Great minds think alike -- only your mind comes up with less expensive solutions than mine!
For the chain pipe, I did something similar. I decided to use the existing deckplate for the cowl/solar fan for the chainpipe while I was sailing and then pop the fan in for when the boat isn't in use.
I did it a little fancier than you: I cut a piece of 7/8" teak ($5) a little bigger around than the oval-shaped chrome-over-brass chainpipe ($29 from West Marine). Sanded and rounded the edges similar to a teak winchpad.
Then I epoxied/glassed the teak pad on top of a spare cap ($5 or $10, I'm not sure because it was a spare I had hanging around) that you'd use to close off the cowl/solar fan deckplate. Then I mounted the chainpipe on the teak. Then I drilled a 2.25" hole through the teak and plastic cap.
What I ended up with (but I'm not quite finished, to tell the truth) is this: for $40, it looks really attractive. It's a chrome chainpipe with a cover with a hook to hold the chain, sitting on a varnished teak pad. When it's inserted in the deckplate, it looks cool and works just fine. At the end of the day, when I remove the anchor for trailering, I'll pop out the chainpipe and pop in the fan to dry out the rode/chainlocker. And there's less clutter on the foredeck...
I'm making a second one for the starboard corner of the transom, so I can keep a rode below in the quarter berth there for my stern anchor. At the end of the day, I'll pop it off and insert a cowl or a second solar fan to dry out the rode.
Best,
Judy B
1985 WWP19 #266 Redwing
Sailing SF Bay
In a message dated Thu, 26 Aug 1999 8:44:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "George Sweet" <georges@carol.net> writes:
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> West Wight Potter Website at URL
> http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> Hey Judy,
> For what its worth, I (on the cheap) took a spare Deck plate that the
> ventilator fits into and with PVC glue, glued in a piece (3-4") of PVC pipe.
> I then took a properly sized cap for the pipe and ground out a U shaped
> notch on it's bottom edge. I then ground out an identical notch on the top
> edge of the pipe. On the inside top of the cap I screwed in a brass cup
> hook (with a springy metal piece that makes captive whatever you hook) and
> filed flat the portion of screw that protruded through the top and dabbed it
> with a little dab of gel-coat repair to cover the spot. What you get is ::
> a covered hose pipe that holds the end of the rode so it does not fall into
> the locker and on popping off the cap it delivers the rode end into your
> hand. After deploying your anchor replace the cap with the U'holes offset
> and it seals the hole from water by squeezing down on the rope. If you need
> to close it up with chain sticking out , align the U'holes for a larger
> aperture. Rotate the deck plate to point the outlet wherever you desire.
> Pop the whole deck plate and replace with the ventilator for ventilation.
> The PVC pipe has held up beyond my wildest expectations. Total cost for PVC
> stuff about 79cents - spare deck plate under five bucks.
> George Sweet
> P-19 Sea Dove
> Greenville SC