Anchor & Mooring System


Project Logs

November 22, 2011

I did some final glasswork on the bow platform this past weekend.  I noticed the bow platform had a slight slope on the left side, so I added an extra piece of glass there.  I also found that glassing around the corners of the platform to be a little difficult, and therefore had a few air bubbles along the corners.  To remedy this, I used a chisel to carve out these air bubbles, then filled them with thickener and installed a small fiberglass patch over the thickened hole.  After the fiberglass was tacky, I then faired the bow platform.  So far, I’m happy with how it turned out for it’s first fairing and there will be more sanding/fairing to come!

I also t fit a test bow roller on the newly installed bow platform.  I think I’ll be able to fit two anchor rollers on the bow platform nicely.  It will be a tight fit, but there’s enough room.  I’ve also installed a block on the stern toe rail.  This will allow me to mount a stern anchor roller for my stern anchor locker.  I’ll likely have more information about this project as I move to install these two final pieces, but for now, I’ve completed preparation work for the future installation of the anchor rollers.  Here’s an image of the bow platform fit with a candidate bow roller:

Image showing a test fit of a bow roller similar to the one I might use.

 

November 10, 2011

I’ve just installed the bow platform which means I will now be able to size my bow rollers and anchors for the platform.  I also installed the aft block for a stern bow roller.  All I need to do now is to mount the stern bow roller that is sized for the block, and it will easily feed line into the future stern chain locker hawse pipe (inside the lazarette).

Regarding the bow platform, I installed it while I was installing the toe rail, as the two pieces are connected.  Here are the steps I took to install the bow platform:

  1. Cleaned caulking from old teak bow platform.  I decided to use the original platform as it is solid teak, already fits well and will allow for 2 anchors + rollers to fit.
  2. Used the original faster holes as a pattern for drilling new fasteners holes through the deck.
  3. Fit all the fasteners, then removed the platform.
  4. Wet out, then thickened the bottom of the bow platform and inserted fasteners
  5. Tighten fasteners down to clamp the piece down and make a firm bond between the deck and the platform.
  6. Cut fiberglass pieces for platform.  I used 2 layers of 1708 biaxial for each side of the platform, with the main connection points to the deck getting 4 layers in some places.
  7. Layup fiberglass – starting with the top of the platform first, then the bottom.  I laid down a layer of thickener prior to laying down the glass because the platform had some grooves on the surface (which could introduce bubbles into the layup).  I also wanted the thickner there to “stick” the wetted fiberglass into position and to hold it there.
  8. Trim dried fiberglass, water wash and sand platform.
  9. Once all the deck construction is complete, then I will come back and fair the platform
Here’s an image of what the bow platform looked like once the fiberglass lay up kicked:

Image showing the bow platform after the fiberglass has kicked. Some fiberglass on the edges needs to be trimmed, then a few gaps along the edge of the platform filled with thickened glass.

November 9, 2011
Since I’ve just finished installing the toe rail and bow platform, I’m now able to finalize the placement of cleats on deck.  Maybe I’ll be placing the backing blocks for the various cleats before next summer!

Research

Anchor
Anchor Rode
Bow Platform
Chain & Deck Pipes
Mooring Hardware
Fenders & Buoys
Windlass

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