ANCHOR ROLLER/PULPIT 4 CUDDY

Thanks CB, it is super strong and easy to work the ground tackle.

I haven't anchored under any really nasty conditions, yet. My only worry is that I might bury the bow. ??? I may have to add bow chocks to lay off center in bad seas.

How does your v20 take the big seas at anchor?

[chumbucket]

I haven't come close to stuffing the bow yet. Mine has a cleat in the center and chocks on port and starboard. I think it would take an awful big sea to stuff it so you should be okay. If you feel concerned at all when your out there just let out more scope on the rode or reset your anchor so you can let more scope out and you'll be fine.

Thanks CB, that reassuring + good advice. :)

[bigshrimpin]

Seakindly,
Great pics . . . . Love the pulpit!! I was wondering how you were going to design it around the sliding hatch door. Nice work!!

[macojoe]

Real nice job there!!

?? Do you think using long bolts from top to bottom is stronger then using short bolts?? Lets say 4 to bolt top on, and 4 to bolt threw bow?? Might be less levrage when anchor is tyed on to cleats.
I only ask as that is the way i would have done it and wanted to no if one way is better then the other.

But looks great!! Good Luck with it!!

Thanks Bigshrimpin, I was startin to wonder if they weren't good enuff to be shown you're V21 here.

Macojoe, the bolts for the platform assembly are 1/2 inch by 8 inch (should have used 7 inch) grade 316 stainless steel. I think shorter bolts of the same diameter are actually stronger, but at 1/2 inch diameter, bolt strength is not an issue. Priced at an unbelievably low $2.61/bolt from mcmaster-carr, cost was not an issue either. The grade 6063 2"x3" rectangular tube is only 1/8 inch in diameter. This is the weakest link in the platform system. The force on the aft bolts would be applied to this 1/8 tube with a washer as a backing plate, if I had used short bolts. Even so I think I would have been alright if I had went that way. It was not easy to get everything to line up straight using the long bolts. There is also 1/4 inch neoprene rubber in three levels of the platform assembly, as well as beneath the anchor roller assembly, to: 1)correct for the slight curve of the deck,2)absorb shock loads, and 3) provide additional waterproofing to the epoxy sealed and boatlife caulked holes. The aluminum platform is 3/4 " grade 6061 and the samson post is attached with four 1/2 inch grade 316 stainless steel bolts.

Yep, beastly ugly overkill.

[macojoe]

I see so you put nuts in the tube on the bolts so you could stop the metel from bending when under persure!!
Good deal

[macojoe]

Thismstops the tube from bending and puts the weight on the bolt.

Nice drawing, Macojoe, but there are no nuts on the inside of the tubes. That is a good idea for the forward bolts, because the force would tend to compress the tube at front. It wouldn't do anything on the back bolts as the force there is to pull up against the 4" x 14" x 1/4" 6061 alum backing plates beneath the foredeck. I don't think the front of the tube will compress because the back of the tube is not gonna lift - that is where the real strain is. We'll see, because I ain't changing it unless I have to. :'(

The bolts I used were not threaded all the way. I don't like threaded all the way. They are weaker and I feel that the threads can act like a file over time if there is any flex, or expansion and contraction - which certainly will occur. The 1/8 " wall tube is stronger than it sounds, but it did bow outwards slightly when I tightened (overtightened?) the 1/2 bolts. Nuts on the inside would have prevented that.

Thanks for your input, Macojoe. :)

don't forget folks - plenty of line when you're hanging..

I know, I got my cuddy drenched once in rollers close to the beach... that boat fills up fast when the sliders are open..

the old salts say to use at least a line 7x the depth you're anchoring in - of course that does not work in shallow water with breakers -
as I found out -
it dug it's nose right in, after I dozed off during high noon for a while !

/chipde