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.Interesting. On our 37 the blower is also powered by a relay, but it comes on as soon as the power button on the panel is turned on. I’ll double check my thruster and windlass this weekend.
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 Beneteau offered Lewmar "concept" model windlass as an option, back then; however, that windlass is obsolete and no longer available.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.I have a 2003 Beneteau 331 and would like to install an electric windlass.
Any comments as to a vertical or horizontal model, if so, what model do you recommend?
Lewmar provides a worksheet to determine the proper size cable for a specific windlass model, in the installation instruction manual. Not much homework required.DO YOUR HOMEWORK and run the numbers for a properly sized cable from your house bank to the windlass and back.
No forgiveness required. These guys never cease to amaze ALL OF US.Forgive me for my attitude;
And THAT will be your reward. All the ass-busting labour will be instantly forgotten.SPLASHING on Monday AM!!
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.Could you also use something like this on a simple windless system? Maybe?
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.)On our boat, the windlass will not operate if the motor is not running, we've tested it with just the panel on, nothing. The relay is activated by output from the alternator, no output, no windlass. We had a conversation at one of our Rendezvous (is that plural?) with our dealer, who is a friend of ours. We tested it the next time we went out to make sure we weren't spreading incorrect information.
[EDIT]: The same relay also provides power to the engine compartment blower. I posted a thread several years ago about our engine blower quitting, and a charge alarm sounding while we were cruising. It was a broken wiring connecter to the relay, the battery was probably charging just fine. They may also use a similar system for bow thrusters, etc., especially if each of these power hungry components does not have their own dedicated battery.