windlass types

[redhead78]

Hi all, I have a manual windlass in my anchor locker pulls chain directly back, chain fall straight down behind it, would this be called a vertical windlass, as opposed to a windlass that sits up on deck and chain or line wraps around like a winch. I,ll post pics after the weekend. i am considering an electric unit, any thoughts on brand or size, 38' approx 18k lbs...Red

 

[Gunni]

Hi all, I have a manual windlass in my anchor locker pulls chain directly back, chain fall straight down behind it, would this be called a vertical windlass, as opposed to a windlass that sits up on deck and chain or line wraps around like a winch. I,ll post pics after the weekend. i am considering an electric unit, any thoughts on brand or size, 38' approx 18k lbs...Red

That is a horizontal windlass. My opinion - the better windlass, because chain falls right off the gypsy into the locker. A great improvement is to have one with a drum, allowing the windlass to easily reel in a rope rode, or halyard hoist.

My gypsy is rated for rope, but the gypsy would be hard on a halyard, or braided line.

 

[capta]

All windlass manufacturers have vessel size ratings for their equipment. I'd go with that.
Many modern boats are equipped with the vertical windlasses these days and they look like a winch with the gypsy below, so you still have a drum for line and a gypsy for chain. They stand a bit higher than the horizontal ones with a longer unsupported shaft which could bend in extreme circumstances, though I've not seen one do so. The vertical units have a much smaller footprint on deck and the motor must be mounted below deck, a potential leak. Horizontal windlasses, on the other hand often come with only a gypsy or only a drum, in the smaller sizes, but are complete units with the motor in the housing, using (usually) 4 thru deck bolts to secure them which are exposed for inspection, unlike the shaft hole under the vertical windlasses.
Whichever suits your boat, budget and esthetics.

 

[redhead78]

here are pics of my manual windlass which I,m told is a horizontal windlass.. Red

 

[Alex Dare]

windlasses

Vertical windlasses are general preferable if they be accommodated. The big advantages being that there is 180 degrees of chain to chainwheel contact vs 90 degrees on a horizontal and that the motor and gearbox can be inspected, removed and serviced without having to unbolt the windlass from the deck. On large windlasses much more powerful motors and bigger gearboxes can be fitted below decks than would be practical with a horizontal windlass on a normal foredeck.

 

[capta]

You are probably not going to get a vertical windlass to work in that locker as the chain must feed in horizontally to the gypsy. Even a horizontal windlass in that application is going to be iffy, as there is too much angle from the deck to the gypsy and not enough chain is in contact with the gypsy. The manufacturers also have guide lines regarding the correct angle of the chain to the gypsy.
All windlasses require a direct decent into a chain locker under the gypsy deep enough so that the chain doesn't stack up and jam the gypsy.