290 anchor windlass/winch

[puppet]

Hunter's no help... Has anyone put an anchor windlass/winch into a H 290?
Would appreciate help.
How and which.
My back says "DO IT!"
Thanks, Atalanta

 

[Jon Bastien]

I have a 290 also; while it was wired at the factory for a windlass circuit, I honestly haven't got any idea where I would put one. The anchor locker isn't really large enough, and anything you add there would either eat up all the space for your anchor rode, or block access to your fresh water fill.

 

[puppet]

Fingers Xed that someone has done it though Jon.
Lots of room below for a Battery and the winch engine.
Perhaps just a bit of reinforcing glass to support it, and a shelf for the battery?
Advice is what I need.
Puppet.

 

[sun sailer]

295 anchor windlass

I have just seen your post about fitting a windlass to a 290.i don't know if this is any help but I have a 295 which I think is almost the same as a 290
I sailed the boat from the UK to greece where she is now.Before I left I went down the road of a electric windlass as there are very few marinas in Greece ,and you either anchor out in the bay or harbour,or if there is room you drop the anchor about 3 boats length out and motor back stern to the quay,so there is a lot of anchoring.


The problem is the locker is very shallow and and also there is not a lot of room to fit a windlass to the rear of the locker lid.
If you want to make the locker deeper you lose the front berth.
I was quoted about £1000 .(1500 dollars) and because of the locker being shallow no one
thought it would work very well.
I decided to go down the road of a manual windlass which I did.this we fitted in the anchor locker.The back part of the locker the base is a void and so we had to put 1 inch stainless steel tubing over the bolts with large metal washers on the roof of the berth to strengthen the support.The front 2 bolts were ok as the part of the locker that the 2 front bolts for the windlass fitted was solid.We fitted dome nuts and it looks ok
I have 40 meters of 8 mil chain and 40 meters of 12 mil warp.
To let the anchor go I wear thick gloves and take the chain off the windlass and just let it run out
Pulling in !! As the 295 is not a very big yacht I find I can pull in until there is 10/15 meters chain left.I then put the chain onto the windlass and using the lever which I have had made longer,winch it in.You have to stop about every meter and flake the chain because the locker is shallow and the chain bunches up at the front of the windlass and jams.
Not a perfect solution but the problem is the locker is very shallow and without making it deeper and therefore losing the front berth I don't think you can fit a electric windlass
I hope this is some help.

 

[Steve Dion]

I think it may be Quick or Lewmar that makes a special windlass for Hunters. The guide that normally would direct the chain below deck is cut away and allows the chain/rode to be dumped forward into the chain locker.

If you get to one of the boat shows just ask them about the "Hunter Windlass"

 

[puppet]

Thanks I'd heard rumours of a "forward fall" but haven't caught up with one yet. Neil B.

 

[puppet]

Thanks. I'd heard rumours of a "forward fall" windlass, but haven't yet caught up with one. Neil B.

 

[YVRguy]

I am interested in the same thing for my Hunter 34. It too has a shallow locker but I was thinking of mounting the windlass outside and behind the locker...

 

[puppet]

I've been sent a series of pics of an installation done on a similar Hunter.
It works!
A chunk of plywood was used under the winch for reinforcement.
I will attempt to forward them to you
Puppet on Atalanta

 

[Stu Jackson]

There is always the choice of putting a regular winch somewhere on the foredeck. IIRC, some feel that a regular winch is easier to use than a manual windlass with the ratcheting handle. Of course, this only works with line rode, not all chain.

 

[Roddie]

We installed a Quick Rider 1000 windlass with a drum in the anchor locker of our2004 - 306. * I carry 300 ft of rode (100 ft*chain and 200 ft rope). *I will post before and after pics this weekend. *It fits perfect!

 

[pfaffk]

Hi, I also have a Hunter290, and over the years, I have considered adding a anchor Windless. From the research I did and what Hunter would have installed would be something like a Lewmar V700G vertical windless. It would mounded on the small self/platform at the aft end of the anchor locker. The shelf angles down and always collects water and dirt.
I have removed the paneling from the forward end of the forward cabin to see what might need to be done, but I do not recall seeing any per-wiring for the windless.

 

[puppet]

There may soon appear some pics of an installation done by a Hunter owner.
It works!
He reinforced the underside of the "shelf" and used a vertical winch. Most windlass makers have these and there is great variation in price.
There is room behind the bow panel to glass in a shelf for a battery. This would eliminate long runs of heavy wiring (with corresponding loss of current) to house batts.
Puppet on Atalanta

 

[Roddie]

As promised, a perfect fit in the anchor locker of my 306.

 

[Roddie]

Quick Rider 1000 windlass with a drum in the anchor locker of our2004 - 306. I carry 300 ft of rode (100 ft chain and 200 ft rope).