Stowing the anchors

[dafi]

Feeling a bit of a worried mind about the traditionally shown way of stowing the anchors.

 

 

As seen on the Vic in P. come some loops around the stock and leading to the timberhead ...

 

 

... a chain around the shaft and a loop that fixes the palm on the small platform.

 

 

And now the tricky questions: I wonder about those lashings of the stock. Only some turns around stock (or shaft) up to the timberheads? Please consider that still the weight is transmitted over the "thin" boards of the channels with almost no further support? And then the stream anchor on top? And should the stock of the stream anchor not be lashed onto the stock of the best bower? Would also avoid the steam anchor to turn around and give better view for the gun ...

 

 

 

 

... so I keep wondering ...

 

... what would be the correct way?

 

Daniel

 

PS: That the stream anchor usually was carried on the port side I wished to be excused in this display :-)

Edited July 6, 2014 by dafi

[allanyed]

Daniel,

 

You can get a copy of Darcy Lever's The Young Sea Officer's Sheet Anchor on Amazon for about $10-$15 and it explains a lot.  The following is from Lees book on rigging that had this picture from TYSOSA.  

Allan

[dafi]

Hello Allan,

 

thank you a lot, I have both books, as well as Nares, Brady et al.

 

Also McKay describes several times the set up, but always just the front anchor and the catting, but I find no real detailed clue how the aft one is lashed to the channel. If it is shown, I habe my doubt that that is sufficient, especially with the bigger rates ...

 

Schrade, Marquardt show also no news, just Arming and Fitting page 55 shows a version where the aft anchor is shown. Interestingly it shows the stream anchor also on the starboard side. Here it is interesting, that the arm of the smaller one lies upon the arm of the best bower, thus preventing the small one to rotate.

 

Cheers, DAniel

Edited July 6, 2014 by dafi

[testazyk]

I've wondered that too, especially because the anchor might be in the way and also vulnerable in battle.  Would they have repositioned them during battle?

[wefalck]

If possible, a lot of the gear that may get loose during the combat and hinder the movement of the ship was left ashore, when a seabattle could be planned. That is also a reason why ships got into trouble in bad weather after a battle. They were not sufficiently equipped anymore.

[dafi]

I also saw references to more chains being used for security in case of combats. On the other side Nelsons last order was "prepare to anchor after the fight". What did this mean? Already bringing up the anchor cable ?!? Very strange idea to have those prepared and then shot through ...

 

In the meantime I prepared the stream anchor lashing 2.0 :-)

 

 

 

As usual, looking around long enough reveales some hints, here Laverys Arming and Fitting page 55.

It makes more sense to place the smaler one arm on arm, so no rotating, easy to lash and also the gun port gets a clear view.

 

 

 

But still I am a little unsure for the weight hanging on the cannels. I would guess it is a third of weight of both anchors, it is held nicely by the timberheads, but still there is a nice amount on the edge of the thin board, the iron bracket being a bit to the side.

 

 

I found older sytems on contemporary models with on rope comeing from the timberhead and going round the shaft (appearently without any further lashings) and back to the waist. I would not have dared that :-)

 

XXXDAn

[JerseyCity Frankie]

I think the arrangement as shown also puts a lot of strain on the shrouds, which I used to think of only in terms of holding the masthead in vertical alignment, not as holding the channels from drooping under the weight of the anchors, but I bet that is one of the forces acting on those shrouds.

[druxey]

Is this photo of any assistance?

[Daniel Caramagno]

I now this is an old thread by I am up to the point of stowing anchors. I have the references above but they are not definitive to me. For the bower lashed towards the stern of the fore channel; one end of the chain is attached to an eyebolt on the side. Where does the leading edge go? How is the palm tied in? There are no timber heads or other tie-in points I can find.