Mooring Gear and Ground Tackle
I want gear more than adequate to handle transiting the Panama Canal and extensive anchoring in the eastern
Caribbean. I will want to be able to set 2 bow anchors and a stern anchor.
1. Bridle with thimbles for anchoring. Is bridle for stern anchor necessary or appropriate?
2. For bow: 2 anchor rollers with tippers, 2x60 lbs Bruce, 2x300 ft 3/8” chain.
3. For stern: 1x40 lbs Danforth with 250 ft 3/8” chain.
4. 1 grapnel (size ?) 150 ft 3/8” 3 strand twisted nylon, with trip line.
5. Electric windlass with safety circuit breakers, and manual override, and remote control at helm.
6. Large cleats on bows and crossbeam, and at stern for stern anchoring. Deck cleats must be large enough
to easily handle 7/8 inch lines without figure eights slipping off while constantly being paid out or
hauled in. All cleats must be through-bolted to backing plates below decks. Also need 4 sturdy closed
chocks and 4 sturdy bitts.
7. Dock lines: 4x150ft 7/8” 3 strand twisted nylon, each with eye splice with 3ft opening at one end.
Fenders: 6 large spherical or “tear-drop” balls each about 3ft across. This combination should be
adequate for transiting the Panama Canal.
8. I will rely on Alwoplast to recommend most equipment taking into consideration my objectives as
summarized in the Background section above.
I prefer anchors be deployed from the chain locker, aft of the tramps, see Exhibit 4 (Leopard 47). Fontaine Pajot
also uses this approach. If there are good reasons not to do this I am willing to listen, but it seems this approach
keeps the anchor weight farther aft of the bows and probably is more comfortable for the person working the
anchors.
