2001amberjack29
New Member
Hi All
Excuse the newbieness. As my username implies, I'm the proud new owner of a 29' 2001 AJ. It's in pretty good shape aft of the anchor locker, but a real mess therein. Clearly that function wasn't used much. The first sign was the detached anchor was in the anchor locker. The rhode had a horrible splice, that wouldn't fit through the panama canal, let alone a windlass. I had that redone professionally and it now fits through the gypsy great. The next finding was no power on the windlass motor(Lofrans Marlin), after some detective work, I concluded it's the ground pin that broke from the armature (probably due to the anchor hitting the cables). I removed that whole assembly from the anchor box (a real PITA), and a few $$ later that is now running like a champ. When I finally attached the anchor, I realized my struggle is still not over: the anchor is I got with the boat is too big !!
The previous owner admitted to having bought the boat without an anchor, and adding his own (the white one pictured).
The problem is when fully retracted on the chain the tip of the anchor hits the bow's fiberglass. At 30kts this is bound to do some damage. It almost seems as if the "anchor guide" (my name for the stainless channel with two rollers) is just too short to make it work with typical anchors for a 30' boat.
Looking at a couple 27' and 29' Sundancers moored right next to me, the odd thing is their anchors and anchor guides are near identical pieces, except in one detail; the angle. On the Amberjack the deck is practically horizontal, and the anchor guide is mounted a little recessed. On the Sundancers, the decks are slanted, and the anchor guide sticks out more over the tip of the bow. Anchors are basically similar sizes and shapes. But they have at least 4" clearance, where I have none. The top of the anchor (where the chain attaches) also seems to ride up on mine, whereas it lies flat on the others.
I tried 4 anchors, they all have the same problem: the tip contacts my bow before the anchor is secured against the front bow roller. I've tried three plows from 15lb to 35lbs, as well as an aluminum fluke - all within the recommend size for ~24-30ft yachts. Although I can see with some modification to the anchor guide how I can make them all fit, I feel it's wrong to change the boat to match the anchor. But for the life of me I can't seem to find any anchor in the recommended size that works on this assembly.
So what's the secret ? What is the original anchor on the 2001 AJ 29' ? And can I still find it ?
More pics at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xvs4le6w5pb9ukl/1U2MWsjoD6. Couldn't figure out how to post more to this thread yet.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Nicol
Excuse the newbieness. As my username implies, I'm the proud new owner of a 29' 2001 AJ. It's in pretty good shape aft of the anchor locker, but a real mess therein. Clearly that function wasn't used much. The first sign was the detached anchor was in the anchor locker. The rhode had a horrible splice, that wouldn't fit through the panama canal, let alone a windlass. I had that redone professionally and it now fits through the gypsy great. The next finding was no power on the windlass motor(Lofrans Marlin), after some detective work, I concluded it's the ground pin that broke from the armature (probably due to the anchor hitting the cables). I removed that whole assembly from the anchor box (a real PITA), and a few $$ later that is now running like a champ. When I finally attached the anchor, I realized my struggle is still not over: the anchor is I got with the boat is too big !!
The previous owner admitted to having bought the boat without an anchor, and adding his own (the white one pictured).
The problem is when fully retracted on the chain the tip of the anchor hits the bow's fiberglass. At 30kts this is bound to do some damage. It almost seems as if the "anchor guide" (my name for the stainless channel with two rollers) is just too short to make it work with typical anchors for a 30' boat.
Looking at a couple 27' and 29' Sundancers moored right next to me, the odd thing is their anchors and anchor guides are near identical pieces, except in one detail; the angle. On the Amberjack the deck is practically horizontal, and the anchor guide is mounted a little recessed. On the Sundancers, the decks are slanted, and the anchor guide sticks out more over the tip of the bow. Anchors are basically similar sizes and shapes. But they have at least 4" clearance, where I have none. The top of the anchor (where the chain attaches) also seems to ride up on mine, whereas it lies flat on the others.
I tried 4 anchors, they all have the same problem: the tip contacts my bow before the anchor is secured against the front bow roller. I've tried three plows from 15lb to 35lbs, as well as an aluminum fluke - all within the recommend size for ~24-30ft yachts. Although I can see with some modification to the anchor guide how I can make them all fit, I feel it's wrong to change the boat to match the anchor. But for the life of me I can't seem to find any anchor in the recommended size that works on this assembly.
So what's the secret ? What is the original anchor on the 2001 AJ 29' ? And can I still find it ?
More pics at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xvs4le6w5pb9ukl/1U2MWsjoD6. Couldn't figure out how to post more to this thread yet.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Nicol
