who knows about anchor chain and windlasses

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I'm after someone who can help me sort out my anchor chain/gypsy problem. The chain rides up and jumps on the gypsy causing it to snatch (and nearly pull the windlass off the foredeck coz it's a 25kg bruce on the end). I need to know whether to change the chain, the gypsy or both.

TIA

rob
 
From your description of the symptoms, the chain is the wrong size for the gypsy. The gypsy should have some form of identity to show what size it is, and you then need to get the correct calibrated chain for your gypsy - and that means knowing the manufacturer as well. a lot of problems have been caused by 3/8" chain and 10mm gypsy - that 0.5mm makes quite a difference when it is under load!

The shaking is when the link jumps in the gypsy from one link to the next. Causes an instananeous release of pressure on the gypsy followed by the full weight suddenly coming back on it. - thats a big shock load.
 
Malc,

The windlass is a Lofrans MOD Cayman 88 (ser no 11129) 1000 watt 12V

On the gypsy is marked a zero with a slash through it - don't know how to get that on a qwerty keyboard! as follows:

010
P.30
3/8 H.T.

Is that any help?

rgds

rob
 
Rob,

I have a nauticat with a lofrans too. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The circle with a slash through it is the 'diameter' symbol.

There are two markings on my gypsy with one knotch space inbetween - one is metric and the other the imperial equivalent. Mine has 8 (mm) and the imperial equivalent 5/16" and the chain has 'G4' on it which matches the imperial 5/16ths.

Your chain would have 'GGG' marking on it for 3/8ths but it depends what standard it's made to. Mine is US. Look if there is something similar on your chain. Sounds like the wrong sized chain to me too.

Dave
 
While it does sound like a mismatch between chain and gypsy, presumably there is a good loop around the gypsy, of at least 90 degrees, assisted by gravity to keep the chain in contact with the gypsy? Also, if the chain is not going smoothly into the locker through the hawsepipe, and it tends to back-up, then that could make it jump.
 
I had identical problems with my Lofrans Caymann 88. Chain is jumped over gipsy.Problem is solved with changing gipsy.For chain 10 mm there were two different gipsies, one for metric and one for anglosaxons! Probably you have one which is not compatible with chain.
 
Thanks all, with this new knowledge I'll contact ECSmith the lofrans agent and see what they have to say.

rgds

rob
 
When I wanted to replace my anchor chain a few years ago I removed the gypsy [easy on my S/L windlass] and took it to the chain stockist [EYE of Levington, Suffolk] who then identified the correct chain by trial and error.
 
'calibrated' chain is just the same as uncalibrated except that it has been run over the particular type of gypsy to make sure it fits. some will fit, some won't, owing to manufacturing variations.

when setting up a system you would need to specify <3/8" chain calibrated for Lofrans>.
 
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