What is this?

[mitchellthomas]

Does anyone know what this access cover is for? It's on the bow of my 323. From below there is a swivel clip attached to the cover, which I assume had some kind of line tied to it so you don't loose the cover - but that's it. No other indication of what it might be for.

[Dolce_Vita]

I believe this was originally intended for an additional cowl ventilator. It's the right size, but I've never actually seen one installed there.   

[mitchellthomas]

Thank you both! I have a follow-up question (forgive my ignorance - it's my first boat): since the anchor rode has its own compartment, what do you use your anchor locker for?

[selene]

I think Ed got it.

Personally I keep the lunch hook chain/rode.anchor in the anchor locker. It's a small Fortress. My overnight anchor - a Bruce (it's muddy in SF Bay) stays on the roller, with the chain down below. The chain feeds through the plastic cowl (I also have a cover like yours, but that is stowed down below)

No right way of doing it - depends upon your usage. But generally it is good to keep weight as low in the boat as possible.

[mitchellthomas]

Looks like your right. I took a look at the owner's manual and that's exactly what they have there.

[Rusty Pelican]

It looks like a Beckson deck plate was installed inside the anchor locker where the anchor locker drain pipe was originally.
My guess is the PO needed access to the space below for some reason, or possibly the drain pipe or the anchor locker deck was compromised. Drop a 35# CQR, crunch! 
A ventilation cowel would be ineffective in a anchor locker as indicated
#174, 38th consecutive seasons

[selene]

38 seasons?

Rusty, you are just showing off :-)

[mitchellthomas]

I know it's kind of hard to tell from the low res photo, but the rode that's attached to the fortress anchor is coming out if the cowl.

[Rusty Pelican]

Maybe

Here is my latest project.
The wife hated stepping over the stern rail.
CMI out of Hingham Ma. Nice work
$750

[popeye323]

That is very slick and a great idea.

 Did you remove the stern rail or did they do the modifications in place?

[Captain Bri]

Mine has a cowl before the anchor locker - not a great place for it as it can be easily fouled and knocked loose...

[Rusty Pelican]

I have the same setup

[Rusty Pelican]

The vendor did the job without having to remove the stern rail.
He came by the yard, measured, a week later (october) he installed it. About 2-3 hours
It looks like the it was built by Pearson

[Alma]

I cobbled up some PVC and installed a solar vent there. It keeps the bee berth fresh 24/7 all year.