ANCHOR ROLLER/PULPIT 4 CUDDY

I want to add some kind of anchor roller/pulpit to my steplift cuddy.

As you all know, there is a sliding center hatch almost to the bow.

What kind of setups do you guys have ???

I am undecided as to whether I should build some kind of platform just above the sliding hatch and mount the anchor roller, chain tensioner and cleat on centerline OR if I should mount the roller centered on the tiny foredeck (with a huge backing plate beneath) and the chain tensioner and cleat off to the side.

I am also concerned with the anchor chain banging up the deck/hatches when underway and wondering how best to prevent this.

Any and all input would be appreciated and a picture is worth a thousand words. :)

[macojoe]

I never Anchor!! I can't rember when the last time I did??
But if I have to, what I do is throw the thing over the side, get it caught, then I hook it to my bow rope and let it go. Leaving the extra rope in the cockpit with me.
When its time to pull the anchor I yank it till I get the bow rope, undo it and pull the anchor right into the cockpit with me.
might just have to use the anchor next week Cod fishing?? Wow that will be different.

Thanks MACOJOE.

OK, so far 9 views and only 1 reply. I know CB already discussed this with me on another thread, but what about the rest of you folks?

Cmon, don't hold back. :-X

[Brian_M]

I'm with MACOJOE keep it in the cockpit and use a bow line when you need to anchor. Unless you are in smooth waterr all the time, an anchor is not something you want on a fore deck

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?

[chumbucket]

Seakindly, If I had the cuddy cabin model boat instead of a center console, I'd probably set it up with a roller too. I did this on another boat I owned about 12 years ago and I really was happy with the convenience it offered. Not sure what the roller that you bought looks like, but it helps to get one with the loop over the top above the roller itself. It keeps the anchor and rode on the roller and doesn't allow it to slip off. I can try to get pics of my friends V20 set up with the roller but you'll probably come up with a solution by then. He mounted the roller directly to the bow foredeck, through bolted it with an aluminum backing plate, then mounted the cleat off to one side. It really works out good because you can stand inside the cabin in safety and work the anchor. He covered the drop down space between the cabin cushions with a fiberglass panel strong enough to stand on. And can be lifted out to gain access to storage below. Also, instead of the chain tensioner, he's got some sort of fitting that has a thumb screw with a big knob. The screw, when tightened, goes into a drilled hole in the anchor shank. Once mounted, he just drops the rode and chain into a deck pipe and into the anchor locker below. The thumb screw allows enough room for the hatch to slide all the way forward.
You'll figure it out. Good luck.

Thanks CB, that thumb screw fitting sounds interesting.
WINDLINE has a fitting called a locking chock that sounds like what you are describing, although that is not how they recommend it be used. Creative *8).

The roller I bought is the next size larger than the one cbuzz has. I plan to disobey the installation instructions where it says to support 2/3rds of the roller. I am only going to support 1/3 of the roller. Of course I am going to use a huge backing plate beneath the deck, and the roller is rated for up to a 60 # anchor so I figure I'm good to go.

On the 94 steplift there is only 7 inches of foredeck when the hatch is fully open. There already is covers to stand on over the dropdowns in the cabin. Man I was just talkin to Jaysea, we gotta bribe his kid to post some digital pictures of our boats.

CB, WHERE ON THE DECK DOES YOUR BUD HAVE THE ANCHOR CLEAT MOUNTED? Iwould think the farthest back towards the windshield next to the hatch opening would give the best angle.

Where is Bigshrimpin? CB, does he have an anchor roller on his steplift?

Yeah, I'll figure it out, get it all setup, then someone will show me a better way *::).

[chumbucket]

Yeah, the fitting he has looks a lot like part of the locking chock, but just that one piece. I think his cleat is somewhere around mid point on the deck. I know it's not back towards the windshield. I think I'm going fishing with him later this week. Hopefully I'll get a better look at the set up.
No, BS doesn't have a roller set up on his boat.

why dont you design a pulpit like some party boats have .you can remove an reinstall with apin of some kind.

Thanks CB, Although I am leaning towards some kind of platform, I was checking the material costs online last night and my thrifty nature began to resurface.

Thanks for the tip JAY SEA, why don't you post a picture of one? :-/