Lewmar Ocean/Concept Windlass -- The Missing Manual

[Dockhead]

After my horrific bodging of my windlass repair over the summer, only just yesterday resolved finally, I decided to do penance by writing down everything I learned the hard way about these devices in the hopes that my grief can at least help some other poor soul avoid the same travails.

A draft is attached, and comments are most welcome.

My idea is to combine this with the terrific gearbox assembly guide posted by TudorSailor (if he grants permission) and with the Lewmar manuals to provide a single resource for the care, feeding, and repair of these devices.

 

[Maximilian]

After my horrific bodging of my windlass repair over the summer, only just yesterday resolved finally, I decided to do penance by writing down everything I learned the hard way about these devices in the hopes that my grief can at least help some other poor soul avoid the same travails.

A draft is attached, and comments are most welcome.

My idea is to combine this with the terrific gearbox assembly guide posted by TudorSailor (if he grants permission) and with the Lewmar manuals to provide a single resource for the care, feeding, and repair of these devices.

Dockhead, thank you for this comprehensive document and for taking the time to document your experience so thoroughly, as I have seen you do so well on the MOA site. I am guessing this relates to your own Moody?

Mine is a 2002 M47, with the same windlass (though exactly what model it is I am unsure of) which I think is original, but I do have exactly the same Manual as you have attached. I'm in the process of getting the device serviced, it having seized after a period of no use, and I'm sure the causes are both multiple and as you describe in your account.

Locating a replacement OEM motor, if that is required, may be tricky in New Zealand - if it's not possible to replace or repair, I will look at a Maxwell RC10-10 which is of a similar configuration.

Once again, thanks for your manual and advice, it's terrific!

Ian

 

[Dockhead]

Dockhead, thank you for this comprehensive document and for taking the time to document your experience so thoroughly, as I have seen you do so well on the MOA site. I am guessing this relates to your own Moody?

Mine is a 2002 M47, with the same windlass (though exactly what model it is I am unsure of) which I think is original, but I do have exactly the same Manual as you have attached. I'm in the process of getting the device serviced, it having seized after a period of no use, and I'm sure the causes are both multiple and as you describe in your account.

Locating a replacement OEM motor, if that is required, may be tricky in New Zealand - if it's not possible to replace or repair, I will look at a Maxwell RC10-10 which is of a similar configuration.

Once again, thanks for your manual and advice, it's terrific!

Ian

Cheers!

Yes, this whole saga occurred on my own Moody 54. My windlass is an Ocean 3. Yours might be an Ocean 3 or Ocean 2.

I'm sure you can find an OEM motor. You just need to get the numbers off the existing one and google until you get a cross reference. If you have an Ocean 3 like mine, the OEM motor is a very common Mahle/Iskra industrial motor which you won't have any trouble finding.

You are unlikely to need a new motor unless the casing is rusted out beyond all repair. These motors are so grossly overspecified for the job, that I think you couldn't possibly wear one out even in a lifetime of anchoring. If you can't get yours to work, and if it's not rusted out, I would take it to an auto-electric shop which repairs starter motors and alternators. They should be able to get it working.

I can't imagine it makes any sense to replace the whole windlass. Those things cost a fortune.

In any case, the first thing to check, which I think I wrote in the manual, is where the bottom half of the cone clutch rubs on the windlass deck unit. What happens there is mud you wash off the chain finds its way in there and eventually causes it to seize, which is what happened to mine. The manual says to regularly take it all apart, clean and oil it, and my awful saga was the directly result of having stupidly failed to do that, and for years.

Good luck! The M47 is lovely boat! That's what Bill Dixon himself uses as his personal yacht. My old mooring on the Hamble was 100 metres from where he kept her.

 

[aero528]

Thank you thank you thank you for this information!

I’m rebuilding the windlass on my 2001 Moody 47, and it seems an oil seal failed which caused one of the shaft bearings to rust and lock up. If in the US, Grainger has these parts for relatively inexpensive. The bearings are 6008 and the oil seals are TC 40-56-8. I’m fairly certain I have an Ocean 2. It’s disappointing but expected that Lewmar would call this gearbox ‘unservicable’. It is quite easy once it’s out of the boat!

The gear oil is very hard to find here, I’ll have to get it shipped to the US from the UK site you mentioned. How much did you put in?

Thank you again!

 

[Dockhead]

Thank you thank you thank you for this information!

I’m rebuilding the windlass on my 2001 Moody 47, and it seems an oil seal failed which caused one of the shaft bearings to rust and lock up. If in the US, Grainger has these parts for relatively inexpensive. The bearings are 6008 and the oil seals are TC 40-56-8. I’m fairly certain I have an Ocean 2. It’s disappointing but expected that Lewmar would call this gearbox ‘unservicable’. It is quite easy once it’s out of the boat!

The gear oil is very hard to find here, I’ll have to get it shipped to the US from the UK site you mentioned. How much did you put in?

Thank you again!

I didn't measure, but I bought a litre and I think more than half of it was left over.