ANCHOR WINDLASS SYSTEM

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/680,165, filed Aug. 7, 2024, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein as if expressly set forth in its respective entirety herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an anchor windlass system for a boat and to a boat including such an anchor windlass system. It has particular, although not necessarily exclusive, application to an anchor windlass system for a pleasure craft such as a pontoon boat. The invention also relates to a method of installing an anchor windlass system on a boat.

BACKGROUND

A form of windlass having a gypsy (in which a line and/or chain executes only a single turn or less between inward and outward runs) is commonly used on marine craft to haul and let out the anchor rode i.e. the line and/or chain attached to the anchor. Since the combined weight of the anchor and chain can be relatively great, windlasses powered by electric or hydraulic motors are known. These typically haul the chain over the gypsy of the windlass and allow the anchor rode to fall under gravity into an anchor locker under the deck of the craft at the bow. One example of such a windlass is the Lewmar Pro-Fish series windlass, such as Part Number: 6656411199311 (https://www.lewmar.com/node/11669?v=25247 accessed 16 Aug. 2023).

The anchor rode is typically guided over the bow of the craft by a bow roller. The bow roller may have an associated fairlead to ensure that the anchor rode does not escape from the bow roller during hauling and letting out of the anchor.

In view of the need to provide a suitable space for the anchor locker, the windlass is usually set back a particular distance (which may vary from craft to craft) from the bow of the craft, so that the windlass can be located directly above the anchor locker, allowing the anchor rode to drop substantially vertically into the anchor locker. This space between the windlass and the bow may also be required to accommodate the rigid shank of the anchor itself when the anchor is fully hauled in.

An anchor rode may include a length of chain and a length of line (rope) connected in series. The chain is typically connected to the anchor at a distal end of the chain and the line is typically connected to a proximal end of the chain. The purpose of the chain is to assist the anchor in providing engagement with the seabed (or lake bed or river bed, as appropriate) and therefore enhances the anchoring capability of the anchoring system. The purpose of the line is to provide an adequate length of connection between the boat and the proximal end of the chain, to allow relatively deep water anchoring where necessary without using excessive (heavy and expensive) chain.

A known example of a pleasure craft is a pontoon boat. Pontoon boats comprise a flat deck attached on top of buoyant elongate tubes (known as pontoons). These pontoons extend the length of the boat and can house a variety of marine equipment, such as the fuel & water tanks and pressurised (buoyant) tanks. Pontoon boats are popular, relatively low-cost boats in the leisure boating industry. The pontoons of such pontoon boats may for example have an internal diameter in the region of 600 mm.

Pontoon boats are particularly suitable for use on inland waters and are typically highly stable, allowing boat manufacturers to build comfortable user accommodation space on the deck, such as seating, sun-loungers and fishing stations.

Pontoon boats with two pontoons are known. Pontoon boats with three pontoons are known and may be referred to as “tritoons”. The individual pontoons may be referred to as “hulls” or “pontoon hulls”.

One of the advantages of pontoon boats is that they may have a shallow draft, allowing them to explore areas of relatively shallow water without risk of grounding. This is made possible because the multiple shallow pontoons provide stability without the need for a keel or centreboard. However, the relatively shallow pontoons also mean that there is no adequate vertical space available for an anchor drop between a windlass and an anchor locker.

In order to maximise the deck space available to the users of a pontoon boat, it is known for an anchor windlass system for the pontoon boat to be attached to the underside of the deck. We refer to this as an underslung pontoon anchor windlass system. In this case, the anchor windlass system (including a bow roller, the windlass and the anchor) is generally installed between the two pontoon hulls (or between two of the three pontoon hulls in the case of a “tritoon”).

