
NW Explorations
DREAM CATCHER OPERATING MANUAL
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Section 4: Specific Boat Systems & Operations
This section of the operating manual will discuss each of the boat’s systems. The systems and major components
discussed are in alphabetical order as follows:
4A: Anchor & Ground Tackle
4B: Barbeque
4C: Bilge Blowers
4D: Bilge Pumps
4E: Dinghy, Davit & Outboard
4F: Electrical Systems, AC
4G: Electrical System, DC
4H: Electronics
4J: Engines, Synchronizer & Transmissions
4K: Fresh & Waste Water Systems
4L: Fuel System
4M: Furnace/Air Conditioning
4N: Galley & Appliances
4P: Head Systems
4Q: Running Gear (Props, Shafts, Syncronizer)
4R: Safety Equipment, Wipers, W/S Washer
4S: Sea Strainers & Thru Hulls
4A: Anchor & Ground Tackle
4A1: Anchor Bridle
There is an anchor bridle stowed on the boat in the forward deck storage box. Use it when anchoring overnight, as it
accomplishes three goals:
• It takes the strain of the anchor off the windlass, pulpit, and pulpit pulley and directs it to the bow cleats which
are more suited to hold it;
• It reduces substantially the “chain noise” transmitted to the occupants of the forward cabin;
• It allows the anchor rode to have a lower angle relative to the sea bottom, thus increasing the anchor’s holding
power.
To use the bridle:
• Lower the anchor normally (see page 20) then, after it is set,
• Hook the bridle on the chain just in front of the anchor pulpit bow roller;
• Then secure the bridle rope ends through the side-coaming hawse pipes, to the bow cleat on each side so the
bridle lines are equal in length and as long as possible;
• Last, operate the windlass to pay out anchor chain so the chain slacks and is supported by the bridle, the chain
forming a loop right in front of the boat’s bow.
If you wish, you can pay out additional chain to form a long hanging loop between the boat and bridle, which weights
the chain down in front of the boat well below its normal path; thus the chain itself becomes a “kellet” or “sentinel”,
lowering the chain angle more than the bridle alone. The weight “drooping” the chain down like this then forms a an
even more effective “snubber”, so the boat is gently held against the pressures if wind and tide.