Look Out Look Out, Old Lady Comin Through!

Work at the hospital this week has been very exhausting, by Friday I felt like an old lady! My mom was kind enough to offer to help me with the boat projects but I just didn't have the energy for it this weekend..sigh. These are the days I wish Ocean Girl (the boat and the girl) was about twenty years younger:-). So the only project done this weekend was research and washing out the engine compartment.

I went to the SSCA meeting this Saturday, met a great group of sailors. I got a tip on a haul out facility up near Dickeson bayou called Hillmans. I am very relieved to find a place I can do my own work, most haul out yards around Clear Lake wont allow owners to do their own work. So, as soon as I get my savings back up I will haul her out and do a bottom job and replace all her T-hulls, whew will I be relieved when that is done. After haul out is done the work continues, she also needs all new standing rigging, the anchor roller with lateral bowsprit supports need to be fabricated, refrigeration installed, stove installed..I better stop listing, I am feeling like an old lady again :).

Right now I am practically obsessed with OG's ground tackle and anchor roller fabrication. I was up into the wee hours of the morning researching about it (I know, Saturday night and I am researching anchor loads and proper welding techniques? this gal needs a man!) Anyways, I spent hours and hours sifting through posts on the SSCA, Cape Dory, and Cruisers Forum (all sailing chat groups for you landlubbers out there). I also researched anchors and bow roller loads on various websites. Some samples of what I walked away with is.

1) new generation anchors are great for long scope but generally not for 2:1 (as you would see in crowded anchorages) and they like to settle before setting.

2) "off the shelf" anchor rollers wont have the strength I need if OG gets in a bad anchorage situation. I cannot always rely on a snubber to take the load, if I need to pull up or reset the anchor during a blow the anchor roller will be under tremendous strain.
** the spartan bronze roller is an exception being very strong for production made, but it will only fit one anchor at the bow and it has a metal roller which I do not like (I will see if they make a rubber roller that can fit the spartans).

3) I need a 33-35lb anchor min if New Generation, 44lb if a Manson Ray.

4) I need a min of 100ft of 5/16 chain, 200feet of line

5) I am too old and rickety to haul up 100lbs of ground tackle so I will need a windlass.

6) I think a manual windlass will be my ultimate choice due to simple/reliable design.(if I can't fix it, I can't have it aboard)

7) The kong swivel is not a good idea, will probably go with the crosby shackles that have excellent working loads and are cheaper anyways.(thanks to all the CF people for that discovery!)


I added about 11 inches of bowsprit length when I replaced the old rotten bowsprit. (I had to buy a big long plank anyways), I did this in case I needed to add J measurement to reduce the weather helm. I haven't moved the forestay yet and now will probably trim off about 4inches of the new sprit to reduce weight and get the anchor tackle load closer to the boat.

A fabricated anchor roller may allow me to fit two rollers at the bow and I could incorporate ss tubing from the end of the sprit to supports on the hull to add lateral strength to my plank style bowsprit. The only snag is my shear will not allow a strict horizontal support bar. But since the load would be lateral and downward, I think a mount that has a slight offset downward will work. If I sound like I know what I am talking about...fooled you! If you are confused - welcome to the party! I am flying by the seat of me pants, maybe that is why I am so obsessed with it, my brain is trying to figure out something but the poor thing is in way over her head (sorry for the pun:) ). In fact I think I will go dock walking and study the bowsprits again. I have been walking the docks for a few weeks now, looking at every unique anchor roller configuration for design ideas. I have been amazed how many bent, warped, broken anchor rollers there are on boats. All of the damaged rollers were "off the shelf" brands (except one), this is yet another reason I am leaning towards custom made.

Well, that is all from the exciting life aboard OG. Sorry you had to suffer through that long winded anchor stuff. I promise one day the posts will be about tropical breezes and blue water passages, but until then it is all about the refit. Hey it could be worse, at least you haven't gotten a play by play of the sanitation system replacement, oh the horror!

Cheers,
Erika