Sounds like a good DIY project, although there are purpose-made rollers out there advertised in some boating mags. I have wondered about using s/s fittings to build a cradle for a roller, so that I could stow the loaded roller in the lazarette till needed, then when needed simply take it out of the lazarette and 'lock' it into place. The boat's load is not led to the roller, of course, as the line is cleated off.

If you decide to undertake this mission please take lots of photos and write it up for JibSheet. We've been in a dry spell for a while on new articles, so please think of us. Thanks.

Hey Dannyog,

I have been planning this improvement too as I have a bow roller left over from my last boat. I took some pictures of a couple of my neighbors' boats.

The first one is a simple roller mounted on the transom outboard of the vent location. Has a nice hawser pipe to drop the rode into the lazarette, mounted in place of the vent. However I imagine it's a bit of a fiddle getting the line down there, probably not so much trouble with the chain.

The second and third pics are of another boat with a bow roller mounted over the transom but supported with a custom bracket made to fit the corner between the transom and gunwale. The rode in this one drops through a deck plate in the lazarette bench, not sure if I'd like having that much of an opening to the sea. Note on this boat the custom stainless bead along the lower edge of the transom to stop the chain from bashing against the hull. Made necessary by the fact that the roller doesn't extend outward of the transom at the transom's lower end.

If you beat me to it I'd like to see how yours turns out!

Regarding your fuel thread, I went out on Friday and got bumped around a lot with a light south right on the nose and long period swell directly on the beam . . . gave up and came home and went sailing Saturday and Sunday instead. See you at the Islands sometime soon!

- nick

FWIW, rather than modifying a bow roller, I have a proper stern roller mounted on the top of the transom. It provides a fairlead to the starboard winch for anchor raising. I don't have a photo of mine handy, but it's like this one.....

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|10391|29596|712840&id=31494

Mike

Hi all,

I just finished installing a stern roller on my boat. It is not like my bow roller, in that it does not extend away fron the transom. I figure to use it after dropping the anchor, to lead fair to my sheet winch. I will include a pic of it. I made little spacers out of epoxy and lots of glass to clear the vent.

Darn, I forgot to take a picture of the installed unit! I will get one this week and post it if anybody wants to see it. And I will test it sometime soon.

Cheers, Bill

Mike and Bill,

Does that two-roller device take the load, or do you cleat off the rode?

When you raise the anchor, what do you do about the fact that you can;t get the rode out of the roller? I guess that would force you to hang the anchor off the outside of the rail?

Thanks

Nick

Hi Nick. The metal "strap" across the top is there to keep the rode from jumping, but it is easily removable with a wingnut on one side (see photo below). When the anchor is down, I prefer to remove the rode from the roller and fasten it to the stern cleat in order to relieve any sideways pressure on the roller. When raising, just drop the rode into the roller and lead the cleated end to a winch. The thing is through bolted with a backing plate, so you could probably just leave the rode in the roller while anchored, but I just dont. Hope that helps.:D

Mike

[ATTACH]734[/ATTACH]

I agree with what Mike says. I was planning on leaving it inside the roller when the anchor is deployed, but I will have to see.

Here is my installation. I didn't want to move the air vent, hence the spacers. Everything is super strong, as there are similar spacers as backing plates, epoxied in place.

I'll let you know when I finally "road test" it. :)

Cheers, Bill