Lofrans X2

[richardbayle]

Good day to you all.
So off we went for our planned 3 week cruise around our home area of Guadeloupe and beyond. First day went to our favourite day/weekend stop in Petit Anse . To our dismay lots of yachts there so had to moor at the entrance to the bay. Very rolly in strong north easterly very gusty winds.
Set 25 metres of 10mm chain with our 20 kg Spade (great anchor by the way) and at 25 metres suggested to my wife let's go for 30 and the windlass stopped! Wouldn't go down or up.
So after much heaving and straining (I'm 75 by the way) and very sea sick I managed to get the damn thing up and we returned to our home marina just a couple of hard sailing hours away.
When we got back I dismantled the windlass and found the protective (?) cover was full of salt not just water but congealed salt so the electric contacts were corroded as was the motor.
No way we could fix this so it's a new motor. The Lofrans is 14 months old.
Lofrans deny all responsibility saying, (of course they would) it was not installed correctly and this has never happened before! Well thy would say that wouldn't they?
It was installed by one of their agents who says he did!
Has anyone heard of this happening before so that I can have another go at Lofrans?
My wife says forget it just by a new one and move on but that is not my way I'm afraid at over 1800 euros for it it's just too much to throw away.
Two files attached one clearly shows the salt inside the protective cover.

 

[richardbayle]

Actually only one file attached the picture of the corrosion in the motor too big, sorry

 

[Poey50]

I've had an X2 for 13 years. It has been faultless and I doubt there is an inherent design problem. Your argument may need to be with installer rather than the manufacturer unless there is evidence that your particular unit is faulty.

 

[Neeves]

Windlass are expected to be serviced annually. If this had been completed the faults you out line would have been detected earlier (and remedial action taken). However most windlass are not serviced annually, out of sight out of mind, and some (I suspect) are never serviced and soldier on - they are tough items.

I agree with Poey your claim is with the installer not Lofrans. The windlass appears to have been installed such that it fills with water, and as it is salt and thus seawater, it could come from the chain when it is retrieved. Chain retrieval should be arranged that the water on the chain does not run all over the electrics of the windlass and commonly the windlass and motor can be arranged to keep everything as dry as possible.

The photographs needed are of the installation not of the salt.

I'd also check the stainless bolts used to hold the windlass together and hold windlass to deck or bulkhead. If something like Duralac is missing then the installer was at fault as it is inevitable that the stainless would corrode, lock solid , and be impossible to dismantle. So check for Duralac, yellow paste, or greased stainless nuts and bolts. Take some more pictures and post them here - we can then see the installation.

But you are correct - the windlass should not be full of salt crystals. And hauling in 10mm chain is hard work, no matter how old you are.

Just out of interest what is the size and rough weight of your vessel?

Jonathan