5/16" x 4" and also seems quite solid. The URL-1 has a much fairer lead to the windlass,and it will be the primary anchor roller even though it is lighter.
We will have to launch without checking all of this out. I just hope it all works.
Today I finished the most difficult project I have ever tried on the White Pepper. I finished putting on the bow rollers.
The anchoring problem is certainly the key to success in our planned adventure. I studied Art Heinz' book about anchoring intensely. I chose to go with relatively light tackle and shallow depth, but dual anchors for a 'Bahamian moor'. The problem is at the 'point of the spear'.
She is a racer at heart with a moderate bow but plenty of reserve buoyancy to handle a good chop. These wonderful concepts do not leave much room for two heavy anchors and the tackle it takes to recover them.
One solution would have been to take the boat to Houston. There skilled craftsmen could have fashioned a new bowsprit out of stainless steel rods. There was just not enough time or money left for this option.
Instead I purchased a Royal Lofran manual windless, 2 rodes (100' chain + 150' rope) and chain hawsers from Blue Water Marine. Off the Internet I bought two bow rollers from Windline Marine. One was a BMR-3 for the 45 pound claw (i.e. generic Bruce). I put this one on the starboard side. The other a URL-1 for the 45 pound Rocna (a plow style anchor). It went on port. Also purchased were two anchor tensioners and a very stout chain stopper.
The problem was putting all of this on a sharply tapered bow and in an anchor locker designed for weekend sailing. Alan Dinn helped with constructing a divider to separate the two rodes in the locker. I re enforced the lid to the anchor well and bolted on the windless to it without too much difficulty. The problem was the rollers! They had to go over the 1 1/2" toe rail, not foul the stem or the chauks, and still give enough room to hang the anchors without banging into the hull. The solution seems efficient, albeit not elegant. It has elements of a freshman's high school shop project. Charlie at Flour Bluff Plastics cut me some backing plates out of high density polyurethane (cheap Starboard without the UV protection) and some nifty 1" topping plates made out of Nylatron. Nylatron is plastic steel. I am sure that the bolts will give way before it does. Thanks Charlie!
The BMR-3 for the Bruce has to hang out at an accentuated angle to accommodate its wide flukes. I could only get 3 bolts of 1/2" x 4" to hold it, but it seems rock solid and probably could stand a full on collision with the dock. The URL-1 is held by 5 bolts of 5/16" x 4" and also seems quite solid. The URL-1 has a much fairer lead to the windlass,and it will be the primary anchor roller even though it is lighter.
We will have to launch without checking all of this out. I just hope it all works.
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