Do rope/chain gypsies work?

Sans Bateau

Sans Bateau

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Looking at buying a new windlass (Lofrans decision made there).

I see that some of the vertical windlasses are rope or chain on a common gypsy. How does that work, does that work?
 
Mine is a vertical type, works fine. Are you going for a vertical - I wouldn't if I had the choice again. They look nicer than horiz. but they are hopeless if the lectric fails, and you have to make em work manually. I would have to get out the book, carefully half dismantle it, then it would be a lousy gear ratio on a pesky winch handle. The horizontals generally have a far superior manual arrangement with a bloody great lever.
 
We've got one that handles 8mm chain and 14mm 3 strand nylon. No problem at all. Did have 14mm octoplait and this bu****ed up the "splitter ?" - no, can't have been anything to do with my splicing could it /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
We have a vertical running 8mm chain then onto a Warp. Works fine and the Junior crew with a winch handle can use it fine, even with no Power
 
Just done a bit more research. The Lofrans vertical winches will only handle a maximum of 8mm chain plus up to 16mm rope, even with a 10mm gypsy.

My problem is that I am replacing a Lofrans Royal and already have 10mm chain plus rope. Not wanting to have to change the chain it looks like it will have to be the horizontal winch. With this I can get around the problem.

OK so who's going to tell me the Royal will use a different calibration chain to a Kobra! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Just done a bit more research. The Lofrans vertical winches will only handle a maximum of 8mm chain plus up to 16mm rope, even with a 10mm gypsy.

My problem is that I am replacing a Lofrans Royal and already have 10mm chain plus rope. Not wanting to have to change the chain it looks like it will have to be the horizontal winch. With this I can get around the problem.

OK so who's going to tell me the Royal will use a different calibration chain to a Kobra! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Using 10mm on a Kobra I would suggest is pushing the winch a bit. They are not a high powered one and 8mm is a better size. Running 10mm I'd be thinking more a Tigres. The Kobra will do it but it will be very slow with only 700W. The Tigres is a highly regarded 10mm winch by many.

Vertical - the Project 1500 / X3. The 1000/X2 will do it but again only a small motor for a 10mm chain.

If it has a 10mm gypsy it takes 10mm chain. If it has a 8mm gypsy it takes 8mm. 8mm will not work on a 10mm gypsy and so on.

Measure your existing chain very well, use verniers not Mark 1 Eyeball, and when you buy the winch make sure it has a gypsy to suit. The chances are very very high you will have either a DIN Std chain with a 28mm pitich (inside length of each link) or a EN818-3 Std chain with a pitch of 30mm. Both chains usually don't work on the one gypsy but Lofrans do have a gypsy to suit either.

When you measure your chain measure a few links, just to be sure, and pick good 'un-worn' links. The boat end is usually a better place to measure than the anchor end.

All models are designed for a 'size range' of chain and rope. If the 8mm gypsy is the biggest they make for that model you will have to go up a size for 10mm.

It is very easily really but does appear a bit confusing at times.

PS if running 8mm chain on a Lofrans use a 14mm rope, a good strength balance. If using 16mm use a very very top end Type66 nylon rope or the chances are high it will give grief.
 
Just to tell You Lofrans has a wireless windlass command-with-chain-counter that I used this summer and found VERY helful being short handed on a 40 footer; it can be complemented with a rope/chain sensor which tells how much chian (all) and how much rope You have paid out.

Also, gipsies can be very easily changed and dont' cost a fortune.
Cheers
 
Hey GMac!

Thanks that loads of information.

The Kobra is a 1000W unit as well as 700W ranging from 6 - 10 mm gypsies. Lofrans spec it for boats from 8 to 13 meters, our 10.68m just about fits in the middle of the range. I have measured our chain using a vernier and it is in fact 10mm. I do need to check though, good point, the length of the links. It is possible of course that the chain is in fact 3/8, our current windlass dates back to '93.

Bit more research! Just been to the Lofrans site. The part number for the gypsies on the Kobra and the Royal are the same. So I should be able to just switch them over, then I'm sure of having the right one.
 
Beware! If your chain is 10mm then it could be ISO, which has a pitch of 30mm per link or DIN, which has a pitch of 28mm per link. It isn't easy to check them over one link, it is easier to see it over 10 links. Remember, it is the PITCH you are looking for. I have been living with an ISO chain on a DIN gypsy since August 2004 and we have spent every night this year at anchor from April to September. We only had three or four problems and only in bad conditions, so it is easy to be fooled. With mine, now I know what I am looking at, I can see that the 30mm pitch is just a wee bit too long for the gypsy just by jiggling it over the gypsy.
 
I have been considering the possibility of an anchor windlass for my boat and being generally ignorant about the technicalities have found the comments on this thread helpful, but a little confusing . Particularly trying to visualise what is meant by the pitch and how and where the diameter of the chain is established. In my reading, I have also come across comments on "calibrated" chain, to the effect that some (all?) winches require it. Can anyone point me to a single information source on these and linked aspects?
 
My question was driven by the fact that I am replacing a windlass. It is unlikely that without a windlass on your boat that you will have any calibrated chain, so you would have to factor that into the budget.

Calibrated chain is 'calibrated' to fit the openings in the Gypsy, the 'cog' that hauls the chain in. If it doesn't fit then the chain will jump out of the Gypsy. The diameter and length of the link determines the size. I do not know of any single source of information, I have trawled the web via Google, looking at sites from Lofrans and the chandlers. If you do find something, I'd like to know.
 
I have a Xerox copy of the dimensions for 6mm to 16mm in various grades and types, from a Spanish distributor. I suppose I could scan it but haven't got the scanner to hand right now. I'll read off the dimensions for any that interest you, if you like.
 
Thanks for the offer. Now I have discovered that the gypsy is the same (part number) on my current windlass as on my intended purchase, I feel I have the problem covered.
 
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