I have been wanting anchor rollers on my bow for a number of years, but the Hunter 33 - 1982 model has a very narrow bow with no room for additions without re-arranging almost everything. This was what I decided would work best for me. A bowsprit made out of Stanless Steel... from my PVC model.

In the beginning.. there was PVC

This was almost what I settled on, but concerns over blocking the drain hole from the anchor locker and blocking access to the bolts in the stem fitting (where the headstay attaches) made me reconsider the location of the support piece. I later decided it best to drop it down closer to the water line, but still keeping it about a foot above the actual water line.

I test fitted several ideas..

I had this Windline URM-4 that I had purchased last year, never finding the right place for it until now. With the PVC model in place held up by lines, I test fitted the anchor roller.

First anchor roller position.

A local machine shop in Lilburn, GA agreed to work with me on my design. I dropped off the PVC model and a few days later picked up the first stage of the SS bowsprit. We did it in stages since there were so many angles to be considered and measured. This image shows a test fit of which there were many. Again the small lines held it in place while I measured and adjusted.

I traded the PVC model for S.S. one...

shows the fine work the welder did for me. Stanless is not that easy to work with, it moves and bends when welded. This made some of the angles change and required extra trips for remeasuring what we thought we had already worked out.

top view..

So I made the final cuts with my grinder, fine tuning the angles the machine shop had made. I spent alot of quality time with my grinder over the entire process of this project.

the angles were off just a bit

Actually, my wife says I can think about a 10 minute job for a week, but I like to work at my own pace... maybe thats why I work alone alot on projects like this one.

I also spent alot of time thinking...

I wanted to make sure it did not appear to sag... I wanted to keep the lines of the bow and its rise ... I like to see a bit of lift in the bowsprit.

just another angle

I think they felt I might be an old man before this got finsihed, so friends would walk by and stop to make suggestions. One friend, Mike, suggested that I might want to tape the SS mounting plates to the hull and the mark them where the bowsprit needed to be welded. Turned out to be a great suggestion.. Thanks Mike!

I had many suggestions from friends..

Wow, missed a few pics.. I made some trips to the boat without my camera... but these steps involved measuring the support after bolting the two side supports to the hull. Also not picture is the fiberglass reinforcement inside the anchor locker on each side and the backing plates that matched the outside mounting plates. Also, inside the v-berth in the lower part of the bow, I built up the glass to provide a flat surface to bolt through and to mount another backing plate for the bow support. Again Mike came to my rescue.. Its hard to layup fiberglass, mix resin and cut more mat and roven when working in a hole with only room for one arm to work. Thank you again, Mike.

The bowsprit mounted ...

I used a material called starboard which was 3/4 thick to cap the bowsprit. It is sandwiched between the two bow rollers and the bowsprit. Every bolt holding the anchor rollers also holds the Starboard material and thur bolts into plates which were welded in place during the last stage of manufacturing. Very, Very sfiff and strong.

Starboard view..

I have two Danforth 13s, which fit pretty well side by side. I want to replace one of the Danforths with a Delta 22. Terry Arnold brought this anchor to my attention. (he also post to this site with really good articles) Everything I hear is good about the Deltas is good and it will fit a little better.

The anchors in place.

well at least I hope not while Im underway.. I need to add Anchor locks which I picked up today and plan to install this weekend. One for each anchor. The pin will slide through the chain and lock the anchors securely in place to avoid accidental release.

Anchors away....

I always liked bowsprits, now maybe my back will like anchoring. Also, I have a spinnaker which will attach to the bowsprit allowing it to fly in front of the bow improving its shape and control.

So, I think it looks pretty much like I had hoped.

is pleasing to my eyes. Cost was just over $650 including two Windline bow rollers($100 each), starboard material ($80) and the charges from the machine shop ($330). Fiberglass, materials, and bolts and fasteners ran about $50. Add another $50 for the Anchor locks.. it does add up. I got a discount on everything I used, but I did alot of shopping. My labor... it was a labor of love.

The overall appearance..