Bouba
Well-Known Member
It’s only just occurred to me...but does your wife know that she’s Mrs Baggywrinkle ?
Anchoring--who works the bow, husband or wife/child?
- Thread starter thinwater
- Start date
Baggywrinkle
Well-Known Member
I think it is best not to go there ...
.... what gets posted on the forum, stays on the forum. 
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
We have the usual division of labour when mooring in any way. She chooses it that way. I prep the anchor for launch as she does much of the helming otherwise. Recovering the anchor though, she drives, I heave. There is no windlass.
Neeves
Well-Known Member
Another customer for 'smaller' HD chain and lightweight anchor(s). As you don't have a windlass no expense of a different gypsy.
You should not need to heave, much, anyway. Pull in slack, tie off, she motors gently forward, anchor pops out then you gently retreive.
Jonathan
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
Aluminium Spade. In truth it’s not the heaving, it’s the mud under her fingernails and steering it around the pulpit without bashing the gelcoat. As you say, no need to sweat, we tend to motor gently fwd til it's up and down, then wrap a turn on the cleat and feel it break out.
ylop
Well-Known Member
Nobody gets “sent” anywhere and the “instructions” work in both directions on our boat. Occasionally brute force is the quickest solution to a problem and I will be deployed for that.
That sounds to me like you (as a couple) are winning because both want to be able to do all the jobs. Equality/equity makes for a happier place to be: many a sailor “retires” from sailing when their spouse finally gets fed up with doing the same stuff.
I’ve heard others say this, perhaps even been suckered into this pattern myself, and believe it is a self fulfilling prophecy. In most cases I think that lack of confidence is caused by the regular marina helm making it seem really complex/stressful and barking orders. I realised quite early on - when she failed to hook a pick up on a mooring for the third time in a F5 (obv. I had placed the boat perfectly ;-)) and persuaded her to helm (which she did beautifully and I hooked the bouy) that actually it’s better if we all experience as much as possible - more understanding of how the boat responds under low power in bigger winds etc means less shouting is now involved; when she does shout (from either helm or bow) or give hand signals they are clearer etc.
I think this is bad advice. I think it’s much better for you both (all) to be experienced doing any of the tasks so that (a) if one of you is ill/injured/overboard/bailing/on a work call/supervising a child/on the radio etc that other is perfectly able to do the task; (b) you both know what stuff feels like so if wear and tear is happening you are more likely to spot it (especially gradual stuff); (c) it creates far greater confidence if everyone is capable.
I will measure success as being the day she takes the boat out without me, and just a group of her friends - but that means she needs to be able to do it all, and instruct novices what needs done.
shanemax
N/A
That is very sexist, very much along the lines of if a woman loves pushing her pram, she will probably enjoy pushing a lawn mower.
shanemax
N/A
I don't have a windlass but am thinking of getting one if only a hand cranker. I was anchored at Stutton sand bar last week when it became very windy and uncomfortable and xc said the wind would pick up so I decided against spending the night there.. The wind was on the nose and the tide was making so both against me. I have this terrible long covid and to cut a long story short it leaves you with no breath. For the first time ever I set up the auto helm and put the engine in slightly above forward tickover. This helped to reduce the strain.on the chain as I am all chain. This method took a lot of the pressure off hauling the anchor in. I left the anchor hanging in the water,a few feet below my water line , to clean the mud off and slowly motored to the channel where I completed the job. I was still seriously out of breath but job done.
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
If you get an electric windlass, May I humbly suggest that you please be kind to it and motor forward rather than getting the windlass to pull the boat. If you’re single handed a remote control is helpful.
duncan99210
Well-Known Member
On Rampage we’ve got an electric windlass and it tends to be the Admiral who launches the anchor whilst we take turns to raise it because it’s usually mucky…
On Lady J (all 18 feet of her) I usually launch and recover the anchor whilst the Admiral helms, simply because it’s easier that way.
On Lady J (all 18 feet of her) I usually launch and recover the anchor whilst the Admiral helms, simply because it’s easier that way.
shanemax
N/A
I am strongly of the belief that human beings do not do enough exercise, which is why I try to to do as much manually, on the boat as I can including rowing where possible and not starting up the 2hp. I always look at the south american native Indians that live in the Amazon jungle They are lean, suitably fed, muscular fit looking people and then I compare them to the average American walking out of a Mc Donalds. Its the same continent but there is a difference( and by the way I love Americans and do not wish to live in a Jungle.)
