Thanks Brian M.

The anchor is going to be held in place on the anchor roller ( see setup on cbuzz's center console) very firmly by a chain tensioner. There is a lot to be said for having the anchor in position for immediate deployment from the standpoint of safety as well as convenience of operation and storage.

The walk through cuddy design of the steplift does impose the problems I have described in my first post.
Yesterday, I bought a WINDLINE URM-3 roller and a WINDLINE anchore chain tensioner.

I am still undecided as to my mounting scheme?

I am leaning towards fabricating a platform out of a sheet of heavy aluminum bolted through heavy alum square tube parallel to the foreward sliding hatch. The cleat, tensioner and maybe the roller would be bolted on the centerline of this platform. Does anyone know of a good source for thick (at least 1/4 inch)alum sheet?

Thoughts, ideas, experiences?