A bowsprit or davit assembly is for raising and lowering, and for firmly securing, an anchor. The assembly includes an elongate frame member, of a substantial U-shape in cross-section, adapted to be mounted on a surface (deck of a vessel). The, frame member includes respective front and rear U-shaped sections (2) and (1). The front section (2) includes respective first and second rotatable members (10) and (15) for receiving and guiding a rope or cable, the rotatable members (15) being displaced from one another in both the vertical and horizontal directions. An elongate member (20) extends between opposed wall members of the front section (2), at or in the vicinity of the uppermost free edges thereof. Opposed flaps (7) extend laterally normal of the outermost free end of opposed wall members of the front section (2).