Adding a bow roller has greatly facilitated hauling our anchor and its chain/rope rode. Unless one were doing an awfully large number of anchorings, in deep water, just adding the bow roller eliminates the need for a windlass on a boat of 30 feet or less. I would not have a sailboat of more than 24 feet without a bow roller. In addition to saving one's back, the roller may prove to be a useful place to store the (tied down) anchor.

We usually carry a large Danforth-style anchor. We use the Nicro deck vent as a hawse pipe for the anchor rode. This photo also shows the crystal-clear water of the Genesee River!