Anchor Chain Stop/Brake Questions

[Kimo]

Subject is a 2000 31pc.
Windlass is a Lewmar.

Since I've owned the boat, I've assumed the existing anchor chain stopper to be complete. Mine looks just like the chain stop in the first picture, EXCEPT that the actual brake plate/claw that pivots on the larger of the two locking pins is not included on my chain stop. I'm unsure whether it ever was.

Not knowing any difference until now, I've simply "tied off" to the larger of the two lock pins both when underway to secure the anchor, and while at anchor to relieve stress on the windlass (along with a shockle snubber).

But now I'm becoming pretty convinced that the chain stop did indeed at one time include this brake plate/claw and that the previous owner likely let it slip overboard when he removed it from the pin (it looks easy to do unless it's tied off).

So my questions:
1) Do any of you have similar two pin stops WITH the brake claw?
2) Assuming Lewmar(?) no longer carries the correct claw, do you think it feasible/safe to simply cannibalize just the claw component from the 3-piece MxEol (or similar) stop kit available on Amazon (see second picture of the kit contents, including the claw).
3) It appears that the claw, if it will fit at all, will fit only on the smaller of the two pins on my stop. Although MxEol claims a 2000# holding capacity, what do you think? The first picture definitely shows it over the larger pin.
4) Would you agree that the small hole in the claw is for purposes of tying it off so it is not lost overboard if/when removed from the pin?
4) And finally, can you confirm that the claw should properly face BACKWARD towards the windlass when slipped over the locking pin? This seems to me to be the only way it will lock when flipped down, and release when the anchor chain is drawn back up by the windlass - but I've never used one before.

Thanks

 

[Comodave]

Yes, we have one like that on our 41PC. I would email Formula and ask what the brand and model number was installed at the factory. That will give you something to search for and you know it will fit.

 

[AllDodge]

Mine uses same anchor stop with Maxwell windless

 

[AllDodge]

Here is one on amazon
https://www.amazon.com/MxEol-Marine-Anchor-Chain-Stainless/dp/B06XKXQZ6Z

 

[Kimo]

Thanks guys.
Just to be clear, do your mechanisms have a) just the two pins or b) the two pins AND the claw?

 

[AllDodge]

Mine has just the one pin like the one shown at amazon or your second pic

 

[Alec A]

Mine had 2 pins. There was one thicker shaft pin that went thru the housing and the flap to hold it into the housing. The second pin was retained by a wire so that you wouldn't lose it overboard. This 2nd pin with smaller shaft would go from the housing and then hold the flap down so that the flap would engaged the chain in the center of the flap and hold it, like many other brand boats have a cable with a snap end. My boat was a 2015 and it looked like your first photo.

 

[Kimo]

Mine had 2 pins. There was one thicker shaft pin that went thru the housing and the flap to hold it into the housing. The second pin was retained by a wire so that you wouldn't lose it overboard. This 2nd pin with smaller shaft would go from the housing and then hold the flap down so that the flap would engaged the chain in the center of the flap and hold it, like many other brand boats have a cable with a snap end. My boat was a 2015 and it looked like your first photo.

Thanks AllDodge for the claridfication.

Alec A, this is very helpful. Thanks.
Since you had a two pin chain stop WITH the "flap"/hawser that engaged the chain and shifted the load from the windlass gypsy, it looks like I need to find another hawser to slip over my larger 1/2" pin; as without the hawser, there's no STOP in the chain stop.
Can you confirm that the toothed/non-hinged end of the hawser pointed back aft towards the windlass?

 

[Alec A]

Yes, it pointed back aft toward the windlass. I don't think I have a photo but I will look at some current boat ads and PM you with the ad so you can see it in there.

 

[Alec A]

Yes, it pointed back aft toward the windlass. I don't think I have a photo but I will look at some current boat ads and PM you with the ad so you can see it in there.

 

[Kimo]

Yes, it pointed back aft toward the windlass. I don't think I have a photo but I will look at some current boat ads and PM you with the ad so you can see it in there.

Great, thank you.

I tried to do the same but everything I found had a single pin. Still looking and waiting for TAG. I?m not near my boat but seem to recall that my smaller pin was forward of the larger pin - which seems wrong if it is there to hold the hawser down.

I?m also now taking a harder look at my Lewmar windlass and trying to determine if it can be operated manually. Some can, some can?t.
Mine?s an older Concept/Ocean/Capstan series according to my documentation. It has the bi-square socket but that may be just to tighten/loosen the gypsy - and not to crank it up for weighing anchor. Won?t know until I next get down to the boat. I am sure that I do not (or no longer) have a crank handle onboard.

 

[Alec A]

Tired sending you a PM but i don't know if it went through. Look at the anchor photo in this individual's ad and you can see the tab with the slot is to the rear. https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2017-formula-350-crossover-bowrider-8499488/

 

[Kimo]

Tired sending you a PM but i don't know if it went through. Look at the anchor photo in this individual's ad and you can see the tab with the slot is to the rear. https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2017-formula-350-crossover-bowrider-8499488/

Thank you Alec A!
I did indeed receive your PMs - very helpful.
I've attached screen captures below, so others can see the layout of the chain stopper we are referring to.
It appears I am either missing the hawser component of my anchor chain stopper, or mine is designed only to lock the chain via the pins (inserted through the chain link). I'll eventually get to the bottom of this.

