Anchor Stowage
Many have shown a desire for a bow roller so that a claw anchor can be used on the c250. I have been stowing my claw in the port cockpit locker...but I understand that the newer C250s don't have a lot of extra stowage in the cockpit because of the propane locker in the starboard locker.
While not believing they would fit, I tested to see if the anchor locker would hold two anchors and whilenot large, two complimenting anchors will fit. A 13 lb Deepset II Danforth and a 16.5 lb Horizon Claw each with 200 foot of 1/2 inch rode including 15 feet of chain will stow without much difficulty though the manner in which they are inserted has to be well thought out as there is no extra space.
Choosing to stow both in the locker means that the danforth either has to be set first or temporarily shifted slightly to enable removal of the claw.
Against convention, stow the claw prior to its rode with the shank up and forward so that the shackle is very near the front of the locker. Stow the rode within the pocket created by the anchor keeping it all forward of the claw and under the shank so that the anchor can quickly be removed with the rode following. Of course store the rode starting at the bitter end which should be made to the eye within the locker. The rode for the danforth stows aft of the claw with the danforth stock resting in the molded indentations. The danforth as usual will be stowed after the rode is within the locker.
It is helpful also to let some of the rode for the danforth rise above the stowage level of the anchor by letting some outside coils run along the sides of the locker outside of the stock.
Note: The stock on the Deepset II was slightly long to set within the indentations of the locker. I used a hack saw to shorten each end by an inch.
I will report any problems discovered with both stowed in this fashion after our April cruise to the Bahamas.
Well, we didn't make it to the Bahamas... wifes mother needed us... maybe next year. I did however sail 24 days during the summer cruise and lay to an anchor every night. Having both anchors in the locker presented little problems which the convenience overshadows. It was also no problem to store the rode for the Horizon Claw first and then the anchor. Simply stow the rode in the forward section of the locker and then hook the claw between the piles of rode for the two anchors and lean it to starboard. The only inconvenience is that to use the claw anchor... the danforth needs set aside momentarily... this proved not a problem.