Windless problems

[danny sea dog]

My windless gets stuck at chain rope transition when pulling anchor
I have to pull it past the transition then it pulls the remainder of rope up
Any suggestions?

 

[Mr Googler]

All chain ??

 

[lisilou]

Get a windlass ?

 

[danny sea dog]

All chain ??

 

[danny sea dog]

I take it you also have experienced this problem

 

[Mr Googler]

To be honest….I’ve only ever had all chain setups on a windlass.

 

[Boathook]

My windless gets stuck at chain rope transition when pulling anchor
I have to pull it past the transition then it pulls the remainder of rope up
Any suggestions?

Mine did the same as the joint went round the gypsy. Main problem for me though was the rope not falling into the locker and requiring constant monitoring. Changed to all chain, end of problems.

 

[GusC@AK]

My windless gets stuck at chain rope transition when pulling anchor
I have to pull it past the transition then it pulls the remainder of rope up
Any suggestions?

I have the same issue. An all-chain option is fine if you don't mind the weight (and stress on the windlass motor over time). I was able to improve the issue by applying liquid rope whipping to the junction (https://www.westmarine.com/west-marine-liquid-rope-whipping-P002_068_003_507.html). Also, once a year, I soak my rope in a mix of freshwater and fabric softener. Sounds weird, but an old-timer told me about that trick and it seems to help. Meanwhile, I still need to hand-feed the junction through the gypsy by pulling it down from inside the locker. Pretty common issue.

 

[simonfraser]

rope & chain on my mobo
gets stuck sometimes, best way to fix it is to stop the windlass just before transition and then wind up some more
not getting stuck that way

if you're windless prob best to put the engine on ....

 

[danny sea dog]

Get a windlass ?

What?

I have the same issue. An all-chain option is fine if you don't mind the weight (and stress on the windlass motor over time). I was able to improve the issue by applying liquid rope whipping to the junction (https://www.westmarine.com/west-marine-liquid-rope-whipping-P002_068_003_507.html). Also, once a year, I soak my rope in a mix of freshwater and fabric softener. Sounds weird, but an old-timer told me about that trick and it seems to help. Meanwhile, I still need to hand-feed the junction through the gypsy by pulling it down from inside the locker. Pretty common issue.

 

[danny sea dog]

thanks for your advice.......Its not the end of the world but annoying when im alone on the boat. Ill try the liquid rope

danny sea dog

 

[DavidJ]

I guess I don’t understand the argument for not having all chain.
Is it the cost of chain, the extra weight and I don’t buy the extra stress on the motor because it’s only lifting the chain weight to the ground, just doing it for longer which the motor seemed robust enough to cope with for many many years.
It‘s not a criticism, I genuinely want to know because it’s a very common set up and an annoyance that folk seem content to live with.

 

[Farmer Piles]

I bought my boat last winter and it came with just 30m of 8mm chain. I looked at maybe adding a rope rode but in the end I went for all chain. Just went out and bought a 60m length. It is only an extra 40kg in the bow of a 5t boat and no worries of joiners jamming - especially if winding the anchor up on your own if the wind is blowing hard onshore. I figured that you want to be at the helm not risking your fingers and the boat at the bow. I cut the old chain to use with a rope rode for a second anchor.

 

[Farmer Piles]

You could always go with lots of smaller chain and a decent anchor?