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42 Bertram - 1988 / Deck Anchor Advice

Discussion in 'Bertram Yacht' started by AJ Mitchell, Apr 26, 2022.

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  1. AJ Mitchell

    AJ Mitchell New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2020
    Messages:
    1
    Location:
    South East Florida
    Looking for advice re secondary deck anchor. Currently fixing a few soft spots on the deck & while everything is pulled up, figured it’s a good time to consider repositioning this 2nd anchor. It’s occasionally used when anchoring overnight. More often, with the family & longer trips, the bow is used extensively for extra seating in beanbags & storing larger water toys/role-up pad.
    I have concerns about changing the position too much for safety reasons - it needs to keep clear of the walkway when tying lines. But it’s also becoming a safety issue for those sitting directly adjacent to it.
    I hesitate to change much since, IMO, Bertram was incredible at balancing design & practicality - with a lot of foresight into unintended consequences.
    My first thought is to install the windlass keeping all hardware where it is. Then store the anchor somewhere else when not in use.
    Anyone have suggestions for storage or repositioning? Thx!
    - Attaching pic of current location. Guests currently sit alongside tender cradle for support.
    1881DCC7-4E52-4C3B-A48A-4777DDEBC5AE.jpeg
  2. Ralph Holiman

    Ralph Holiman New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2017
    Messages:
    32
    Location:
    Mississippi
    We put an 85 pound Mantus on our Bertram 42, that stores on the pulpit, and I made the huge Danforth that came with it into an ornament in our flower garden. I figure if we ever need a really big Danforth again, I know where to find it. (We do keep a smaller Danforth on board for a lunch hook, and as a back up should the windless ever fail).

    I had the same issue you did. It just took up too much valuable foredeck space.
  3. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,647
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    We keep a Bruce on the pulpit.
    2, broke down Fortress Anchors stored with lots of extra nylon in the forward bilge.

    Get rid of deck debris. Your toes and neck will thank you.
  4. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,118
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    I would never have an anchor stored on deck. Never.

    in all these years I have never needed a second anchor and we anchor a lot. Probably 100+ times a year. many of them overnight. In an oversized anchor we trust :)

    I have a back up fortress dismantled and stored away with to rode but I ve never used it.m

    edit: one time I had to use a back up anchor, that was on a 70 footer I was running back then, when the POS suncor swivel snapped leaving a nice 110 lbs Bruce on the bottom of the Indian river in Titusville…
  5. Ralph Holiman

    Ralph Holiman New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2017
    Messages:
    32
    Location:
    Mississippi
    I never understood Bertram's thinking there, either. There were actually two sets of chocks on the deck to hold two identical Danforths. We took the chocks up and glassed in the screw holes. They did look like toe breakers. It only took a little work to get the Mantus to fit in the bow pulpit, and we store the other anchor down below. The only time I've used it was last year when we got ready to drop anchor and the windless wouldn't work. I had family on board and it was calm, so I just threw the smaller Danforth with a little chain and nylon line over. Later found out it was just the batteries in the remote were dead. A miscommunication with one of my amateur temp crew made me think the deck foot switches weren't operating either. Turns out they were trying to press them without removing the covers, LOL!