The present invention has been devised in light of the above considerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have realised that a particular problem can arise with an underslung pontoon anchor apparatus of the type mentioned above. The problem arises, or example, when the pontoon boat is lifted out of the water, manoeuvred on land, and/or stored (e.g. when “laid-up”) when not in use (for example for extended periods of non-use such as over winter months). It is common to lift and manoeuvre pontoon boats on land using a fork-lift truck, in a manner which involves positioning the forks of the fork-lift between the pontoon hulls of the boat. This is made difficult by the typical positioning of an underslung anchor windlass system between the pontoon hulls. In order to avoid the risk of damaging the anchor windlass system when lifting the boat with a fork-lift, or lifting the boat in an unbalanced and/or unsafe manner whilst trying to avoid contact between the forks of the fork-lift and the anchor windlass system, it is therefore often necessary to remove the anchor windlass system before lifting the boat in this manner, which it itself can often be difficult after long periods of use due to corrosion of fasteners such as bolts and the like, and the often inconvenient positioning of such fasteners relative to the windlass, bow roller, and/or anchor.

Even if a pontoon boat does not need to be lifted with a fork-lift, it is often desirable to remove the anchor windlass system before storing a boat for long periods of time, for example of the winter months, to avoid or reduce the risk of weather damage to the anchor windlass system.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides an anchor windlass system for installation on a boat, the boat including at least two hulls and a deck structure supported by the hulls, the deck structure having a top side and a bottom side. The anchor windlass system is configured to be attached to the bottom side of the deck structure, and the anchor windlass system comprises a base mount configured to be permanently attached to the bottom side of the deck structure, and a windlass mount configured to be slidably received onto the base mount and to be removably attached to the base mount. The windlass mount has a windlass assembly attached to the windlass mount and a bow roller assembly attached to the windlass mount.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an anchor windlass system for installation on a pontoon boat, the pontoon boat including at least two pontoons and a deck structure supported by the pontoons, the deck structure having a top side and a bottom side. The anchor windlass system is configured to be attached to the bottom side of the deck structure, and the anchor windlass system comprises a base mount configured to be permanently attached to the bottom side of the deck structure, and a windlass mount configured to be slidably received onto the base mount and to be removably attached to the base mount. The windlass mount has a windlass assembly attached to the windlass mount and a bow roller assembly attached to the windlass mount.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of installing an anchor windlass system on a boat of a type including at least two hulls and a deck structure supported by the hulls, the deck structure having a top side and a bottom side. The method comprises: providing an anchor windlass system having a base mount, and a windlass mount configured to be slidably received onto the base mount and to be removably attached to the base mount, the windlass mount having a windlass assembly attached to the windlass mount and a bow roller assembly attached to the windlass mount; permanently attaching the base mount to the bottom side of the deck structure; and slidably engaging the windlass mount onto the base mount to position the windlass assembly and bow roller beneath the deck structure.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of installing an anchor windlass system on a pontoon boat of a type including at least two pontoons and a deck structure supported by the pontoons, the deck structure having a top side and a bottom side. The method comprises: providing an anchor windlass system having a base mount, and a windlass mount configured to be slidably received onto the base mount and to be removably attached to the base mount, the windlass mount having a windlass assembly attached to the windlass mount and a bow roller assembly attached to the windlass mount; permanently attaching the base mount to the bottom side of the deck structure; and slidably engaging the windlass mount onto the base mount to position the windlass and bow roller beneath the deck structure.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a boat having an anchor windlass system, the boat including at least two hulls and a deck structure supported by the hulls, the deck structure having a top side and a bottom side, and the anchoring apparatus being attached to the bottom side. The anchor windlass system comprises: a base mount permanently attached to the bottom side of the deck structure;

a windlass mount slidably received onto the base mount and removably attached to the base mount; and wherein the windlass mount has a windlass assembly attached to the windlass mount and a bow roller assembly attached to the windlass mount.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a pontoon boat having an anchor windlass system, the pontoon boat including at least two pontoons and a deck structure supported by the pontoons, the deck structure having a top side and a bottom side, and the anchoring apparatus being attached to the bottom side. The anchor windlass system comprises: a base mount permanently attached to the bottom side of the deck structure; a windlass mount slidably received onto the base mount and removably attached to the base mount; and wherein the windlass mount has a windlass assembly attached to the windlass mount and a bow roller assembly attached to the windlass mount.

