MacGregorSailors.com

Ok, go ahead and laugh now

I have been using Navy type anchors on my boats for years. However watching the wife pull a 20 pound anchor out of the storage area and throwing it overboard (whether it is tied to a cleat or not... a whole other story ) has gotton to be a problem.


I don't want to put a traditional bow roller mounting because the wife and kids ride up there while powering.

So I got the idea from looking at a slightly bigger boat and how it holds it's anchor:



I plan on mounting a Deckmate 25 windlass

INSIDE the anchor storage area and running a pipe to the starboard side where the anchor will be. Here is a photoshopped image of what it should look like.



The Deckmate 25 will fit INSIDE the anchor storage area with the plastic cover/light housing removed. The pipe will be 2" pvc that I will wrap fiberglass matting around.

If this works I will post the construction on my website and in the mod section here

If it does't I will have a big hole to fill on the starboard side and I will post nothing....

Wish me luck or tell me how wrong this is.... Thanks, Erik

My friend I believe you have chosen one of, if not the most inefficient anchors available for use, by boats of this size. TTBOMK and from ALLTHE REPORTS I have seen and read I recall only the mushroom as rating worse for holding power. 14 to 17 lb anchors of 3 other other types hold better. Oh and the nice rubber coating further reduces its ability to set and then to stay set. If your not over-nighting it may........... not matter as long as you never really need it to hold you. I my wife and my grandsons and daughters have all set up front at one time or another and I ( have an M) nor they ever put our legs thru the center but prefer to straddle to two forward most supports. That means my anchor roller and 17 lb claw anchor never are an issue. If any of that helps ...

I would love to see this mod, but advise against actually using the anchor for anything but a lunch hook. But what a great mod it would be! As long as you are at it consider mounting a triple gun turret over the anchor locker, paint the Mac grey and go patrol for pirates!

You must be anchoring in a couple feet of mud bottom and weeds for that anchor to hold.

If you go ahead with this mod you might want to add a metal plate or something else strong enough to take a hit from the anchor, you don't rip a hole in your hull while raising the anchor in a heavy swell.

Love to see the end result.

Glenn

That's a cool idea, but I agree with the man above--it will hold only marginally. Even with two such anchors, you will drift in medium to strong winds

Hey, if that doesn't work out, you can fashion a round porthole. That'll brighten up the fore sleeping quarters

David Mellon wrote: As long as you are at it consider mounting a triple gun turret over the anchor locker, paint the Mac grey and go patrol for pirates!

Don't encourage Erik. He already thinks he's a pirate . . . . and knows how to have fun with a Mac! (Just had to share.)

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v700/ ... es2007.flv

Thanks billy, I had long ago forgotten about that. Love those gun ports.

~Rich

Go for it. But don't forget you have to have one on the other side as well!

Erik, To be honest, I'm a bit surprised that you're even considering this mod. I would have figured you for the 16" guns on turrets

Cheers,

~Bob

don't forget te "BB" lettering...

-jr

Ok I knew I had it coming... Arrgghhh

I have actually used this type anchor with my 19 foot macgregor and the 26X for years. The water bottoms are usually mud and sand here by the beach and river. I have used it several times over long weekends and not had it break loose.

hehe I like the port hole idea in case this idea doesn't work out.

Billy... who do I have to pay / pilage / rape for you to delete that video...

I will be working on the guns before the next Pirate Fest run... (now where did I put those cannon ball jello molds )

Erik Hardtle wrote: I will be working on the guns before the next Pirate Fest run... (now where did I put those cannon ball jello molds )

Have you ever posted how you built the guns Erik ... they look like fun!

Glenn

So I'm killing time this afternoon with some sweet tea and my copy of the Sailor's Sketchbook when I hit page 84. Right there at the top of the page is a sketch about adding a hawse pipe and stowing the anchor on the side of the boat like you are thinking about. Now in the sketch he's put a fortress type anchor but I don't see why you couldn't find or fabricate appropriate gear to hold any anchor.

The sketch just shows the fluke brackets, lip plate, and crown bearing plate mounted on the hull instead of on deck but I though of this thread when I saw it. I love this book, lots of good ideas.

Re: Sailor's Sketchbook - neat stuff indeed! And did you recognize the similarity between pages 81-83 and some of Highlanders custom mods?!