Choice between Hyspeed 510 and SeaTiger 555 ?

[Mikko M]

I am rebuilding an OE32 and i will soon need to choose which anchor windlass i will install. The reason why i need to choose between these two is that i currently happen own both Hyspeed 510 and Seatiger 555 and i'd appreciate help in choosing the more suitable one for my boat.

OE32 is a double-ender, and it weighs somewhere between 6000-6500 kg.
http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=1638

I am planning to use anchor that weighs 20kg (Mantus or Rocna) and plenty of chain. I do realise that it is advisable to size the anchoring gear conservatively, but the Seatiger seems a little overkill to me. It is also considerably heavier and bulkier than the Hyspeed. I have not been able to find much useful information on how to size the old Simpson-Lawrence windlasses, it seems that Hyspeeds are/were used on Westsail 32 and Alberg 37, but then again Seatiger seems to be quite common on eg. BCC28.

What are your thoughts on this?

BRs, Mikko

 

[Kukri]

Your 555 is a hazard due to the high content of unobtainuim used in its construction; I will be happy to arrange safe disposal for you.

Mine came off a 23 footer on which it was most definitely overkill!

The OE 32 is quite beefy boat.

Seriously I’d fit the 555. It’s better made, and will rattle your chain up in high gear in no time at all.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

`There's no comparison between the two windlasses.

The 510 has lots of mild steel parts including the chain and a couple of freewheels from single speed bikes.

The 555 in contrast is the best manual windlass ever made. The only problem is that 5/16 or 8mm gypsies are quite rare and are worth as much on their own as a whole windlass that's fitted with a 3/8th gypsy. But I believe that a place in Millbrook in Cornwall can make them now.

 

[Mikko M]

Well, i suppose i should give the 555 a more serious consideration then. I haven't yet opened either one just yet, but i expect so find some quite stiff grease inside the 555, as it is not nearly as easy to operate without any load as the 510 which is easily turned with just fingers .

Both windlasses have rope/chain gypsys for 10mm chain, 510 has RCA60 and 555 RCB70 respectively (very little logic with the codes?), and i was not planning to purchase new gypsy for 8mm chain - at least not yet. While i do realise that 10mm chain is an overkill for such a small boat, i've been thinking of having two rodes for bow anchor, one for use in the archipelago and with only a moderate amount of chain that would be sitting in chain locker more or less permanently, and one with longer chain (all chain?) which would be stored in the bilge. Of course actually changing the rode will probably be quite an ordeal.

What kind of 10 mm chain would be better for the RCB70 gypsy, BBB or DIN766? I've understood that there is a noticeable difference in the chain dimensions?

 

[Keith 66]

I rebuilt an elderly SL Hyspeed recently & fitted it to our Sabre 27, at 3 1/4 tons the windlass is fine but on a bigger boat it will struggle. Breakingn the anchor out you have to be careful not to overstress it, bicycle freewhels were not really intended to hang heavy yachts off!

 

[Mikko M]

I rebuilt an elderly SL Hyspeed recently & fitted it to our Sabre 27, at 3 1/4 tons the windlass is fine but on a bigger boat it will struggle. Breakingn the anchor out you have to be careful not to overstress it, bicycle freewhels were not really intended to hang heavy yachts off!

This is exactly the kind of information what i was looking for - although i did not manage to be quite that specific in asking it. Thank you!

 

[Kukri]

Another practical point - be extremely careful with buying chain for S-L 10mm gypsies! S-L used their own chain in the 10mm size. Best to talk to an experienced chain supplier.

 

[Mikko M]

Isn't the chain that S-L sold actually very slightly smaller than eg. DIN766 ? Perhaps it would be a good idea to take the gypsy with me when shopping for the chain.

I just opened the 555, and found out the reason for the stiffness. The windlass was packed full of grease, up to a point that even removing the gasket required force due to suction. The windlass had even been sweating some of the stuff through shaft seals while it had been lying in hot sun. I managed to extract about 0.8 litres of grease out of the windlass - i think a little less might be sufficient when i assemble it again.