Whilst the anchor windlass system may be disclosed herein with specific reference to it being suitable for installation on a pontoon boat, it is to be noted that in some embodiments the system may be installed on other types of boat having a deck structure supported by two or more hulls - for example on a multi-hull sailing boat (e.g. catamaran or trimaran) or on a multi-hull power boat (e.g. catamaran or trimaran).

In some embodiments, the boat may be a pontoon type boat with three hulls. In this case, the hulls are parallel and extend along the full length of the pontoon boat. Each hull is attached to the deck of the boat, with one running along the middle (i.e. the central hull) and the other two on either side of the central hull. This arrangement results in the deck being well supported across its width.

The anchor windlass system is configured to be attached to the bottom side of the deck structure. This is not a typical configuration in anchor systems and allows the anchor to be stowed out of the way of the users of the boat. This in turn increases the available deck space to the users.

By providing the above-noted arrangements of a base mount for permanent attachment to the bottom side of a boat's deck structure (e.g. between adjacent hulls or pontoons of the boat), and a cooperating windlass mount (to which is attached both the windlass assembly and the bow roller) for removable attachment to the base mount, the windlass assembly and bow roller assembly may be conveniently removed from the boat together (e.g. as a single unit), thereby allowing convenient removal of the key (and typically bulky, obtrusive and/or delicate) components of the anchor windlass system, for example in preparation for lifting the boat using a fork-lift. The proposed sliding engagement between the base mount and windlass mount further assists in the safe and convenient removal (and subsequent re-installation) of the windlass assembly and the bow roller, which can be heavy and somewhat cumbersome to handle.

Optional features of the present invention are now set out. These may be applied singly or in any combination to any aspect of the invention, except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided.

In some proposals, one of the base mount and the windlass mount comprises an elongate channel, and the other of the base mount and the windlass mount comprises an elongate rail, said rail being configured for sliding engagement with said channel. In some arrangements of this type, there may be provided a pair (or more, for example three or four) of said elongate channels in spaced-apart relation to one another, and a pair (or more, for example three or four) of said elongate rails, each said elongate rail being configured for sliding engagement with a respective said channel.

Conveniently, the base mount may comprise the (or each) said elongate channel and the windlass mount may comprise the (or each) said elongate rail.

The base mount may be configured to be permanently attached to the bottom side of the deck structure such that the (or each) said elongate channel extends in a longitudinal fore-aft direction of the boat.

In some proposals, the (or each) elongate channel may comprise a channel base and a channel flange, and may be configured such that said channel flange is spaced below said channel base when the base mount is attached to the bottom side of the deck structure to define a gap between the channel base and the channel flange. In such arrangements it is proposed that the (or each) elongate rail may comprise a rail flange configured for slidable engagement within said gap between the channel base and the channel flange.

The anchor windlass system may further comprise a threaded fastener threadedly engaged within an aperture formed through the windlass mount, the threaded fastener being operable to bear against or otherwise engage (for example within a threaded hole or recess in) the base mount to removably secure the windlass mount to the base mount.

The (or each, if more than one are provided) threaded fastener may be provided proximate the bow roller assembly and distal to the windlass assembly.

The (or each) threaded fastener may be provided in the form of a thumbscrew. This may allow very convenient attachment and removal of the windlass mount without the need for additional tools.

Optionally, the windlass mount comprises an end stop configured to abut the base mount when the windlass mount is substantially fully slidably received onto the base mount. In such arrangements having one or more said threaded fasteners, it is proposed that the (or each) threaded fastener may be threadedly engaged within an aperture formed through (at least part of) the end stop.

In some implementations of the invention, the anchor windlass system may comprise an anchor rode and an anchor attached to a distal end of the anchor rode, the anchor rode being constrained to move over the bow roller. The windlass assembly may be configured for paying out and hauling in the anchor rode.

The anchor rode may include a length of chain and a length of rope connected in series. In this case, the length of chain is optionally connected to the anchor at a distal end of the chain and the length of rope is optionally connected to a proximal end of the chain.

The windlass assembly may be adapted to haul and let out rope.