Is boating Luxury or camping ??????????????
Neeves
Well-Known Member
How I wish the engine also had a remote.
You could then stand at the bow, command that the yacht be moved gently forward and you simultaneously retrieve the anchor.
I know its possible (but at some considerable and, in our case, unjustifiable, cost)
shanemax
N/A
I increased the gain to maximin on my auto helm and it seemed to keep up with the direction the boat was taking as I pulled the chain in.
dunedin
Well-Known Member
Windlass bearings are a lot cheaper to replace than damaged backs. It is pretty much impossible to lift solo without using the windlass to pull forward, even with a remote. Would need a remote camera as well to check the angle and to spot the weed, which needs removing as you go. And then would mean running back and forward along the side decks. (As noted, remote engine controls might work better.)
But a bit of mechanical sympathy allows pulling the boat forward into the wind without too much strain - particularly slowing after start moving so boat catches up slightly.
Rebuild windlass every 5 years or so seems reasonable - with perhaps 100 plus lifts per season.
Kelpie
Well-Known Member
I quite like my method of motoring up to the waypoint that I set when I dropped the anchor, then run forward and haul up the slack chain. Works in light conditions without using the windlass, but you have to be pretty quick.
geem
Well-Known Member
I find that if I put the engine in to forward tick over drive, the boat will move forward at about 1.2kts. I have windlass controls on the wheel pedestal. I can start to lift the anchor with the boat moving forward at about a knot. I can then move to the bow and carry on powering the chain in with the foot switches. The fact that I got the boat moving initially with the engine, means that the windlass has only got to maintain the boats forward motion rather than accelerating it from zero. It seems to do this easily enough unless it blowing hard. If it blowing hard, I can lift the chain from the wheel.
The windlass is over 10 years old and it gets a lot of use. No sign of needing bearings or any other parts. They are super robust compared to winches that seem to get way more abuse but still function fine.
Some of my winches on the mast are over 40 years old and have minimal wear on the bearings and gears. I am really not worried about the windlass
NormanS
Well-Known Member
Unless it's blowing a hoolie, the windlass pulls our boat up to the anchor. She, who attends to it, doesn't go mad, but pulls in some chain, and the shortened catenary starts the boat to come ahead. I must admit, it was even better when we had a hydraulic windlass, when the relief valve setting meant that the windlass could maintain a pull of about one ton, with no fear of overload or burn out.
Laysula
Well-Known Member
My wife does all the helming and I do everything else. She is an excellent helm and can also moor the boat forwards backwards and sideways very comfortably. i just trim the sails, tie up anchor and make the tea etc.
Mark-1
Well-Known Member
A lesson I've learned late in life. I've spent a lifetime protecting machinery, clothing and boats by taking more strain on my body.
All that stuff has gone to the scrappie or in the bin in slightly better condition that it otherwise would, but I have to live with a worn out body.
I've got a 10yo £300 kayak that's pretty much immaculate because I've always lifted it over shingle to avoid scratches. I wish to heck it was worn paper thin with gouges and my vertebrae were immacualte.
vas
Well-Known Member
I always wondered about that in windlass equipped boats.
Other than having to release the anchor pin or lock or whatever and maybe give it a gentle push off the bow roller so it's dangling down, is there any other real reason to have someone on the bow pressing a button and looking at possibly a chain counter? V.rarely I'll see someone freewheeling the anchor down at least were I boat.
I do the dropping retrieving myself and because 90% of the time one must jump in the water with a 50m yellow floating line that will be tied to a rock/tree wife/daughter/son/whoever is with me does that.
In the other 10% of just anchoring I just press a button and look at a dial. Job done.
Other than having to release the anchor pin or lock or whatever and maybe give it a gentle push off the bow roller so it's dangling down, is there any other real reason to have someone on the bow pressing a button and looking at possibly a chain counter? V.rarely I'll see someone freewheeling the anchor down at least were I boat.
I do the dropping retrieving myself and because 90% of the time one must jump in the water with a 50m yellow floating line that will be tied to a rock/tree wife/daughter/son/whoever is with me does that.
In the other 10% of just anchoring I just press a button and look at a dial. Job done.