Using hockey pucks for bow roller installation...

[lastgreatgeneration]

So I will be moving aboard the Ariel within a few weeks. I have been thinking about an easy way to install my bow roller. I have been researching methods to build it up to the deck level. However I may have discovered an easy way to build the deck up about an inch so the bow roller can be installed.

Hockey pucks are made of a hard rubberized plastic and can be purchased for about $1 each. The diameter is 1"x 3" diameter. Obviously the puck will not rot like using a 1" piece of wood and is made of a hard rubber that can be drilled or cut.

The bow roller dimensions are similar width to the puck, so The puck should easily fit under the roller without modifying the deck, creating a mess, getting itchy, and spending a bunch of money. I could have this installed in a matter of hours instead of days. The only downside is the roller wont have a flush base with the deck but I think it might work out with the weight distributed over the length of the deck with 4 pucks under the roller. Also I will have substantial backing plates added to this setup. I personally value frugality and functionality over aesthetics. If anything I might get a lot of  "why didn't I think of that" remarks.

Kingston bow roller  BR-22L
Dimensions: 23-1/2" L x 2-3/4" Inside Channel

Does anyone see a downside to this?

[s/v Faith]

There are a couple of schools of thinking about rollers.

The stresses they are subjected to are significantly greater, and from unexpected directions.  A noteworthy storm event that cost several cruising boats in Mexico aa few years back was significant because multiple boats had bow roller failures when the rollers twisted, or were ripped up off of the decks.

When I installed Faiths roller, I mounted it on oak, with very large bolts, and a larger backing plate made of oak, faired to the underside of the deck WITH a 1/4" aluminum backing plate backing the oak.

That said, I never (or very rarely) anchor with any tension going over the roller.

Faith uses a snubber, attached at the waterline.  The snubber takes the load, and the roller pretty much is used for storage and retrieval of my Manson Supreme.

Saying all that to say my idea was to make it as strong as I could, even if it should not take the load unless the snubber fails....  

I think your idea would work, but I would plan to snub the anchor while using it (or any) installed roller.

I would post some pictures, but I am cruising and have limited bandwidth.  Here Deck hardware plan on the Ariel Site is a link to a thread with some pictures that may be helpful.

[lastgreatgeneration]

Hey thanks,

I plan on using a chain snubber and also I'm going to rig up a spliced chain hook to 25' of 1.5" dockline. I have been studying bow roller failures myself. It seems like many of the failures are due to the roller being extended over the bow too far. That never made any sense to me, even as a novice boater I can understand the great forces at work there.

A great example of this is glissandos failed roller platform.

The very front of the roller will be resting on the toe rail and will be mounted as far aft as possible. I too plan on some good wide thick backing plates. It seems like that's another failure point as well. I would like to do this as easily as possible because the marina has restrictive policies on what you can and can't do at the yard. I was looking into what some people reccomended over at CF and I thought about some of the suggestions. I thought a sheet of G4 material was a great idea until I saw it was $400 a sheet. I'm not paying that much. Suggestions welcome.

Thank you for all of your great contributions to the forums. Notably, the composting head, v-berth water tank and the bow roller threads.

[s/v Faith]

Thank you for the kind words.  :)

thought it was strange to see some of these installations too...  With the roller way out over the end of the bow.  The reason people likely do it is to prevent the underside of the anchor from touching the hull.

You will want to set your anchor on the roller and see how far it hangs under before you mount it.  Mine cleared, but can hit in heavy chop... I need to add a small steel plate to protect the bow where it has gotten a little dinged up.

Nice thing is there is a ton of fiberglass there.... Like most places on these boats.  ;D