There may be provided a drum reel for storing multiple turns of anchor rode. The entirety of the anchor rode may be constituted by anchor rode stored on the drum reel and disposed between the drum reel and the anchor, as measured along the anchor rode. In this way, the anchor windlass system may be considered to use a captive reel apparatus, without the need for an anchor rode locker.

The windlass assembly may be disposed between the drum reel and the anchor. In alternative embodiments, the windlass assembly and the drum reel may be integrated so that the anchor rode is hauled directly onto a captive reel windlass.

The windlass assembly may include a motor and a drum, the drum being configured to store at least part of the anchor rode.

There may be provided one or more rollers configured to guide the anchor rode. The use of such a roller permits smooth letting out and hauling in of the anchor. The roller may include a fairlead portion to reduce the risk of the anchor rode jumping off the roller.

Further optional features of the invention are set out below. The invention includes the combination of any aspect of the invention and any optional features described except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided.

SUMMARY OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments and illustrating the principles of the invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the pontoon hulls and deck structure forming part of a three-pontoon hull vessel (a tritoon). The superstructure of the vessel is not shown.

FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of the pontoon hulls and deck structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view, from the bows and from above, of the pontoon hulls and deck structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view, from the bows and from below, of the pontoon hulls and deck structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows another perspective view, from below, of the pontoon hulls and deck structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a partial cutaway view of the bow region of the pontoon boat of FIG. 1, with one of the pontoon hulls omitted to provide a clear view of the anchoring apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a base mount forming part of an anchor windlass system for the pontoon boat of FIGS. 1 to 6.

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the base mount, taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a windlass mount forming part of the anchor windlass system.

FIG. 10 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the windlass mount, taken along line X-X of FIG. 9 and with parts of the windless mount omitted for clarity.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the windlass mount partially slidably received onto the base mount.

FIG. 12 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing the section of the base mount of FIG. 8 and the section of the windlass mount of FIG. 10 engaged with one another when the windlass mount is slidably received onto the base mount.

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the windlass mount with a windlass and bow roller attached.

FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the complete anchor windlass system in a configuration in which the windlass mount is slidably engaged with (and removably attached to) the base mount.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures. Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All documents mentioned in this text are incorporated herein by reference.

Where appropriate, corresponding features in the figures are given corresponding reference numbers and the description of some features of some figures may be omitted where they have been described previously.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the pontoon hulls and base deck structure forming part of a three-pontoon hull vessel 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The superstructure of the vessel is not shown. FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 show different views of the same three-pontoon hull vessel. This vessel is also referred to herein as a boat or a pontoon boat.

The vessel has three elongate pontoon hulls comprising a central pontoon hull 102, port pontoon hull 104 and starboard pontoon hull 106. Each pontoon hull 102, 104, 106 extends in the longitudinal (fore-aft) direction of the vessel, from a bow region of the vessel to a stern region of the vessel.

The pontoon hulls 102, 104, 106 are parallel to each other. A base deck structure is arranged at the upper sides of the pontoon hulls. The deck structure comprises an arrangement of laterally extending beams 108. These are attached to the pontoon hulls 102, 104, 106 by a corresponding arrangement of brackets 110 welded to the pontoon hulls.

Although not shown in the drawings, it is intended that a superstructure is supported on the deck structure. The superstructure may include various items arranged for user comfort and for usability of the boat. For example, there may be provided a deck overlaying the beams 108 (and which may, for example, form part of the deck structure) and providing a surface suitable for users to walk on, a perimeter wall or railing, seating, steering equipment, fishing stations, etc. At the stern of the boat is provided space 112 for positioning an outboard motor.

As best shown in FIG. 3, each pontoon hull 102, 104, 106 has a bow region. Each bow region comprises a forwardly tapering shape, terminating in a longitudinally extending seam 114.

Arranged laterally on either side of the bow seam, at least for the central pontoon hull 102, are spray plates 116. The spray plates 116 are arranged to prevent excessive spray from projecting upwardly from the water during high-speed travel of the boat.

FIGS. 3-5 show the anchor 120, in its hauled-in position, arranged at the bow portion of the boat, between the central pontoon hull 102 and one of the other pontoon hulls 106. The anchoring apparatus, comprising an anchor windlass system 122, is described in more detail below.

