Anchor roller mounted on bow wooden plank

Cali_Boat_Guy · 2025-09-16T17:21:21-0600

I'm considering mounting a windlass on my 1986 Sea Ray 270. The teak plank on the bow (not really a bow sprit?) is where I want to mount the anchor roller with the motor underneath the anchor compartment hatch directly behind the plank (like every other boat). I've had a friend tell me not to do it because the teak plank has slots in it (see photos) and it may be too weak. Has anyone mounted a windlass with a teak plank like this one? I can stand on the plank and creaks/flexes a tiny bit but it holds my weight. I don't see how this would be a problem. Any thoughts?

MikeSchinlaub · 2025-09-16T19:10:51-0600

Cali_Boat_Guy said:
I can stand on the plank and creaks/flexes a tiny bit but it holds my weight. I don't see how this would be a problem. Any thoughts?

The boat weighs a lot more than you do. I wouldn't do it.

I work in a repair shop, but haven't seen many of those. The one that comes to mind, the protrusion in front was part of the hull, and I think it was shorter than your platform.

If you wanted to add one, I think you should use a pretty stout piece of stainless or aluminum, extending as far back as the lid which I'm assuming is up there, with a good backing plate on the bottom side as well.

Cali_Boat_Guy · 2025-09-16T19:18:09-0600

Thanks for the input! Yes, it goes into the hull.

MikeSchinlaub · 2025-09-16T19:30:43-0600

Cali_Boat_Guy said:
Thanks for the input! Yes, it goes into the hull.

I mean it was part of the fiberglass hull, not a seperate piece.

Cali_Boat_Guy · 2025-09-16T20:54:24-0600

This not a separate piece either, it's in the fiberglass hull. I've seen some photos of them done that way. I've only seen one with the slots like this one.

Scott Danforth · 2025-09-17T03:26:20-0600

One snag of the anchor and the rode will snap that bit of teak right off the bow.

Anchor chutes and rollers are usually mounted in heavy stainless weldments for a reason

Cali_Boat_Guy · 2025-09-17T07:44:15-0600

Okay, if these boats were designed for a windlass then how did they mount them. There is a breaker in engine compartment for a windlass. How did the engineers at Sea Ray mount them?

Cali_Boat_Guy · 2025-09-17T07:45:19-0600

I've never seen one with heavy steel in the bow.

Cali_Boat_Guy · 2025-09-17T07:47:30-0600

Maybe the wood is reinforced somehow?

MikeSchinlaub · 2025-09-17T08:08:37-0600

Cali_Boat_Guy said:
This not a separate piece either, it's in the fiberglass hull. I've seen some photos of them done that way. I've only seen one with the slots like this one.

Can you post a picture?

Cali_Boat_Guy · 2025-09-17T08:12:14-0600

I'll head over to the Sea Ray forum and see if anyone there has direct experience (success/failure) with reinforcing it. As always, thank you for the input!

Cali_Boat_Guy · 2025-09-17T08:14:05-0600

MikeSchinlaub said:
Can you post a picture?

Cali_Boat_Guy · 2025-09-17T08:16:18-0600

Here are a few. Thank you!

Cali_Boat_Guy · 2025-09-17T08:19:13-0600

This one seems to show a plate underneath near the tip

.

Scott Danforth · 2025-09-17T08:31:12-0600

all we make are heavy stainless anchor roller chutes.

these are similar ones pulled from the interweb. thats 1/4" stainless plate, and often, they get damaged

Cali_Boat_Guy · 2025-09-17T10:34:26-0600

It sounds like I may be better off using the tried and true hand anchor deployment for now. It's not broke!

cyclops222 · 2025-09-17T14:29:15-0600

They all look so pretty.
Wonder what they would look like after holding a boat in 5 to 10 foot waves for a day. Or being pulled tightly after the storm ended ? Why some boats have a 2 speed / power level retrieve. control box near the bow. I do not think those slotted wood bows would take any mistakes. On the last foot of take up.
Your 27 footer would possibly tear out that wood Pulpit. Under hours of yanking. a 300 foot line / rode. Might save the wood work.

redneck joe · 2025-09-17T14:53:22-0600

For this club searay would be best. I assume you have the railing that follows it so it was from the design. As far as the breaker panel it was most likely just the same panel used on many models, cheaper that way. Have you pulled the breaker to see if there are any wires? I'm guessing no so should you choose to proceed that will be an interesting part of the job.

Anchor roller mounted on bow wooden plank

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