Anchor Cleat

[R Baker]

The windlass instructions state the windlass should not be used to secure the rode. When laying to chain a pennant should be used and when using the nylon rode both need to be secured ; but to what ? The cleat in front of the windlass is too small and the main cleat is aft of the windlass. This means the rode or pennant must be passed over or around to reach the cleat. The potential for chafe to the rode or pennant is a concern. As well. a second set of fairleads mounted closer to the centreline would be helpful when using a bridle pennant. Ideally the cleat forward of the windlass in my estimation, should be larger. Has anyone upgraded the forward cleat or found a simple answer to this ?

 

[Lobo]

I purchased the twin cleat to the existing bow cleat (the larger one) and installed it on top of the anchor box and use it for cleating anchor line.

If you need to snub chain, you'll have to make up a rig that connects into the anchor chain (from each side) and goes through your chocks then cleats to your regular cleat. This needs to be tight enough to take the strain of the chain off the windlass.

On a related topic, I do a lot of anchoring for race committees, and I just "drop and stop". I always lay all my chain on the bottom and only have rope (I use 8 strand brait) in the windlass gypsy.

Dave
LOBO