capstans and winches

[ongolo]

Hi All,

As I am getting older, I am planning to 'mechanise' my gaff schooner.

I need to make/design winches of traditional appearance bronze/brass? , some capstans powerdriven (electric, compressed air, CO2 probably not hydraulics but considering small petrol engines) to hoist sail.

Where would I find designs how these things were done as I intend keeping things simple in design.

I envisage reasonable slow speed and power (not to breake cordage or bend masts) and units should be easy to service and use common parts such as chains and sprockets.

Mechnical fabrication is no problem whatever the complexity.

Thanks and regards.

Ongolo

<hr width=100% size=1>So what......... it floats

 

[Mirelle]

Hi. I'm surprised that you are planning to steer clear of hydraulics, which seem the logical way to go for this. The Excelsior, a big enough boat in all conscience, was built with a steam donkey engine to drive the capstan and today this is driven hydraulically - she would be just about impossible to sail without it - her gear is truly massive. These pictures give some idea of her:

http://www.excelsiortrust.co.uk/index.asp

I have come across occasional articles in 1930's editions of YM written by people who were going about the same task as you.

Abeking and Rasmussen developed a very clever halyard winch - it is illustrated in Don Street's "The Ocean Sailing Yacht".

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?

 

[ongolo]

Hi and thanks,

I have learned one thing in my life, if it can break at all, sometime it will.

Having an electronics background, I find no problem with anything electrical. And I feel that some electrical drive gives me a lot of options to obtain motors and drive currents. For instance, I have demonstrated that a common drilling machine will drive a windlass for 13mm chain and lift a 45kg anchor nicely.

If I go to hydraulics and it needs repairs, it is too messy for my liking.

What I am after at this stage, is the design of the mechanics, how to drive them in the end is another matter and to be decided down the road. Also where to place the capstan winches best and so on.

My main engine does have a hydraulic pump on it, but I took the drive gear out of the engine for the time being.

regards ongolo


<hr width=100% size=1>So what......... it floats