Looking for a side-mount bow roller

[tomlarkin]

I want to mount an anchor roller on the bow, but I have this thing poking up and getting in the way of a normal roller mount:
http://boatbuild.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/p4200011-thumb.jpg

This is the only roller I've found so far that looks like it will work.
http://donutboat.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/bowroller.png
http://www.briggsmarine.com.au/Briggs_Marine_deck_fittings.html

But I don't like that the outside upright piece is so short - it looks like the line would just slide off the roller if the boat sheared or there was a large wave.

Do any of you know of a better way of mounting a bow roller?

[TerryLL]

If you have a copy of Small Boats 2007, there's a pic of a stem-mounted bronze anchor fairlead on p. 70. It's custom made, but may give you some ideas. There are a number of off-the-shelf SS bow rollers that would mount on the breasthook/shelf and pass on one side of the stem.

[TerryLL]

Check out the bow rollers at Port Townsend Foundry. Here's the link:

http://www.porttownsendfoundry.com/rollers.htm

[tomlarkin]

Check out the bow rollers at Port Townsend Foundry.

Perfect! Just what I was looking for - the side tang looks like it should stick up an inch or more above the roller:
http://donutboat.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/ptfoundry-thumb.png

I've been looking for an excuse to drive up to Port Townsend anyway. I think I found one.



There are a number of off-the-shelf SS bow rollers that would mount on the breasthook/shelf and pass on one side of the stem.

I've looked at a hunded of them, and they just don't look right to my eye for this application. They generaly have to stick out too far so you can get the bolt through the roller, or are too far from the stem and look lopsided.

[tomlarkin]

I'm also thinking of making something like this, but the roller would be in-line of the stem unless I did something intersting with an offset:
http://donutboat.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/bowrollerflip-thumb.png

[The Bigfella]

It is easy enough to build your own gear of this nature. The entire bow roller setup on Grantala is custom-built. The fold up piece above the mooring rope in this shot had been lost and a mate of mine machined this piece up for me

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/igatenby/a4-1.jpg

He also did the bolt on piece on the port-side fairlead - and a new roller pin with greaser. I'll be putting a larger roller in at some stage....

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/igatenby/a6-3.jpg

[Jay Greer]

Pete Langly at the Port Townsend Foundry has many patterns for bow rollers.
Jay

[rbgarr]

Two items on eBay that could work for you:
http://tinyurl.com/8th7md
http://tinyurl.com/8gpt6c

[RFNK]

Double rollers are very practical and would certainly look good on your boat. You can make up a plate to secure both and spread the load over each gunwale. Rick

[PeterSibley]

Nice to see a decent sized roller on Mirelle ,with a chain retaining pin no less ! Well done .

[PeterSibley]

I have the advantage of my own private foundry .Useful sometimes .

BTW Andrew , I took your suggestion and bought the 1934 edition of Yacht Cruising .An excellent book ,thanks for the advice .

[The Bigfella]

and you'd be making a fortune if you fired it up more often...

[PeterSibley]

A fortune ...no ,it's a slow process .Not the casting but the fettling and machining ,definitely a living though ....however life has intervened .

[BrianW]

Tom,

Love your blog!

[Bob Cleek]

How big is your boat? From the looks of it, a roller may well be overkill. A roller makes sense in a heavy, larger boat, especially with a chain rode. In a smaller vessel, with nylon rode and a chain anchor leader, a roller isn't really necessary. You've got a nice well there to stand in the bow and you can lean up against the gunnel and reall get some purchase. I mean, yea, you could put one on there, but some bronze cap mounted fairleads with a nice bronze or copper chaffing plate underneath would probably serve as well, offer a cleaner look, and you'd be money ahead.

[tomlarkin]

How big is your boat?
It's only 25 feet, but I like to anchor out, and I use oversized ground tackle with a fair amount of chain. The roller is as much to keep the chain off the gunnels as anything. That said, I could always add one later if I felt the need. I'm feeling the need to finish the thing and get it into the water!


Love your blog!
Thanks Brian - I'm having a surprisingly fun time with it. I've never been one to share stuff online like this. I find myself reading older entries just to convince myself the project really is moving forward. Day-to-day progress is so minimal.