Okay, the new boat has a bow anchor locker with a drain hole in the hull. The anchor is rubber coated which is pretty cool and hangs at the top of the locker. The anchor line 100 ft + was all wadded up in the locker and wet. I don't know if it was wet from the boat getting washed or if water gets in the drain hole.

Anyway, is there a proper way to store the line without it getting in a big mess and keeping it dry? And is there some type of adjustable quick connect to hook it to the eye hook on the bow?

Most folks place a quick disconnect on the line, and store the line elsewhere. Leave the anchor itself in the compartment. The line was wet (and the compartment) from the last time the anchor was deployed.

When you go to anchor, tie the anchor line off to one (or both) of the bow cleats. Don't worry about tying off to the bow eye. Its hard to do while on top of the boat.

Storing that anchor up there might be a bad idea. My last boat had the compartment up front for that but after a 1 hour ride up the bay the locker looked pretty bad. As bad as you think you bounce around that locker is right at the front and bounces much more than you do.

I've know of 2 friends that both had locker damage from storing their anchors there. It seems like a great idea, but unless they're well secured, they can cause lots of damage! Steve

Thanks for the info. The anchor is rubber coated but I guess I'll store it under the back seat wrapped up in towels like in my other boats.

What about coating the anchor locker with some of that Roll on bed liner? That is some awefully tough stuff It's notgoing to show and you'll be storing a muddy anchor in there anyway.

The cosmetics are one thing.....leave a 13 lbs anchor with pointed edges all over the thing and let it bounce around. It beat holes into the anchor compartment liner. When I had the fiberglass guy fix it he said he had fixed 2 boats in the last couple years that had the anchor "points" come down through the bow of the boat!!!

When my dad had a 29 outlaw we lines the anchor compartment with thin, high density foam. Everything fit tight and the anchor had no room to move once the hatch was closed.

I have this; http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...llpartial/15/0

and this; http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...llpartial/15/0

Both are thru-bolted to the forward anchor locker wall and don't move. The anchor rode is also mounted on the wall. We've run in some pretty rough water and never had a problem..

I recall seeing a poker run video where a Scarab (?) hit a huge wave and the anchor flew out of the bow locker and narrowly missed hitting the driver. The line was attached and that too could have done some serious damage to someone. Luckily, no one was hurt. If you keep the anchor in the bow locker, it needs a very strong holder to keep it in place.

I prefer to keep the anchor elsewhere.