(See December, 2011 update below)

A problem area for any boat is adequate anchor - and anchor rode - storage.  This can be a particular problem for small boats because space is so limited.  Larger boats are able to use a bow roller which is able to accept almost any kind of anchor including the three most popular - Danforth, Bruce (claw), and plow (cqr).  A bow roller simply isn't practical on an O'Day Mariner, so another solution had to be found.

There were a few requirements I had regarding proper anchor stowage:

• The anchor must be easily accessible. There are too many stories of anchors in lockers becoming buried under gear, creating panic in emergency situations.

• The anchor cannot get in the way of anything.  I entertained the thought of anchor deck chocks on the foredeck until mental images of torn jibs, hung-up jib sheets and stubbed toes prevented me from giving it serious consideration.

• The anchor must be totally secure.  A loose anchor either left on deck or loose in a locker or cabin can cause havoc, scraping, banging, and tearing its way around everywhere when underway.

• The rode must be well ventilated.  Damp line will rot when left in confined spaces for extended periods of time, and it's just as important to take care of your anchor rode as well as the anchor itself.

My first anchor was a big, 13-pound Danforth anchor, and it worked extremely well.  It was actually an old Danforth from many decades ago, but it was still in terrific shape and worked like a charm every time.  However, the long shaft and crossbar, like any Danforth, made stowage a challenge, and after trying to wrest it out of cockpit lockers, I decided to hang it from the bow pulpit from a bracket, and it stayed there for two years.  This was actually a great place to put it.  It met all of the above criteria, and the rode was kept on deck with one end tied to the pulpit just in case it tried to slide overboard.  While other sailors might not consider an anchor hanging from the pulpit aesthetically pleasing, I rather enjoyed it.  The only thing I did not like was the fact the rode was out in the sunlight all the time, and the UV rays can damage it as well.

Everything changed, however, when I decided to use the bow pulpit as the place where the tack block for my asymmetrical spinnaker would go.  I would have to remove the anchor and the bracket as they would be just waiting to rip the spinnaker or hang up the sheets on the crossbar and flukes.  So, I had to think of another option for my anchor.

The idea came to me from reading the WoodenBoat magazine.  They mentioned, in a dinghy handling article, the use of an anchor bag, where the rode and small folding anchor were kept in a canvas tote bag.  In this regard, the anchor and its rode could be grabbed easily and brought up forward in an instant.  Kept in a cockpit or cabin, it wouldn't be in the way of anything and secure from rolling or sliding around.  The canvas bottom wouldn't scratch anything.  The rode would stay attached to the anchor, but it wouldn't be all that well ventilated.  Well, I thought, why not try it anyways on somewhat of a larger scale?  Without a doubt, however, the Danforth would not work - it was just too big and awkward.  Instead, I chose an 11-pound claw anchor and attached my 100-foot rode.  I loosely flaked the rode into a large canvas tote bag hand-over-hand so it would be able to deploy just as easily.  Once it was all in, I placed the anchor right on top of the rode which acted as a cushion (although the end of the shank still stuck out a little bit).  I even had enough room to put a small brush so I could clean the anchor quickly once it came out of the water.  I went to give it a test.

After a short sail, I rolled up the jib and came up into the wind to anchor.  I grabbed the tote bag, went up forward, put the bag down on the foredeck, lifted out the anchor, put it through the bow pulpit (where the chock was) and dropped it in the water, letting the rode pay out.  It payed out easily, and after the right amount I cleated it off.  If I were to stay longer, I then would have went back to drop the main and back down on the anchor using the motor.  As this was just a test, I stayed a few minutes, enjoying the surroundings, then went forward to weigh anchor.

Hand over hand, the wet rode dropped easily into the tote bag, although every now and then I had to pull up the sides of the bag to make it stiff again.  Once the anchor came up, it was covered in mud, so I simply gave it a quick cleaning with the brush as Orion started to fall off.  I had plenty of time to plop the cleaned anchor on top of the rode in the tote bag (along with the brush) and carry everything with one hand back to the cockpit.  It was a success.

However, I did not like was the fact the bag was made of canvas - it did not allow proper ventilation, and the bag itself could rot or mildew over time.  Also, the sides kept collapsing.  And I wanted something big enough to fit the whole anchor.  I had to find something with plenty of ventilation (holes), made of a material that could not rot and would remain stiff yet somewhat flexible in order for it to fit on the cabin sole or on the quarterberth.  The solution to all these things: a laundry basket!

I chose a plastic Rubbermaid "Flex 'N Carry" basket - it was perfect!  It was exactly the right size to fit the rode, anchor, and the scrub brush.  The holes on the sides provided great ventilation, and I even drilled a few holes in the bottom to allow drainage.  I was also able to attach the bitter end of the rode to one of the bow pulpit's bases as an added security measure.  The plastic would not rot, and it was easy to carry with one hand - I had found the answer!

While I do not actually anchor all that often, being able to anchor quickly, safely and easily is a big plus.  It is kept out of the way, yet it is easy to grab in an instant.  I am very happy with the way this has worked out, and who knows - now that it is so easy to anchor somewhere, perhaps I will make a point of doing it more often.

UPDATE: December 7th, 2011

After using this method for a couple years, I have found that the claw anchor is not as reliable as the Danforth.  The Danforth sets every single time without fail and holds without budging.  Occasionally, the claw anchor would set only after a couple tries, and more than once Orion dragged.  So, for peace of mind, I went back to the Danforth, only I made a bit of a compromise: the anchor is back on the bow pulpit's bracket, but the rode is still stored in the basket.  I attached a shackle to the end of the anchor and a heavy-duty carabiner to the end of the anchor rode, so I am able to attach it and detach it in about one second.  Perfect!  The rode (and a cleaning brush) stays below in the basket where it's out of the way, and I can grab it in a hurry if I need it.

But what about the asymmetrical spinnaker hanging up on it, you ask?  Well, I tried flying the spinnaker with the anchor stored in its bow pulpit bracket, and if I rig it so the sheets are on the "inside" (between the spinnaker luff and the jib), there's no chance for the sheets to get tangled in the anchor.  I tried it a number of times this past summer, and it's worked pretty flawlessly.  So, I can have the best of both worlds: flying an asymmetrical spinnaker from the bow pulpit and have the anchor there as well while its rode is safely and easily stored in the cabin.