Windlass

[Flossdog]

Our new (to us) yacht has a beefy SL electric windlass but the manual states not to use it as a mooring strongpoint. It can pull 300kg which means it must be substantially constructed - probably stronger than the cleats that are the alternative mooring points to attach our swinging mooring strop to. Are there any reasons not to use the windlass as a high tech sampson post?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Yup. Essentially, not designed to resist shock loadings over a long period. Guts are designed to work for short periods at constant loads, not be jerked all over the place for hours on end.

No doubt somone will be able to provide a more technical explanation.

 

[sarabande]

You don't give the mass of your boat, but a surge loading (snatch) from even a gentle mooring is likely to exceed the rated figure. Think of bringing a 5000kg boat to a halt in less than 20cm or so. Ouch.

Windlass is also likely to be designed for a load in one specific direction. Certainly not for use as a samson post in a towing event.

Not worth the damage or risk of having it torn out of the deck.

 

[Flossdog]

Understand the logic of your answers but the cleats provided by the builder look far less up to the job than the hefty lump of the windlass! Boat is 7 ton so the stresses and strains are not inconsiderable. The windlass is also in a direct line (necessarily so) to the bow roller. Why don't manufacturers and designers build in hefty strong points? Thanks for the comments.

 

[Twister_Ken]

"Why don't manufacturers and designers build in hefty strong points?"

Building down to a price.

 

[Bajansailor]

I know that many of the older windlasses had attachment points on them for slipping a bight of rope over, or even a substantial cleat or horn on top for making fast a rope, but as Ken sagely notes above, they don't all do this nowadays, as everything is so cut-throat and built down to a price.

Re the bow mooring cleats provided on your (or any other) boat - it is worth pondering what might happen if your vessel had to be taken in tow in (say) adverse weather, or (even worse) be towed off a sand bar or reef. Would these cleats be able to cope with such a situation?

The same analogy could apply to stern cleats as well. I remember one time about 15 years ago on Stormy Weather (who has 7' draft) motoring down the channel in the Lymington river - we had to get out of the way of the ferry, and ended up kissing the mudbank on a falling tide.
A kind motor yacht was following along behind, and offered to tow us off.
He rigged up a bridle from his 2 stern cleats to the massive samson post on Stormy's foredeck, went in to very slow ahead (as slow as he could) - and two cleats promptly parted company with their vessel. I seem to remember we were rather ashamed of this incident, especially as the motor yacht owner just (I think) shrugged his shoulders - but he must have been rather miffed, to say the least..

It's definitely worth considering what provision would you make in the cleat / bollard department for towing or being towed by another vessel.