Here’s where ours was on our Freedom 40
There was a hole into the anchor locker for the chain:
And of course it’s your boat, and I would never tell you not to do it, but flying any jib from those masts makes me nervous and reminds me that Frog Kiss tried this - several times - on a Freedom 44 and broke two carbon masts. Just keep an eye on the loads.
One more picture, just for fun
I’m incredibly grateful to you for this step-by-step explanation, really! In theory, this is exactly how I imagined it based on the repair work we’ve already done ourselves. But seeing photos of your project is extremely helpful.
Ohh we did find places where, through some fittings and openings, there was access to the balsa, and it was completely uncoated and unprotected. I don’t know whether that was something left from production or if it was the result of previous owners’ bad repairs. Maybe that’s exactly why everything rotted near the anchor chain hole , it probably was not sealed or protected properly…
Thank you! If we still had the original bowsprit, we would definitely mount it in the center without any doubt. But we have this setup now, and it makes things more complicated.
I can see that we have chainplates on both sides. And as I understand it, when there was a third sail, the foremast was supported by something like stays or some kind of rigging. But we still have not fully figured that out.
And what is the story with Frog Kiss? Could you please tell me a bit about it, or maybe send me something where I could read about it?
Okay I think I found the forum topic about frog kiss
The former owner of frog kiss is a friend of a friend. The story I was told was that The frog lost her rig due to a possible lightning strike that compromised the mast. The rig fell down on a light wind day with no warning. Who knows though… the added jib may have been the culprit.
A: You are brave to use Bruce anchors for general purpose anchoring. Very prone to clogging with weed ad occasionally will take a football size stone into its maw. At least have a different type as the second anchor.
B: I have already described my electric windlass replacement of a manual one behind the front mast, UK F33/35 CK. The new one is on the starboard coach roof, beside the forehatch. I had to sacrifice a hanging clothes locker to accommodate the chain, but moving all that weight aft brought the bow about 4 inches (100mm) out of the water with reduced pitching. Plus all the electrics are in an accessible and dry place. NB, I drop anchor up to 100 times each season - dog needs walked.
C: I like the bowsprit/jib, provided it can be taken in to keep berthing charges down.
A: We’re planning to buy a second anchor, just a bit later. Not everything at once. So far we haven’t had any problems with this one yet, but we do want to get a Rocna.
B: interesting! I found your post about this, will think about such options
C: Yes! We’re thinking the same, that maybe it could somehow retract inside. Like a telescopic one.
Hi Anna,
Always best to have more than one type of anchor available, but how often do you drop the beast? I average around 90 drops per season, partly to get my dog ashore in mid-passage but mostly to avoid the wretched folk who charge a fortune to tie up. No worth fussing if you hardly use the anchor.
My coach roof-mounted windlass has a problem with the chain lead. A horizontal one with a straight drop off the gypsy would have been better, even if a bit bulky on deck. About one drop in 30 it jams and I have to drop my second anchor (Bruce!) in a hurry while I sort out the mess.
It’s hard to say for now. We live aboard full-time, but we started this journey less than a year ago. At some times we were anchoring a lot something like 10 times in two weeks but now, for example, we’ve been sitting on a mooring for almost 2 months and will likely stay here at least another 2 so no anchor… But I think once we leave Luperón, we’ll be dropping the anchor a lot more, so we want to get a windlass sorted already.
