Anchor counters

[ashtead]

We have a quick windlass but looking to find some form of chain counter for mounting at wheel. Can a forumites recommend someone who might install based in Solent or any advice based on DIY experience of doing this ? Are there any guides which consider different approaches? Can you buy any counter or are they brand specific ? Ideally would like to hear some recommendations of a trustworthy electrician who is interested in work , will turn up when promised, not leave a mess and not say he can do the job in December .

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Personally I find a white patch over 3 or 4 links every 10 metres is enough ... the memsahib can watch it running out or I can see it from the wheel. Saves money on expensive gizmos! Some people use coloured markers ... I've seen one boat with markers every 6 feet (fathom) ... how much do you need to be dead accurate? I find every 10 metres fine no matter what the depth and it's very simple to see how much chain you're using!

 

[Jamesuk]

What is your boat and how many metres of chain do you carry?

 

[rogerthebodger]

We have a quick windlass but looking to find some form of chain counter for mounting at wheel. Can a forumites recommend someone who might install based in Solent or any advice based on DIY experience of doing this ? Are there any guides which consider different approaches? Can you buy any counter or are they brand specific ? Ideally would like to hear some recommendations of a trustworthy electrician who is interested in work , will turn up when promised, not leave a mess and not say he can do the job in December .

I fitted one of these to my lofrans windlass myself some years ago and works well.

http://autoanchor.co.nz/wpcproduct/autoanchor-150/

These are more suffocated ones with remote displays and remote controls

Lewmar are the UK agents

 

[laika]

Chain counters seem to involve a magnet in the gypsy and a sensor on deck. If I wanted to fit one to my windlass I'd need to drill a hole in the gypsy, install the magnet and epoxy over it but I just took a look at the installation guide for Quick chain counters which says that all Quick windlasses have magnets in them already.

I'd be tempted to look at the Quick counters: Not because I have any experience of them but you won't be worrying about compatibility. Installation doesn't look complicated (even though I'm not a very confident diy-er)

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Quick do a windlass control with a counter built in. If you ran a new windlass control cable from the windlass back to your cockpit and fitted the socket somewhere suitable, you could have the benefit of a cockpit control with counter...

http://www.quicknauticalequipment.com/?lng=en&cs1=01&ms1=3&ms2=2&ms3=18&ms4=19

If you don't mind waiting a few weeks I'll let you know if it's any good...!

 

[ashtead]

All many thanks for comments and advice. I had thought it might be advisable to match brand due to compatability . Wasn't aware thar Quick had a handheld with counter so maybe this is route to go by way of replacing the current non counter version. I will be marking up chain in some fashion with markers and paint btw as suggested . We just have 60 metres chain but standard for new boats seems to be 30m which is probably fine for use in home waters but probably not further afield but any thoughts on how much should be carried ? Do let me know Graham how it works out on new Bav and who is doing this at Swanwick? if you using contractors. How is new boat going ?

 

[Skylark]

My boat has a Quick windlass and Quick cockpit controller and counter. It does what it says on the tin. Note that the instrument sun cover does not appear to hold in place as securely as, say for example, similar covers on my Simrad instruments. Quick rip you off £60 for a replacement cover so be warned.

 

[ashtead]

David many thanks . This seems the way to go based on comments so far. This is our first boat with electric windlass so a bit of learning required but just feel a counter might assist in future usage.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

...Do let me know Graham how it works out on new Bav and who is doing this at Swanwick? if you using contractors. How is new boat going ?

It's being done by Clipper's commissioning team but this entails only a swap out of the supplied Quick controller with the alternative, I don't think any work is needed. New boat handover should be end of next week...

 

[ashtead]

Graham many thanks - all the best for handover and trust you have good weather. Our lst boat was a new Bav and found the previous dealersOpal very through . Have only dealt with Clipper on our sale but Swanwick team seemed fairly organised compared to much of marine trade so trust it's a painless process.

 

[vyv_cox]

We just have 60 metres chain but standard for new boats seems to be 30m which is probably fine for use in home waters but probably not further afield but any thoughts on how much should be carried ?

There have been many threads on this topic, with, as usual, almost as many opinions. In waters all around UK, Holland, France and the Baltic we found 50 metres to be sufficient. In a few places in the Western Med 50 metres was not quite enough when we were forced to anchor in deep water. We changed to 65 metres, which is mostly enough, but for berthing stern-to in Greece it can be embarrassing when my estimate of the distance to the quay is incorrect and we run out of chain before reaching it. I am told that some anchorages in Turkey are deep and 80 metres is recommended. It's always a compromise with weight being an issue, so some people reckon that 30 metres plus rope is enough. For regular anchoring I believe that all chain is vastly preferable.

Yesterday I read a post in a Mediterranean page on Facebook by someone who is uprating to 150 metres! The mind boggles.

 

[ashtead]

Vyv many thanks for helpful comments . My most memorable piece of advice on chain to deploy I can recall was from a naked German in Croatia as we tried to anchor in Croatia while he shouted out from his coach roof we needed 9 times depth but it did work notwithstanding the accompanying antics .

 

[Tranona]

Chain length is always a compromise. Both my Bavs have had 50m from the factory, but the older one had a locker deep enough to also take rope so I had 30m spliced on. Like Vyv in Greece I rarely had to use any rope and then usually because I had misjudged distance from quay and too lazy to start again. New has a smaller locker because of the vertical stem so i have the extra 30m ready to be shackled on. However doubt I will ever need it where I anchor on the S coast.

 

[Sandy]

We have a quick windlass but looking to find some form of chain counter for mounting at wheel.

Do you not go forward when lifting the hook?

I am usually single handed and would never ever raise the hook without being forward to ensure that it was correctly stowed. The walk back to the only wheel takes a few seconds.

 

[Sybarite]

Chain counters seem to involve a magnet in the gypsy and a sensor on deck. If I wanted to fit one to my windlass I'd need to drill a hole in the gypsy, install the magnet and epoxy over it but I just took a look at the installation guide for Quick chain counters which says that all Quick windlasses have magnets in them already.

I'd be tempted to look at the Quick counters: Not because I have any experience of them but you won't be worrying about compatibility. Installation doesn't look complicated (even though I'm not a very confident diy-er)

Or one might mark the chain - KISS.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Or one might mark the chain - KISS.

Just so ... every 10 metres with a white patch does for me and is dead easy. Why do people get all wound up about it?

 

[laika]

We have a quick windlass but looking to find some form of chain counter for mounting at wheel.

Or one might mark the chain - KISS.

In order to satisfy the stated requirements presumably you'd also need a camera feeding back to a chartplotter? Not sure it's simpler but arguably it *is* actually more use than a regular chain counter if you want to raise the anchor from the helm

 

[Tranona]

There are situations where a chain counter is useful, And at the helm (or better if possible on a wireless remote). Letting out chain if single handed - you know how much chain you are putting out without having to stand over the windlass, or exiting a stern to berth where you can haul in most of the chain from the helm and then go forward for the last bit when you are clear of other boats.

Not a must have, but like many things, once you have it you are likely to find uses for it.

 

[KellysEye]

When anchoring I assume there is somebody on the bows. In which case you can use different coloured cable ties, ours were every 10 metres. Just decide the amount you need and stop the winch when the right amount is out. Much cheaper.