Rich,
Your observations are all right on. Regarding the “solid foundation” for the windlass on a ‘glassed-over foredeck, I’ve
got an 18″-wide plate of 1/4″ aluminum long enough to span the midsection of the original foredeck hatch opening and
reach to the outboard edges of the existing deck port and starboard. I’ll epoxy and thru-bolt this plate to the
underside of the deck on both sides. Over this I’ll set a heavily ‘glassed panel with a 1/4″ plywood core, , which I’m
building. This will rest on the aluminum plate and on the remaining deck lip left over from the old hatch arrangement,
and fill in the open space of the original foredeck hatch opening. The panel will be epoxied onto the plate and
bordering lip, and then fiberglassed to the surrounding deck with feathered ‘glass tape. Finally, the whole will be
faired and Awlgripped with non-skid. On top of this new deck, above the chain locker, will be a 1-1/4″ teak block upon
which will sit the new windlass, bolted through the block, deck and 1/4″ aluminum plate beneath it. It that doesn’t
hold, I’ll buy a Westsail 32.
Dealing with “the muck from the chain” is another matter, and one I have not entirely come to terms with. I’m installing
a deckwash system to rinse anchor chain as it comes aboard, but still some muck will inevitably find its way into the
chain locker. Obviously, I don’t want that stuff running into the shallow bilge area around and just forward of the main
mast step, but neither can I seal the chain locker and just let the ooze collect at the bottom of the locker. I didn’t
much care for your idea of a “lower well drain” directly overboard when I first read it, but now that I think about it
maybe it’s not such a bad idea, even without a check valve. In fact, if the chain locker were really sealed watertight
from the forward cabin, which means making a watertight bulkhead door as you suggested, then seawater splashing into and
running out of the lower chain locker might not be so bad. It might even keep it perpetually clean. I’ll just need to
work in some kind of ventilation to allow it to dry out when not underway. I’ll have to think about this some more.
Thanks for the idea!
Tor
Silver Heels, P-424 #17
http://www.SilverHeels.us
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