Each pontoon hull 102, 104, 106 typically comprises an aluminium structure. The general shape of the structure is cylindrical (circular cylindrical) with a typical maximum diameter of about 600 mm. The pontoon hull comprises various compartments which may be sealed from each other via bulkheads. Some of these compartments may be open (typically opening to the top side, to allow positioning of equipment in the compartment, and access to that equipment).

Others of these compartments are closed and typically are pressurised. In particular, the bow compartment at the bow region of the pontoon hull is sealed and pressurised. This allows it to withstand impact with the water, and limited impact with solid objects, without significant deformation.

FIG. 6 shows a partial cutaway view of the bow region of the pontoon boat, with the starboard pontoon hull 106 omitted to provide a clear view of the anchor windlass system 122. The anchor windlass system 122 includes a mount arrangement 124 to which is fixed a bow roller assembly 126 and a windlass assembly 128. The bow roller assembly 126 provides a guide for the anchor rode and anchor 120. The mount arrangement 124 is fixed with respect to the underside of the deck structure of the pontoon boat 100, in a manner described in more detail below. As can be seen for example from FIGS. 3 to 5, the anchor windlass system 122 is positioned between the central pontoon hull 102 and one of the other pontoon hulls. This means that the anchor windlass system 122 is located in a region in which it may be necessary to position one of the forks of a fork-lift truck in order to lift the boat 100.

Turning now to consider FIGS. 7 to 13, the above-noted mount arrangement 124 will be described in more detail. In general terms, the mount arrangement 124 comprises a base mount 130 (shown in FIGS. 7 and 8) and a windlass mount 146 (shown in FIGS. 9 and 10).

FIG. 7 shows the base mount 130 on its own. The base mount 130 takes the form of an elongate metal (e.g. aluminium or stainless steel) plate and may be formed via extrusion. As shown most clearly in the transverse cross-sectional view of FIG. 8, the base mount 130 comprises a planar central region 132, and a pair of elongate and downwardly open (in the orientation shown) channels 134, each channel 134 being formed along a respective longitudinal edge of the planar central region 132 so as to be spaced apart from one another across the width of the base mount 130. Each channel 134 comprises a channel base 136 (which is coplanar with the central region 132) and a pair of channel flanges 138. The channel flanges 138 of each channel 134 are spaced below the channel base 136 (in the orientation illustrated, in which the base mount 130 is intended to be deck structure of the boat) to thereby define a small gap 140 between each channel flange 138 and the channel base 136. The channel flanges 138 of each channel 134 are also spaced apart from one another to define the open configuration of the channels 134.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 7, the base mount 130 also comprises a plurality of countersunk attachment apertures 142, the attachment apertures 142 being arranged in two rows, with each row being arranged parallel to and adjacent a respective channel 134. The attachment apertures 142 of each row are spaced apart from one another along the length of the base mount 130. The attachment apertures 142 are provided to facilitate permanent attachment of the base mount 130 to the bottom side (i.e. the underside) of the deck structure of the boat. For example, the base mount 130 may be offered up to the deck structure from beneath, aligned with the longitudinal fore-aft direction of the boat 100 such that the elongate channels 134 extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boat 100, and such that the base mount 130 extends across a plurality of the laterally extending beams 108, and thereafter a plurality of bolts or screws may be inserted through attachment apertures 142 and through or into the beams 108 and drawn tight. It is to be appreciated, however, that the base mount 130 may be permanently attached to the underside of the deck structure by other means such as, for example, by the use or rivets or the like.

As will be appreciated, the cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 is taken through section line VIII-VIII shown in FIG. 7, and is thus taken through one end (the forward end) of the base mount 130. The base mount 130 is further provided with a pair of locking apertures 144 at its forward end, the locking apertures 144 being shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 7, each locking aperture 144 is located in alignment with a respective row of the attachment apertures 142. The locking apertures 144 may take a similar form to the attachment apertures 142, but this is not essential and in the case of the base mount 130 shown in FIG. 7 it will be noted that the locking apertures have a somewhat smaller countersink that the attachment apertures 142.

