After the storm damage to our anchor platform a couple of years ago, we immediately purchased a new roller and installed it temporarily on the ragged remains of the old platform until we could get a new one built and installed. It ended up taking two years, since the temporariy installation was functional, if ugly. But at last we were able to cross the project off the list.

Shorter Design

We believe that part of the problem with the old anchor platform was that it projected too far out from the end of the bow. This had advantages in terms of getting the anchors clear of the bow pulpit, but it also increased the chance for fouling on mooring pennants, and increased the force on end of the platform due to the longer moment-arm. To address these problems we designed a shorter "platform v2.0" which extends only about one inch past the stem fitting.

The first step was to create the main body of the new platform, which I made the same width as the earlier platform so that we could reinstall it in the same location. I used solid 4/4 mahogany for this. I then salvaged the feet off the old platform as they were already beveled to the correct angle for the foredeck.

Integrated Backing Plates

I decided to use a beefy aluminum backing plate which extended far enough aft that the foreward most deck bolt would pass through it, tying the backing plate to both the anchor roller and deck. I considered using stainless, but Glissando's experience proved that even a heavy stainless plate wasn't sufficient to prevent all damage and I decided to go with the lighter, easier to machine, and substantially less expensive material. I didn't intend for the backing plate to prevent all damage in case of a similar problem, and frankly don't expect the problem to recurr with the shorter platform and increased user awareness.

While I waited for the aluminum plate to arrive from onlinemetals.com I got a few coats of varnish on the new platform, and painted out the underside with bilgekote. Once the material arrived on hand I cut a rabbet in the feet of the platform for the aluminum, then epoxied the feet in place.

With the woodworking finished, I slid the plate temporarily into position and clamped it and the roller in place so that I could drill the holes for mounting the roller. I then removed the backing plate and tapped the three holes for 3/8 fasteners and installed the roller and backer. I also installed the other backing plate with a single screw simply to hold it in place; we don't have a roller for the second side at this time.

Reinstalled in the Original Location

Because I wanted to reinstall the new platform in the same location as the old, I simply drilled back up through the existing bolt holes in the feet to extend the holes back through the body of the platform. Then, after chiseling out a small relief rabbet in each toerail for the aluminum plate to allow the platform to sit flush on the deck, I reinstalled the platform with copious amounts of 3M 101.

The new platform is much lower profile than the old, and allows the CQR anchor to tuck more closely against the hull at the bow while staying far enough away so that it doesn't bang into the hull. Hopefully the new design will be less prone to fouling as well.