Newbie Windlass Question

[dewent]

If an anchor windlass has both a gypsy for the chain and a drum above how does one use the drum? My anchor is all chain except for a short length of rope where its tied to the boat. If I power the windlass then surely both the gypsy and the drum will rotate. Am I correct to say that I could only use the drum if the chain has first been removed from the gypsy? Any advice comments welcome. Thanks.

 

[SHUG]

To use the drum with chain still on the gypsy, but with the clamp loosened off is posssible, but not advisable. The clamp on the gypsy tends to self-tighten when rotated in the UP direction. Much better to take the chain off and play safe.

 

[Tranona]

If an anchor windlass has both a gypsy for the chain and a drum above how does one use the drum? My anchor is all chain except for a short length of rope where its tied to the boat. If I power the windlass then surely both the gypsy and the drum will rotate. Am I correct to say that I could only use the drum if the chain has first been removed from the gypsy? Any advice comments welcome. Thanks.

The drum is for use with all rope. Most gypsies will take a rope then the chain. The drum is useful for hauling ropes, for example a mooring warp when berthing stern to. Not normally used for anchor work with a chain. Many windlasses don't have a separate drum as it is quite normal to just use the chain gypsy.

 

[vyv_cox]

My Maxwell windlass gypsy will accommodate chain and rope, although the older design includes a pressure arm if rope is to be used. The later design is designed to accommodate both rope and chain, or either, without the use of the pressure arm that wore out occasionally and needed to be renewed.

We replaced our original windlass with one that has a capstan drum on top when we began to use marina berths in the Aegean. It was sometimes necessary to haul on a bow rope against the force of the meltemi, which was often beyond our capabilites. The capstan always rotates but the gypsy can be disconnected from it by winding back the clutch plates via the hexagonal fitting on its top. Don't forget to tie the anchor to the boat, as there is otherwise nothing stopping it, and all your chain, from falling into the sea (Learning experience # 497 )

 

[ghostlymoron]

Don't forget to tie the anchor to the boat, as there is otherwise nothing stopping it, and all your chain, from falling into the sea (Learning experience # 497 )

Hear, Hear! (or should it be here, here!)

 

[pcatterall]

Tell Tale!!

 

[vyv_cox]

Hear, Hear! (or should it be here, here!)

During this experience I found that a scope of only slightly more than 1.5:1 is sufficient to anchor the boat if the water is deep enough. About 63 metres of chain, 40 metres of water and we were held firmly in position.

 

[Leighb]

The rope drum can be useful for other rope hauling. For example, hoisting our genoa single handed, my arms are not long enough to haul the halyard and feed the luff tape simultaneously. I run the halyard through a block at the foot of the mast forward to the windlass drum, I can then feed the luff with one hand while tailing the halyard with the other. The windlass is controlled with a foot switch. Easy peasy.

 

[NormanS]

My windlass has a horizontal shaft, but the principle is still the same. If I want to use the warping drum, I just de-clutch the gypsy. There is absolutely no need to take the chain off the gypsy. I would expect that on the OP's vertical axis windlass, there is provision to de-clutch.

 

[GrahamM376]

Also excellent for hauling someone up the mast.

 

[NormanS]

Also excellent for hauling someone up the mast.

Oooo you'll be shot down in flames.