FIG. 9 shows the windlass mount 146 on its own. The windlass mount 146 also comprises elongate metal (e.g. aluminium or stainless steel) plate 148 which may be formed via extrusion. At one end (the forward end), the windlass mount 146 has an enlarged end cap 150 which, as will become apparent, serves as an end stop in use. The end cap 150 may be configured to fit over one end of the elongate metal plate 148 and may be secured thereto via a number of end cap screws 152. The underside of the end cap 150 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced apart bosses 154, each of which is internally threaded to receive (e.g. captively) a respective threaded fastener in the form of a thumbscrew 156. The end cap 150 may also provided with a pair of retaining clips 158 which may be secured to the end cap 150 by respective lengths of flexible cord 160.

As shown most clearly in the transverse cross-sectional view of FIG. 10, the metal plate 148 of the windlass mount 146 comprises a generally planar central region 162 and a pair of laterally opposed edge regions 164, each of which terminates in an upwardly cranked elongate rail 166 having an outwardly directed rail flange 168. The two rail flanges 168 are coplanar. As also shown in FIG. 10, a pair of laterally spaced apart spacer webs 170 are also provided, which extend upwardly from the planar central region 162.

As will be appreciated, the cross-sectional view of FIG. 10 is taken through section line X-X shown in FIG. 9, and is thus taken through one end (the forward end) of the windlass mount 146. For the sake of clarity, the end cap 150 is omitted in FIG. 10 and so only the transverse cross-sectional profile of the plate 148 is shown. At the forward end of the windlass mount 146, the plate 148 is further provided with a pair of locking apertures 172, the locking apertures 172 being shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 10. Each locking aperture 172 is located in alignment with the internally threaded bore of a respective boss 154, and is thus positioned to receive the threaded shank of a respective thumbscrew 156.

The above-noted configuration of the base mount 130 and the windlass mount 146 facilitates their sliding inter-engagement, and in particular permits the windlass mount 146 to be conveniently slidably received onto the base mount 130 whilst the base mount 130 is permanently attached to the bottom of the deck structure 108.

FIG. 11 illustrates the windlass mount 146 partially slidably received on the base mount 130, and FIG. 12 shows in transverse cross-section the inter-engagement of the respective forward ends of the base mount 130 and the windlass mount 146 when the two are substantially fully inter-engaged. As will be appreciated from FIG. 12, the windlass mount 146 may be offered up to the base mount 130 on the underside of the boat's deck structure by aligning each rail 166 of the windlass mount 146 with a respective channel 134 of the base mount 130 for sliding engagement therewith. In more detail, and as shown in FIG. 12, the upstanding part of each rail 166 may be received between the channel flanges 138 of the respective channel 134 such that the associated outwardly directed rail flange 166 is received in the gap defined between the outermost channel flange 138 and the channel base 136. The outermost channel flanges 138 each vertically support a respective rail flange 166, and the spacer webs 170 bear against the underside of the planar central region 132 of the base mount 130.

With the rails 166 suitably aligned with the channels 134 in the manner described above, the windlass mount 146 may be pushed onto the base mount 130 in a sliding manner, along the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 11, until the end cap 150 of the windlass mount 146 abuts the forward end of the base mount 130, whereupon the windlass mount 146 may be considered substantially fully received onto the base mount 130.

Having regard to FIG. 12, it is to be noted that when the windlass mount 146 is fully received onto the base mount 130, the locking apertures 172 at the forward end of the windlass mount 146 are brought into alignment with the locking apertures 144 at the forward end of the base mount 130, whereupon the thumbscrews 156 may be manually tightened so that their threaded shanks extend through the end cap 150, through the locking apertures 172 of the windlass mount 146, and into the locking apertures 144 of the base mount 130. It is proposed that the thumbscrews may be provided with diametrically extending bores through their shanks which may align with apertures formed in the side walls of the bosses 154 when drawn tight, for receipt therethrough of a respective retaining clip 158 to prevent inadvertent subsequent loosening of the thumbscrews. As will be appreciated, when the thumbscrews are received in the locking apertures 144 of the base mount 130 and tightened, they will effectively releasably lock the windlass mount 146 to the base mount 130 and prevent longitudinal sliding movement between the two, whilst the channel flanges 138 on the base mount 130 will support the rail flanges 166 on the windlass mount 146 and prevent vertical movement of the windlass mount 146 relative to the base mount 146.

