Projects - Anchor Chain Arrangement

I have a length of anchor chain (I won't tell you how much so you won't tell me how it is too short or how it is too long - I'd get both answers, I'm sure) attached to a 35lb delta. I wanted to leave the delta on the roller and a way to tie off the chain and anchor securely.

I put a chain grabber just ahead of the anchor locker, just offcenter on the port side. The chain is led to the grabber and then into the locker with the rest of the nylon rode. I put some 3M adhesive rubber swim steps along the path of the chain to keep it from marking up the deck (I could have done a better job cutting it). I wanted to leave enough clearance to use the cleat for dock lines if I needed to. I would need some chafe protection if the lines are led off the port side, however. I'm not sure if I'll ever need to do this with the two other cleats at the port and starboard bows.

In order for the anchor locker lid to be able to be closed and latched, I needed to notch both the lid (see picture below) and the deck lip just under the lid (you can see this in the anchor locker picture in the Overview section). I put a stainless caribiner and shackle on the bow roller bail that I clip into the eye on the back of the delta. This is for security incase the chain grabber fails. Actually, the delta needs to be "pushed" off the roller even if nothing is holding it on.

Here is a close up of how the chain goes into the locker:


All text, imaging, and formatting copyright 1999, 2000 Ray Henry / RCHDesigns