windlass covers

[LeonF]

I seem to be getting water into my chain locker from the chain pipe, and then into the side lockers. Possibly from the windlass too..anyone know where I can buy those neat canvas covers that fit over the windlass? The chain pipe doesn't have one of those flaps like my previous boat.. any suggestions as to how too seal this ?? Thanks

 

[gorb]

On one of those nice sunny afternoons at anchor, carve a suitable shaped wooden bung for the chain pipe. That will fix it. Most sailmakers will run you up a cover for the windlass. You can mock up what you want in paper and tape beforehand.

 

[jerryat]

Re: windlass covers

HI Leon,

I made our cover from a couple of acrylic offcuts we had left over from an earlier job. Just shaped it (a bit like a 'bonnet') an sewed velcro round the bottom inside.

I then glued the other 'half' of the Velcro to the windlass base (mine's a Lofrans vertical type) and Robert's your mum's brother!! The cover is split where the chain passes through, and this has a tie sewn on each side, so that when the cover's in place, they can be tied tightly around the chain.

It's instantly removeable and stays there whatever the weather/seas chuck at it, though for safety's sake, I sewed in a loop to which a bit of line is tied, with the other end secured to an eye.

The whole thing took about two hours to make and fit, and there is no need for a bung as the whole windlass is covered.

Worth a try.

Cheers Jerry

 

[LeonF]

Knowing me I would slit my wrist while carving and have to put out a may day. Besides how do you put a bung in when the chain is hanging in there??

 

[PaulJ]

An interesting idea I heard recently but have not yet tried is to smear the chain and the area where it goes down the pipe with silicone grease and then fill the whole thing with sikaflex..... leave for a few days to harden right through. What you have effectively done is mould a well fitting rubber bung and hopefully the grease will have prevented it from sticking to the chain and pipe.

Lower the chain by a few inches, probably with a little help, and when the Sikaflex bung comes out, carefully slit it down one side with a sharp knife and remove it from the chain. Then you just seal the pipe with it whenever you need to..... well that's the theory! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[LeonF]

Paul can you try it and let us all know how you get on please ???? Until then I have found this in an old copy of PBO...it pays to hoard them and re read them. www.starspring.biz. Make all kinds of canvas covers.