FIG. 13 shows the windlass mount 146 without the base mount 130, but with various components attached to the windlass mount 146, as would be the case in use. These components include the bow roller assembly 126 and a windlass assembly 128. The bow roller assembly 126 is shown mounted towards the forward end of the windlass mount and the windlass assembly 128 is shown mounted towards the opposite aft end of the windlass mount. It will therefore be noted that the thumbscrews 156 at the end cap 150 of the windlass mount 146 are proximate the bow roller assembly 128 and distal to the windlass assembly 128.

The bow roller assembly 128 includes a generally U-shaped channel 178 formed from a folded metal plate 180 affixed to the metal plate 148 of the windlass mount 146 and which holds a series of rollers that in use guide anchor rode. The rollers themselves are not clearly shown but their positions are indicated by the presence of bolt heads 182 which fix the axles of the rollers with respect to the U-shaped channel 178. The anchor 120 itself is of conventional form and includes a shank portion which in FIG. 13 is hidden by the bow roller arrangement. The shank portion provides a connection between the head of the anchor 120 and the anchor chain. Also note that in FIG. 13, the anchor rode is not shown because it is also hidden except for the part on the drum of the windlass and a small gap between the bow roller assembly 126 and the windlass assembly 176.

The windlass assembly 128 is also fixed to the metal plate 148 of the windlass mount 146. The windlass assembly 128 includes an electric motor 184, gearbox 186 and windlass drum 188. The windlass drum 188 is oriented such that it rotates around a substantially horizontal axis, driven in both rotational directions by the motor 184 and gearbox 186. The rope part 190 of the anchor rode is shown wrapped in turns around the drum 188. In use, the motor 184 is operated to drive the drum 188 either in a paying out direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 13) or in a hauling in direction (clockwise in FIG. 13).

As noted above, it is proposed that the base mount 130 will be permanently attached to the underside of the deck structure 108 of the boat 100, and the bow roller assembly 126 and the windlass assembly 128 will both be permanently attached to the windlass mount 146 (as shown in FIG. 13). So configured, the system described above allows convenient, secure, and removable attachment of both the bow roller assembly 126 and the windlass assembly 128 to the boat. This may be achieved by offering up the windlass mount 146 (with the bow roller assembly 126 and the windlass assembly 128 attached as shown in FIG. 13), whereupon the windlass mount 146 may be conveniently and safely slidably mounted onto the base mount 130 in the manner described above.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, when the windlass mount 146 is substantially fully slidably engaged on the base mount 130, the channels of the base mount 130 will support the combined weight of the windlass mount 146, the bow roller assembly 126 and the windlass assembly 128, whilst a user manually tightens the thumbscrews 156 to lock the windlass mount 146 to the base mount 130 and then inserts the retaining clips 158. To subsequently remove the bow roller assembly 126 and the windlass assembly 128 from the boat (for example in preparation to lift the boat using a fork-lift), the process is reversed—i.e. the retaining clips 158 are removed, the thumbscrews 156 are released to withdraw their shanks from the locking apertures 144 in the base mount 130, and the windlass mount 146 is slidably removed from the base mount 130. Following removal of the bow roller assembly 126 and the windlass assembly 128 in this manner, it will appreciated that only the base mount 130 will remain attached to the boat 100, which will offer less obstruction to the safe lifting of the boat with a fork-lift, for example.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining the disclosed results, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For the avoidance of any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided herein are provided for the purposes of improving the understanding of a reader. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations.

Any section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.

Throughout this specification, including the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” and “include”, and variations such as “comprises”, “comprising”, and “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by the use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term “about” in relation to a numerical value is optional and means for example +/−10%.