Windlass Desired

Zen Zero

Zen Zero

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This is the pointy end of my boat. As you can see, it is fitter with a traditional haul and curse anchor recovery device.

Owing to arthritis in the other co-owner's wrists, an electric windlass is to be fitted.

The other owner maintains he can get an 800w windlass for €450 from a bloke he knows, but the bloke is a grumpy old barnacle and will ony deal with him. He can't remember the make or whether it's vertical or horizontal. Which all makes the decision making rather difficult.

But given that an electric anchor lifter is needed. Have you guys got any suggestions

The anchor locker is fwd of the big cleat with the white trefoil mooring warp on it.

Nereide is 8m30 or 28 ft long and draws 1m40 or about 5ft, and wears a 10.5m masthead bermuda rig.

We use a 7.5 kg bruce on most grounds.
 
I use a 7.5kg Bruce on my 22' Anderson; apart from the initial break out from the seabed, how difficult can it be ?

The answer there would be to shorten the chain / warp to vertical then let the boat do the work.

Depending on the size of boat - and if much above 22' a 7.5 Bruce is on the small side - a windlass is opening up a whole new can of worms if you can manage without it.

Not just power supply and mounting the thing with a mighty backing pad, failures and difficulty finding spares are often mentioned on these forums.
 
Last edited:
Zen Zero,

try joining ' Photobucket ', it's free.

You ' upload ' pics from ' my pictures ' on your pc,

then right click ' save image location'.

Back to this forum, left click on the 5th icon from the right in the toolbar, the envelope.

Then right click and transfer your photo.

Hope that makes some sort of sense !

Andy
 
Seajet said:
Zen Zero,

try joining ' Photobucket ', it's free.

You ' upload ' pics from ' my pictures ' on your pc,

then right click ' save image location'.

Back to this forum, left click on the 5th icon from the right in the toolbar, the envelope.

Then right click and transfer your photo.

Hope that makes some sort of sense !

Andy
Click to expand...

Andy

I can see the photo. It's in "My Album" on this forum, marked "awaiting moderation". but I'll stick it on the photobucket I use - picaxea!

hang on ...

https://picasaweb.google.com/103368...hkey=Gv1sRgCNudhsfKgNaiDw#5826642794522739858
 
It appears that the anchor locker is small, and as far forward as it is possible to be, unless I am not seeing it correctly. Your problem is that for a vertical windlass to work properly, without chain piling, the fall needs to be into the lowest point of the locker. This can be difficult to arrange on most types, where the fall emerges from the gypsy through the base of the windlass. With a horizontal one you may be able to mount it aft of the cleat but run the chain forward to fall into the locker. Some shifting of chain may be needed to achieve this.
 
vyv_cox said:
Lots of options here. having had both horizontal and vertical, I would definitely go for the vertical, although in general they are more difficult to install.
Click to expand...

Vyv Cox is a Chartered Engineer, holding qualifications in both metallurgy and mechanical engineering. He offers very sound advice on this forum, and I agree with his opinion about a vertical windlass rather than a horizontal one. Particularly if you can buy one like the South Pacific which is competitively priced and uses high efficiency spur gears. It can be purchased with a capstan with separate operation for both capstan and gypsy.

This windlass came out well in a Sailing Today comparison a year or so ago. I am not connected with the makers or suppliers in any way.

Australian manufacturers is here http://www.southpacific.com.au/inde...category_id=7&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=68

UK suppliers here
http://www.boatgeardirect.co.uk/id19.html

Good luck, George
 
There are a number of considerations, first with a horizontal axis winch the cable holder must be dead on the line of the bow roller though it can be above or below the line with above being better. With a vertical axis the chain pull needs to be straight in both lines. Also all vertical and some horizontal axis units will need a big hole in the deck for the motor to go through whilst some horizontal units only need bolt and cable holes. All need a substantial backing pad.

18 inches fall of chain may not be self clearing though you can try this without actually fitting a windlass just see how easily the cable slides into the chain locker from the fore deck under it's own weight. You may always need some one to clear the chain into the chain locker a bother but not as bad as raising it by hand.

Finally I would keep clear of Lofrans for the time being despite being quite good windlasses until their future as part of the defunct Plastimo group is resolved. There have been a few posts about spares problems
 
GeorgeLlewellin said:
Vyv Cox is a Chartered Engineer, holding qualifications in both metallurgy and mechanical engineering. He offers very sound advice on this forum, and I agree with his opinion about a vertical windlass rather than a horizontal one. Particularly if you can buy one like the South Pacific which is competitively priced and uses high efficiency spur gears. It can be purchased with a capstan with separate operation for both capstan and gypsy.

This windlass came out well in a Sailing Today comparison a year or so ago. I am not connected with the makers or suppliers in any way.

Australian manufacturers is here http://www.southpacific.com.au/inde...category_id=7&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=68

UK suppliers here
http://www.boatgeardirect.co.uk/id19.html

Good luck, George
Click to expand...

+1 for the South Pacific bought one a couple of years back and it has been excellent.
 
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