Anchor Platform Support or Strut

[Richard]

Has anyone installed a strut or support for the teak anchor platform?  This would presumably be made of stainless steel and go from the bow to the underside of the platform to better take the weight of the anchor and chain during deployment of the anchor and stowage of the anchor.

If you made one, can you direct me to who made it for you?  Did it work out OK?

Thanks.
Richard
SV Water Spirit (cutter)

[S/V Deo Volente]

I had some stainless tubing and had a a couple plates welded to it.
The easy way is to work with some PVC to get your angles , then have a machine shop make it up

[Richard]

Thanks!  That looks just like what I was thinking of.

How did you attach it to the underside of the anchor platform?  Did you make a block of wood to spread the support?

When you say make it of PVC, how do you make the ends?  Out of some flat PVC pieces and glue them on?

Richard

[S/V Deo Volente]

There is a plate also welded to the tube that is bolted to the wood platform. It's fastened with stainless carriage bolts so they are flush on top. I am only thinking of pvc as a model. I actually used a large wood dowel, the trick is to get both plates aligned with each other so one end isn't tilted sideways. If you have flat pvc that would be good, but 1/4 plywood can be used for the mock up.

[Richard]

Please add pictures of the upper end from underneath if you can. Also, did you use one fastener on the lower attachment? 

[S/V Deo Volente]

OK here you go. It's not the best picture.
I used one fastener on the lower attachment due to poor planning, but it's worked for the last 22 years. 
I should add that the sprit did fail this summer during a violent thunderstorm when jerked sideways, we had wind shear over 80 mph. It will be rebuilt using G10 with a teak overlay.

[Richard]

I notice that you have a water hose coiled up near your windlass.  I was thinking of doing something similar.  I have an old fresh water pump I was going to put down below and use it for washing the anchor and chain.  There is space for this where the (very old) Lectra San is now installed.  I will remove the Lectra San.

How did you set your water hose up?

By the way, I ordered some new anchor rollers that have a groove in the center to accommodate chain.  I think this may smooth out the chain movement when using the electric windlass.

It looks like you did this too.  Where did you get the rollers? I just ordered some cheap Sea Dog ones that have a 5/8" center hole size.  The current bolt on my boat is 1/2".  The rollers I have now are original and are looking pretty poorly!

Richard

[S/V Deo Volente]

The wash-down is teed off the head intake, and uses a pump with a pressure switch. It's mounted behind the shower stall, might be different in the pilothouse configuration.
I used a polyurethane bow roller/stop for boat trailers. It was similar to what Pearson had used on mine but the poly ones looked nicer.

[dkeith]

I've considered doing this with fresh water from my tanks.  My goal is to keep water moving though the tanks and have a fresh-water wash down.