Protecting anchor windlass

[haydude]

I have found that the anchor windlass shows something light salt around the edge of the bottom, but it "tastes" more like metal than salt.
This is around the part attached to the anchor locker which is GRP.

What should I do to protect it? Would it need a zinc anode even though it is not submerged and usually protected by the anchor locker lid?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Tranona]

If it is a Lofrans then it is corrosion of the unpainted face of the casting which sits on an absorbent rubber gasket. The handbook recommends taking the windlass off every year and cleaning the face. You may want to clean, etch prime and paint the face as well. An anode will not do anything as it is not galvanic corrosion. You may also consider taking all the Allen screws out and coating the threads with Duralec. I did all this on my replacement windlass to avoid a repeat of the corrosion on the old one.

 

[vyv_cox]

An anode will do no good at all. I would try a squirt of Waxoyl. Excellent stuff for inhibiting most corrosion.

 

[haydude]

Thanks both. Yes it is a Lofrans. Are the bolts supposed to be under? If that is the case I will have to find a gnome to get inside the anchor pit. On this 42ft it is tiny, whilst I could fit inside the pit of my old 36ft.

 

[Tranona]

Thanks both. Yes it is a Lofrans. Are the bolts supposed to be under? If that is the case I will have to find a gnome to get inside the anchor pit. On this 42ft it is tiny, whilst I could fit inside the pit of my old 36ft.

They are 8mm studs so you just have to undo the nuts. Quite easy to do as the studs will almost certainly be seized into the housing. Guess how I know all this. I have a well corroded Cayman 88 so bad the threads of one stud have corroded away and the allenscrews are seized solid so I cant get it apart to see what has failed inside. Look after your windlass. New one if you can find it is over £1200.

 

[Bertramdriver]

They are 8mm studs so you just have to undo the nuts. Quite easy to do as the studs will almost certainly be seized into the housing. Guess how I know all this. I have a well corroded Cayman 88 so bad the threads of one stud have corroded away and the allenscrews are seized solid so I cant get it apart to see what has failed inside. Look after your windlass. New one if you can find it is over £1200.

Absolutely and the price was spot on