Second anchor

[sandkrice]

I have a 232 cuddy and am looking for a convenient place to store a second anchor.  I would rather not throw it in the port storage as it gets its fair share of "necessities" thrown into it.  Since there are plenty of these boats out there I figure that someone has a nifty storage idea???

Thanks,

[SlipperyWhenWet]

I've not found a convenient place for my second anchor but what I use is the black fiberglass tub in the engine compartment.  I cut a stiff 2" thick foam the width of the bottom that runs along the bottom of the tub and then wraps up the fore and aft ends of the tub about half way to the top of the tub.  This creates a nice 2" wide lip that allows me to stand  my danforth or flute type anchor on it's side running fore and aft and is supported at both ends by the foam ledge.  With the anchor in place it essentially divides the tub in two.  I then put my anchor rode into a bag and place it and all of my fenders on each side of the anchor standing vertically in the tub.  This keeps the anchor centered in the tub and I have easy access to the fenders.  I chose this location because both the anchor and the fenders tend to be wet and dirty.  The tub has drain holes and the engine heat helps to dry the rode and fender lines.  This is a bit difficult to describe in words and I don't have a pic of this arrangement to post.  It's not all that convenient but the only time I use my second anchor is on windy days or when I overnight.

I then keep my life vests and ropes in the port cockpit seat storage bin and my tools, cleaning supplies, spot lights and cockpit cover in the starboard seat storage bin.  Then my camper top has three nice storage bags that slide perfectly in the pockets behind the seat backs on the port and starboard sides of the u-shaped seating (no walk-thru transom on mine).

Finally, I've made a nice rack that will let me carry a pair of ski's, boat hook and cockpit cover pole suspended above the motor.  If you have a cuddy the ski's are a real problem.

more than you asked for, I hope that some of it was useful......

[sandkrice]

Unfortunately our Rinker is in storage at the lake so I can't confirm this but I am pretty sure I don't have the black tub in the engine compartment.  I like the rode / bag idea and I will try to include this in whatever I end up doing.  Also, the other ideas are great.  THANKS

[ANZAC_1915]

Where do you attach it when you use it? Towing eye at the front or something on the primary anchor windlass?

[sandkrice]

I have not used a second anchor as of yet.  We have camped several times using just one anchor and I would prefer the security of a second.  I would expect that it will be tied to the stern.  Maybe the ski rope hook.

[cableguygreg]

When I use my second anchor, I tie it off to one of the cleats on the stern of the boat. I use it more to keep the boat from swinging around if it is windy out. I store mine in the black tub that is on the starboard side of the boat in the engine compartment.

[Gene]

Unfortunately our Rinker is in storage at the lake so I can't confirm this but I am pretty sure I don't have the black tub in the engine compartment.  I like the rode / bag idea and I will try to include this in whatever I end up doing.  Also, the other ideas are great.  THANKS

Does the rack sit in the bay like a dish rack? Great idea. My 97 Cuddy has limited room as well. I used to have the old standard fluke anchor and it wouldnt fit in the anchor hatch up front so i cut about two inches off it and then didnt work well. Finally I got a slide anchor and it is the best anchor I have ever seen, pricey and heavy but works great and holds in all weather and all bottom conditions. I usually have wipe down towels and chamois in the anchor hatch up front. I wouldnt put an anchor in there anyway cause it will bounce around. I also use the black tub in the engine bay. It really is a pain to have to open the hatch to get to the anchor but what else can you do, maybe a 270 but I just paid this one off.

[jjlovett]

I have the slide anchor as well for my second - stores a lot easier (I keep mine in the spot behind the seat in the cockpit with my transient lines) and even the Admiral can deploy it because of the integrated "hammer". Thinking of installing some rubber bungees in that storage compartment to keep it from bumping around too much.

It was expensive but we are talking about boating here, right?

Just keep smiling and signing on the bottom line for the toys...

[SlipperyWhenWet]

Where do you attach it when you use it? Towing eye at the front or something on the primary anchor windlass?

I deploy my main anchor off of the bow (from the storage compartment).  Once I get a good bite I have the "co-captain" (wife) back the boat up while I pay-out a bunch more rode.  I then secure the front anchor rode and have the wife bump in and out of gear to keep the rode taunt while I throw the second anchor off of the rear swim platform, again paying-out a bit of extra rode after it settles.  I then tie it off to one of the rear cleats and return to the front anchor.  I then pull the boat forward (by hand) til the rear anchor rode gets taunt.  I then tie off the front anchor again.  The front anchor is the one that I really set good and the rear stops any swing from wind and keeps me centered in the cove for my overnight stay.  This has worked reliably every time for me.  I have a 200 ft. rode on the front anchor and a 150 ft. rode on the rear.

[SlipperyWhenWet]

Does the rack sit in the bay like a dish rack? Great idea. My 97 Cuddy has limited room as well.

This is hard to describe but I will try to find a pic of the installation.

[challenger3x2]

We keep the 18 pound anchor that came with the boating the anchor locker at the nose,,  there is 100 feet of line in there and it's anchored to the mount ring inside the locker...
My second anchor is a 28 pound anchor that was fished off the bottom many years ago while I was pulling up my boats anchor...  At first my wife elected to retrieve the anchor that afternoon...  She had a hard time getting it freed up so I applied some engine power and broke it free... At that point I took the rope and knew that something else was on the anchor... I was expecting a tire or a  tree stump or something covered in muck....   We all laughed when we saw it was another anchor wrapped around our anchor....  It had maybe 10 feet of rope still attached and looked like it was cut by something many years ago... We brought it on board after cleaning the muck off and named it Baby Huey.... I cleaned it up and repainted it,, added a new chain and rope and attached it to the anchor mount in the nose of the boat...

The anchor that came with the Rinker never held fast,,,when deployed on it's own it always pops free...  I have use both anchors almost every time I deploy...   Since the smaller one fits in the mount and hangs in the opening of the locker it is the first to be thrown in and set...  Then we will reposition slightly and through Baby Huey off the opposite side...  The anchor lines are a slightly different color and size so it is easier to tell then apart...   They both fit in the locker and the lines rarely get tangled...

[SlipperyWhenWet]

Does the rack sit in the bay like a dish rack? Great idea. My 97 Cuddy has limited room as well.

This is hard to describe but I will try to find a pic of the installation.

Here is a shot of the rack although I have modified it since this picture was taken.  I originally secured the ski's with long Velcro straps but did find a better way to do it.  I also added plastic clips to secure the boat hook and cockpit cover prop ( I previously used Velcro there too).  The rack is treated lumber (2"x2" & 1"x2") with stainless steel hangers.  All lumber is padded with 1/8" foam and then wrapped with black vinyl.
After I upgraded my top, I cut the top bow holder extensions down to the width of the fore and aft 2"x2" material (the new top had wider bows).  I then installed nylon loops from the rear cleat bolts to support the new top bows towards the aft of the engine compartment (this gives you less obstructions in the engine compartment and I rarely have my bimini in there now).  This thing also holds your noodles and paddle well. 

After I get the boat out of storage I'll take a shot of it loaded up with my "improved configuration".

[sandkrice]

Wow! That is a nice job.  Thanks for the pics.  Youv'e expanded my horizons.  Hmmm

[Gene]

Beautiful job SWW!! I have some work to do, and some cleaning. Thanks for the pictures.

[cableguygreg]

Great job SWW. I now have a project to do when I get my boat out of storage. With the amount of fenders that I have, my bimini never stays in the straps. The one thing that I did for my stern light and cover poles is mount plastic clips to the underside of the sun pad in the engine compartment. It keeps them out of the way. Unfortunately I don't have a picture.