How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

[minuteman62-64]

Getting older now. More of a chore to hold the anchor clear of the side of my boat when deploying it.

Boat is 16' aluminum skiff. Anchor weighs maybe 25 lbs. and has 10 ft. or so of chain attached.

Is there anything available that will fit over the gunnel to protect it - so I can let the anchor chain slide over it?

Yeah, it's aluminum. I can just let the chain slide over the existing gunnel (which is what I sometimes do now), but would prefer some sort of protection.

 

[Malibu Rudder]

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

Have you considered using an automatic anchoring system like the Minn Kota deckhand? I am not sure if this would work on your boat but I love mine. Easy and VERY clean. I do not have to move from the captains chair. It is so convenient and keeps the mess off my boat and will eliminate all lifting.

 

[JimS123]

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

Get some rubber gasket material and make a pad that goes over the side - something like they put over your fender when they work on your car.

Or,.....buy an anchor setup with a hand crank windlass that mounts over the gunnel. I can't give you a name or site to find one but google a little and I'm sure you'll find one.

Or.....if it were me I'd throw away that anchor and buy a good one. That's probably the most expensive way out. For your boat you shouldn't need more than an 8# anchor and 5' of chain. Good fluke anchors are expensive but worth the money for your back. Mine holds a 19' I/O.

 

[bspeth]

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

get rid of the chain maybe

 

[Thalasso]

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

16 ft aluminum boat. ^^^^ get rid of the chain

 

[Malibu Rudder]

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

LOL Oops!! I guess the deckhand was a little overkill. I completely missed the 16ft aluminum skiff part. Oye!

 

[BatDaddy1887]

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

Maybe take a section of pvc pipe, I guess inch-and-a-half diameter and cut out a section long ways, just enough to fit over gunnel and snap into place and stay. Real simple, small footprint.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

16 ft aluminum boat. ^^^^ get rid of the chain

OK, I'm old, but not the ancient mariner by any means. I thought the chain was necessary to make the anchor lay down so the flukes would catch? It came that way from the PO, so I was thinking that was the way it should be.

 

[Bondo]

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

Getting older now. More of a chore to hold the anchor clear of the side of my boat when deploying it.

Boat is 16' aluminum skiff. Anchor weighs maybe 25 lbs. and has 10 ft. or so of chain attached.

Is there anything available that will fit over the gunnel to protect it - so I can let the anchor chain slide over it?

Yeah, it's aluminum. I can just let the chain slide over the existing gunnel (which is what I sometimes do now), but would prefer some sort of protection.

Ayuh,.... Toss the chain over-board 1st, Then the anchor,....

 

[JimS123]

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

OK, I'm old, but not the ancient mariner by any means. I thought the chain was necessary to make the anchor lay down so the flukes would catch? It came that way from the PO, so I was thinking that was the way it should be.

Yes, you need the chain, but it doesn't have to be that long for that little boat. Nor does the anchor need to be that heavy.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

Slip a chunk of this stuff over the chain and secure with a couple of tie-wraps. You need to get a size the chain will fit into.

PVC tubing - Watts 7/8 in. OD x 5/8 in. ID x 10 ft. PVC Tubing-SVMK10 at The Home Depot

You might be over doing it with a 25# anchor. A lighter one will help and the right one will hold the skiff.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

I say you need some chain but not that much (and a lighter anchor). The heavier the chain, the less you need proportionately, so consider 3' of heavy chain.

They make chain in plastic but it's stiff and eventually cracks and rusts from the inside.

Watermen put all kinds of things on their hulls and gunwales to protect them from crab pots, oyster tongs, clam dredges, etc. Often a few horizontal strips of wood on the hull and something over the gunwale and rails. Even an old car floor mat or door mat, but you'd need to find a way to attach it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

my 24' boat has a 13# anchor. I think your 25# is overkill

that being said, as BatDaddy pointed out, a piece of PVC pipe, take it on the table saw (backwards against the blade) and cut a slot, then snap it on. dont feed the PVC too fast, the blade will catch it and chip it vs cutting it.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

I have a 21' heavy glass boat and my anchor is 1/2 the weight of yours.... and I fish the Atlantic.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

If you absolutely want to keep the chain they sell liquid rubber in a can at Home Depot that you can cover it with. It is some good stuff. Or go buy chain that's coated with rubber.
I can't imagine your taking a 16 ft aluminum skiff out in rough water or fast running. Just the line and anchor should be enough to hold the boat.
A bigger boat that's more susceptible to wind would need chain.

http://www.iboats.com/Vinyl-Coated-...16077275--session_id.277258155--view_id.39729

 

[ondarvr]

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

Instead of PVC use black poly pipe, more flexible, less likely to crack and slipprier.

 

[agallant80]

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

First what type of anchor do you have? A 22lb Bruce will do up to 40foot boat clocking in at 20,000lbs. If you don't know what type then post a photo or google anchor types and let us know. For the record 25lbs is insane on that boat. I use a 25 on my boat that is over 7,000 LBS.

As for the chain you need it so the anchor is pulled across the bottom to set

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

sounds like the concensus is: lighten up!

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

Well, I'm definitely getting weaker. What I though was 25 lbs. actually weighs only 15 lbs. And, I'm also losing memory at a faster rate. What I remembered as a 10 foot anchor chain is actually only 5 feet.

Photo shows existing 15 lb. anchor and chain together with possible alternative, a 5 lb. anchor that I had.

Still an issue with hoisting the now determined 15 lb. anchor. You guys think the 5 lb. one would work if rigged with the 5 foot chain (15'6" aluminum skiff, used almost exclusively in bay)? I know it's a different type of anchor. San Diego and Mission bays are almost exclusively soft bottom. My previous anchor expertise almost exclusively involves a cinder block tied to a length of closeline

I am still wanting to put something over the gunnel. The PVC or poly pipe approach looks like it would work.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How to Protect Gunnel When Deploying Anchor

use the danforth and half of the chain