smithadr
New member
We have just finished a weeks charter in the mediterranean. Everything fine until the last day when, upon raising the bow anchor (via electric windlass) after lunch in a bay, the rear end of the windlass (ie the part furthest from the anchor) became detached from the fibreglass platform it was bolted to in the anchor locker. This didn't happen as the anchor was being pulled up from the sea bed - it occurred after it had emerged from the sea yet just before returning to its normal position in the bow roller. The windlass motor did not trip out so after we manually rehoused the anchor into the bow roller and removed the anchor chain from the windlass we were able to turn the windlass winch in the usual way using the handheld electric device -- it would therefore appear the electric motor inside the windlass was undamaged and still fully operational.
The company we chartered the yacht from seemed to suggest it was our fault either bacause the anchor was stuck under a rock on the sea bed or because during the week we had used it to pull the boat away from the quay after being moored stern to overnight.
My thoughts/questions are:
- Surely if the windlass is ripped from the hull in this fashion it is due to not being attached in a secure enough way in the first place .... is this correct ?
- Lets say the anchor is lodged under a rock on the sea bed. If the skipper persists in trying to raise it using the brute force of the windlass, in a properly set up windlass either the electric motor should trip or the windlass clutch should slip before excessive strain is placed on the windlass hull attachments points (ie bolts as described above).
- Is it true that you should not use a windlass to pull the yacht away from the quay when leaving a stern to mooring ??
Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks....
The company we chartered the yacht from seemed to suggest it was our fault either bacause the anchor was stuck under a rock on the sea bed or because during the week we had used it to pull the boat away from the quay after being moored stern to overnight.
My thoughts/questions are:
- Surely if the windlass is ripped from the hull in this fashion it is due to not being attached in a secure enough way in the first place .... is this correct ?
- Lets say the anchor is lodged under a rock on the sea bed. If the skipper persists in trying to raise it using the brute force of the windlass, in a properly set up windlass either the electric motor should trip or the windlass clutch should slip before excessive strain is placed on the windlass hull attachments points (ie bolts as described above).
- Is it true that you should not use a windlass to pull the yacht away from the quay when leaving a stern to mooring ??
Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks....