My 42-foot Pearson ketch, Silverheels, was originally built with a shallow anchor well on the foredeck that could not accommodate the long anchor rodes needed for serious cruising. While converting the shallow well to a deeper chain locker, I decided I wanted a fore-and-aft partition so I could carry two separate rodes. I couldn’t permanently fiberglass it in, however, as that would block future access to my windlass and other equipment housed in that tight space.
The solution was a removable rode locker divider. It had fit through the forward bulkhead access hatch, which wasn’t very big, and then around several obstacles inside the locker, including the bulky windlass motor. What ultimately evolved was an odd-looking two-piece divider that sets into cheek blocks glued inside the chain locker. Made of glassed-over 1/2in plywood, the two halves when mounted in place are held together with simple bar latches. My removable rode locker divider functions perfectly, solidly separates my anchor rodes, yet comes out easily for periodic maintenance access.
