[Ilenart]

Hi everyone,

Down on my yacht today doing some work in the anchor well and noticed that there was about a bucketful of water in the bottom. My initial thought was that I should drill a hole so the water would drain out to where the automatic bilge pump is. However whilst I was getting the water out with a sponge I noticed that the water was pretty dirty, most probably from mud on the anchor chain. Now thinking that maybe this was intentional, to stop mud getting into the rest of the boat.

Any thoughts? Do your yachts have a similar spot to catch water in the anchor well? Note that the maximum amount of water that can be caught is two to three bucketfuls. Higher up is a hole where excess water would drain into the rest of the boat.

Ilenart

 

[Minnewaska]

Most are isolated from the rest of the boat for two reasons. The contaminated bilge you mentioned is one. Also, the chain locker is usually very exposed to water ingress through the hause pipe or deck hatch. In rough seas, that can be way more water than one would want to rely on their bilge pump to routinely extract.

Many chain lockers have a thru hull, above the water line, with an aft facing clam shell cover. Water above it will self drain, but they do hold some below. There can be a platform for the chain, also with drain holes, to keep it from sitting in the water.

I thought you were going to ask how you get the inevitably muddy sediment cleaned out of the bottom of this setup. No one knows.

 

[paulk]

Mud from your anchor has probably clogged the drain in your anchor locker. You may need to clear it out. You can add a drain if there isn't one, but, make sure it goes straight overboard, NOT into the bilge.

 

[Group9]

My anchor locker has a drain than consist of a through hull at the bottom of the locker connected to a piece of 3/4 inch hose that runs to another through hull a few inches lower (all above the waterline).

It constantly gets stopped up with mud, sand, small sea shells, twigs, and all other kind of small debris. And, I usually don't notice until I am washing off the anchor chain and line and notice the water level rising in it.

One day I'll replace it with a bigger drain, I guess. On the to-do list.

You don't want that stuff draining into your bilge.

 

[Faster]

Our anchor locker has a drain hole bored through the stem at 'floor' level.. works great. On a previous boat we added a proper anchor locker (originally was open to the bilge eventually) and drilled a drain hole at the new floor, through the side of the bow but outside the cored portion of the hull.. about 2 inches aft of the stem. We sealed the exposed laminate, never had an issue.

As far as we can tell we shipped VERY little water 'backwards' into the locker underway.. perhaps in waves some, but it would immediately leave again anyhow. Drains are a couple of feet above the waterline. No hoses, would be easy to clean though it's never plugged to date.