How much 5/16 anchor chain will fit in a 3270?-gctid388945

[Guest]

I have a 1986 32 Bayliner and want to replace my rope and chain rode with all chain. My windless requires 5/16 high strength chain in the gypsy. Before I buy the chain I want to get an idea of the maximum amount of chain my anchor locker will hold. I have heard there is room for about 150 feet but before I buy I would like to hear from some of you who have put 5/16 chain in your 32 anchor locker.

John Gronholt

[Nikko]

I have 200' of 1/4" BBB - and have to knock the pile over if I'm bringing in more than 100' (have a round access hatch in the front of the deck locker that's easily removed so I can reach into the chain locker to push the pile over - works really well). But I'm pretty sure I have room for an additional 100' coil of line as well - least I'm gonna try...

[nile]

I have 150 ft of 5/16 BBB (which I have to shake to make it fall into the locker) and there is room left for at least 50 ft if not more.

[Guest]

I have about 190 ft in mine, I just got it all installed and I have had Friends along to knock it over while I am bringing it in.They tell me I have more room but I am not sure how much. I would think you can get at least 200 ft if you knock the pile over a couple of times. I used a piece of plexi glass over the hatch opening with a vertical slot in it. It is cut larger than the opening and sits up against the opening from the inside. It keeps the chain from falling out of the hatch onto the vee birth and the slot lets me knock it over with another piece of plexi glass cut like a long ruler so it fits into the slot and you can push the chain pile.

[Guest]

That was a big help. I also have some plastic covering in front of the door to the V berth to keep the chain from coming out. I will try at least 150 and perhaps 175.

[Guest]

gronholt wrote:
That was a big help. I also have some plastic covering in front of the door to the V berth to keep the chain from coming out. I will try at least 150 and perhaps 175.

I have never quite understood how the rode is stored on the 32xx when you have a windlass. There is a locker literally right underneath the windlass and in addition the standard anchor rode locker on the starboard side under the deck. Are these two storage compartments somehow tied together? Is there more than one way to configure this with a windlass? I would appreciate if someone could explain this and even better if anyone has pictures.

Thanks.

[Nikko]

Use the locker under the windlass. You have to cut a corresponding hole in the deck for the chain to drop through. I keep a spare anchor (and rode), the windlass handle, a cheap ss knife with a sharp blade and a few mooring lines in the deck locker.

[Guest]

I have 200 feet of 5/16. I do have to knock the pile down to get it all in. I use the windlass handle through the chain hawser to knock it down

[Uncle_Bob]

I had 150 feet of 5/16 and 100 of rope with the plexi half way up the locker entrance. Another option is to run an angled PVC tube through the deck past the chain locker to the hull below the chain locker. Then the chain, as much as you need, falls to the hull area under the bunk. You can glass in a barrier across that locker to keep the chain from sliding aft.

[Guest]

I have 150' of 5/16" chain and 100' of 5/8" 8 plait rope but never use the rope. I'm sure that 175' or even 200' would fit if there was no rope. Be careful where you place the hole in the deck since the deck slants slightly aft, if you place the hole in the center of the locker, gravity drops the chain into the locker wall. If you place the hole forward of center, the chain drops into the deepest portion of the locker and I normally do not need to knock the pile down. I'll give you three guesses how I found this out. Additionally, I installed 4" access holes in both the upper port side of the bulkhead wall and the front of the deck locker in case I do need to adjust the pile. Hope this helps.

[Guest]

Kåre L wrote:
I have never quite understood how the rode is stored on the 32xx when you have a windlass. There is a locker literally right underneath the windlass and in addition the standard anchor rode locker on the starboard side under the deck. Are these two storage compartments somehow tied together? Is there more than one way to configure this with a windlass? I would appreciate if someone could explain this and even better if anyone has pictures. Thanks.

I have never looked carefully at a boat without a windlass, so not sure what actually came from the factory. There is a locker formed in the very bow of the boat, in the front of the vee berth, and it's formed by the port and starboard sides of the hull at the bow and the aft vertical section is made up by the small bulkhead at the front of the vee berth. This is directly under the windlass as mentioned. The aft bulkhead typically has a wooden door cut into it to allow you to access the rode from the vee berth to clean the compartment because the drain hole is small and the debris accumulates, make the connection of the rode to the hull, and flake the chain as it piles up and finally stops the windlass from operating. I have 205 ft of BBB 1/4" and this occurs on mine.

From the factory, the standard anchor rode locker on the deck does not connect to the compartment mentioned above. A common modification is to drill a 4" hole in the very front vertical wall of the deck anchor rode locker and install an access plate, thus joining the two compartments. Then when you're bringing in the chain/rope, you can reach into the forward compartment FROM THE DECK, and flake the chain to either side. This avoids having to have someone down below do this, or your having to run down to move the pyramid formed to each side and make more space. I've made this modification and for the $12 for the access plate along with the risk of ripping your arms off with the 4" holesaw bites through, it's well worth it.

So what happens when you open the bulkhead door from the vee berth to flake the rode and there is already 80% of the rode in there? It wants to fall out into the vee berth on your nice cushion, if so equipped. So the other common modification is to put a piece of wood or clear plastic inside the locker, across the inside of the doorway, but it does not go completely to the top of the opening which the door covers, so you can reach past it to again flake the rode if needed. So this piece covers 75% of the opening created by the doorway. And yes, pictures would be better and I'll post pictures later today if I remember (a true challenge).

Nikko wrote:
Use the locker under the windlass. You have to cut a corresponding hole in the deck for the chain to drop through. I keep a spare anchor (and rode), the windlass handle, a cheap ss knife with a sharp blade and a few mooring lines in the deck locker.

Haven't you found that ropes stored here get wet and eventually mold?

[ALASKAN_ADVENTURER]

i have 100 1/4" bbb and 200ft med lay 1/2" nylon, useing a 36 class power winch, will install this weekend and post next week.

[Guest]

Thanks, Dean - that was very helpful!

[Guest]

Kåre L wrote:
Thanks, Dean - that was very helpful!

Your welcome, anytime.