electric windlass
- Thread starter DZinger
- Start date
You are absolutely right!
The blower starts when the power at the panel is turned on... I do know that we tested the windlass without the engine running earlier this spring, and it did not operate without the engine actually running.
There is a dedicated recessed space on deck (aft of anchor locker cover) for a vertical windless. Beneteau offered Lewmar "concept" model windlass as an option, back then; however, that windlass is obsolete and no longer available. I spent approximately 50 non continuous charter days on a Beneteau 331 equipped with the Lewmar windlass. It had a 3/8" chain gypsy and drum. The ground tackle consisted of 35' of 3/8" chain spliced to a 5/8" nylon rode ( approximately 125' in length) and a Lewmar 33 lb claw type anchor. That set-up was adequate for Gulf Coast sailing. The power supply was from the house bank via cables to the windlass.
Approximately 10 years ago, I installed a windlass on my Beneteau 343. The set-up was similar to that described on the 331. I purchased a Lewmar V2 windlass and used 38' (each leg) 1/0 tinned marine cable for the cable run. There is a dedicated 80 or 90 amp circuit breaker mounted on the same wood panel as the battery switches, adjacent to the battery banks. The controller is a hand held unit that I usually store in the cabin, when not in use.
Lewmar provides a worksheet to determine the proper size cable for a specific windlass model, in the installation instruction manual. Not much homework required.
So typical of newbie posters. Asks for help, gets a variety of answers, and doesn’t have the courtesy to reply. Geez, I give the guy info about the factory configuration & detailed alternative and get no response. Forgive me for my attitude; I have been working in the boatyard all day in 92 degree temp and awful humidity painting bottom & waxing topsides. Thank God that this haul out is coming to a successful conclusion; SPLASHING on Monday AM!!
No forgiveness required. These guys never cease to amaze ALL OF US.
And THAT will be your reward. All the ass-busting labour will be instantly forgotten.
Gonna chip in here with almost no knowledge of the topic… recently purchased a Milwaukee drill with 1400nm torque, and a harken 1/2in bit to fit the winch. That was my $200 alternative to the $1200 electric winch handles and it works amazingly. Could you also use something like this on a simple windless system? Maybe?
Have a friend who used a Milwaukee to raise his conventional mainsail & to unfurl his Genoa. Amazing how much torque that drill produced! Perhaps it coul be used with a modified manual windlass.
One thing for certain is that the cost of a windlass has likely doubled since I installed mine ten years ago! Was looking at my file a few nights ago when replying to this thread and the total cost of the Lewmar V2 windlass, cables, fuse, & controller was approximately $2300 with no labor cost as it was a DIY project. The cost of the windlass only is now close to $2800 excluding all other components. Add in 16 man hours of labor costs & you’re approaching $5000 for a light to medium powered windlass! Crazy!!
Ten years is a long time. The windlass price increased by 21% which spread out over 10 years is just 2.1%. From this perspective, the winch is still expensive, however, but not out of line with average inflation over the past 20 years.Have a friend who used a Milwaukee to raise his conventional mainsail & to unfurl his Genoa. Amazing how much torque that drill produced! Perhaps it coul be used with a modified manual windlass.
One thing for certain is that the cost of a windlass has likely doubled since I installed mine ten years ago! Was looking at my file a few nights ago when replying to this thread and the total cost of the Lewmar V2 windlass, cables, fuse, & controller was approximately $2300 with no labor cost as it was a DIY project. The cost of the windlass only is now close to $2800 excluding all other components. Add in 16 man hours of labor costs & you’re approaching $5000 for a light to medium powered windlass! Crazy!!
I double checked mine today. Both the windlass and thruster operate as long as the “ignition” is on, regardless of whether the engine is running. I guess Beneteau wired something differently between the 34 and 37, or in years of the production run. (Ours is a 2014.)