 

[Kimo]

To close the loop on this for future searchers, I heard back from Tom at Formula who confirmed that my boat's supplied anchor chain stop did indeed once have the hawser and directed me to the company that made - and still makes - it.
Hi-Tec Stainless in Michigan.

While waiting for their quote on supplying just the hawser component, I found THIS: https://www.amazon.com/Marine-City-...OiIwLjAwIn0=&sprefix=b07pgjv1qw,aps,42&sr=8-1

Or just search for B07PGJV1QW on Amazon.

The hawser (notched flapper) in this Marine City chain stop fits perfectly on the larger 1/2"pin of the stock chain stop and can therefore be cannibalized for use in the Formula supplied 2-pin chain stop.

But after installing it and trying it out, I've determined that I like my original setup better and will send the assembly back to Amazon.

Why?
The hawser "bites" without help only about 50% of the time, the other half requires quite a bit of manual persuasion to fully seat it and this is not an ideal place for fingers to be messing around.
Also, once bit with the anchor "parked" tight when underway, the hawser is difficult to later loosen because there is no remaining slack in the chain to break it free. Again, use of fingers is required and the hawser is biting the chain pretty tight - just as it should be.
Finally, attaching my Shockle (chain shock absorber) now requires removing the hawser to get access to the large pin unless I now attach it to a cleat -- all in all a much more complicated process than that I have become accustomed to.

So I'm going back to my two pin set-up with no hawser.
When underway, I fasten the anchor with a small length of chain from the larger pin to the anchor shackle as a fail-safe to keep the anchor from free-falling if the windlass were to fail. (See first two pictures.)
When at anchor, I attach a Davis shockle to that same large pin and then make the other end of the shockle fast to the slackened anchor chain by means of a 2000# test dyneema Davis Linegrabber. (See 3rd and 4th pictures.)
These methods serve to shift stress away from the gypsy unless actually dropping or retrieving, keep the anchor from free-falling if the windlass were to fail, and provide more than sufficient elasticity and shock absorption for the limited day-anchoring we do.
They also keep my fingers on my hands.

The chain stop hawser wasn't an improvement for me. I'm beginning to think the previous owner didn't lose it overboard -- he may have chucked it overboard.

 

[ArcadiaPC27]

To close the loop on this for future searchers, I heard back from Tom at Formula who confirmed that my boat's supplied anchor chain stop did indeed once have the hawser and directed me to the company that made - and still makes - it.
Hi-Tec Stainless in Michigan.

While waiting for their quote on supplying just the hawser component, I found THIS: https://www.amazon.com/Marine-City-Stainless-Steel-Stopper/dp/B07PGJV1QW/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3NUHRPNVXH6O7&keywords=B07PGJV1QW&qid=1666896830&qu=eyJxc2MiOiItMC4wMCIsInFzYSI6IjAuMDAiLCJxc3AiOiIwLjAwIn0=&sprefix=b07pgjv1qw,aps,42&sr=8-1

Or just search for B07PGJV1QW on Amazon.

The hawser (notched flapper) in this Marine City chain stop fits perfectly on the larger 1/2"pin of the stock chain stop and can therefore be cannibalized for use in the Formula supplied 2-pin chain stop.

But after installing it and trying it out, I've determined that I like my original setup better and will send the assembly back to Amazon.

Why?
The hawser "bites" without help only about 50% of the time, the other half requires quite a bit of manual persuasion to fully seat it and this is not an ideal place for fingers to be messing around.
Also, once bit with the anchor "parked" tight when underway, the hawser is difficult to later loosen because there is no remaining slack in the chain to break it free. Again, use of fingers is required and the hawser is biting the chain pretty tight - just as it should be.
Finally, attaching my Shockle (chain shock absorber) now requires removing the hawser to get access to the large pin unless I now attach it to a cleat -- all in all a much more complicated process than that I have become accustomed to.

So I'm going back to my two pin set-up with no hawser.
When underway, I fasten the anchor with a small length of chain from the larger pin to the anchor shackle as a fail-safe to keep the anchor from free-falling if the windlass were to fail. (See first two pictures.)
When at anchor, I attach a Davis shockle to that same large pin and then make the other end of the shockle fast to the slackened anchor chain by means of a 2000# test dyneema Davis Linegrabber. (See 3rd and 4th pictures.)
These methods serve to shift stress away from the gypsy unless actually dropping or retrieving, keep the anchor from free-falling if the windlass were to fail, and provide more than sufficient elasticity and shock absorption for the limited day-anchoring we do.
They also keep my fingers on my hands.

The chain stop hawser wasn't an improvement for me. I'm beginning to think the previous owner didn't lose it overboard -- he may have chucked it overboard.

Mine oem stopper is missing all parts too. Like what you done here and going to copy. Thanks for sharing!!

 

[Kimo]

I’m glad this was helpful to you ArcadiaPC27 - and welcome to the forum. Enjoy your 27!
We loved our 31pc for many years, but our cruising habits and needs evolved and we “needed a bigger boat”.
Our long time mechanic bought the Formula from us — so we knew it was going to a good home — and we bought a Back Cove 37.
But we still have fond memories of the Formula.
Happy cruising!!