I have been trying to devise a method to take the strain off the windless when setting the anchor. The line is going out and the only way to stop it is to tighten up the windless which is obviously not doing the windless any good. the only alternative seems to be using my back which is too old for that kind of strain.the line is rope. Any suggestions?
Anchor Line
- Thread starter joe5921
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Try using it like a winch
Joe, depends on what windlass you have, but if the rope drum is like a winch, just take a few wraps around the drum with the line, and let it out slowly, just like you do with jib sheets on your winches. I don't have a windlass, and my issue is retrieving, not setting, the hook. Unless you anchor is incredibly heavy, setting it should not be an issue -- perhaps you can just ignore using the windlass when letting the anchor down. I just clear the chain and rode on the foredeck, and let the anchor and rode slowly down by hand, using cheap hardware store gloves. Even the weight of the anchor and chain isn't enough to pull me overboard!!! Stu
Joe, depends on what windlass you have, but if the rope drum is like a winch, just take a few wraps around the drum with the line, and let it out slowly, just like you do with jib sheets on your winches. I don't have a windlass, and my issue is retrieving, not setting, the hook. Unless you anchor is incredibly heavy, setting it should not be an issue -- perhaps you can just ignore using the windlass when letting the anchor down. I just clear the chain and rode on the foredeck, and let the anchor and rode slowly down by hand, using cheap hardware store gloves. Even the weight of the anchor and chain isn't enough to pull me overboard!!! Stu
Why Not Use a Snubber
Whenever I anchor my boat I use a snubber as I have an all-chain rode. My snubber is an 8' piece of line with a heavy-duty section of rubber bungee built into it with a hook on one end that I attach to the chain. I tie the line around one of my bow cleats and let it out a bit so it takes all the strain off the windlass. If you have an all-rope rode, then I would take a few turns around the nearest strong cleat. Windlasses do not like being yanked-on and carrying the weight of the boat all night.
Whenever I anchor my boat I use a snubber as I have an all-chain rode. My snubber is an 8' piece of line with a heavy-duty section of rubber bungee built into it with a hook on one end that I attach to the chain. I tie the line around one of my bow cleats and let it out a bit so it takes all the strain off the windlass. If you have an all-rope rode, then I would take a few turns around the nearest strong cleat. Windlasses do not like being yanked-on and carrying the weight of the boat all night.
You don't want to use the windlass as a bow cleat
You really should not be using the windlass to secure the rode. That is the job of the bow cleat. The windlass is designed to haul in the rode only. Not take the load of an anchored boat. In a blow you could rip it right out of the deck.
You really should not be using the windlass to secure the rode. That is the job of the bow cleat. The windlass is designed to haul in the rode only. Not take the load of an anchored boat. In a blow you could rip it right out of the deck.
windless
Ross Thanks for the suggestion. I will try it this weekend. My concern right noiw is that the line will be offset from the windless if wrapped oround the bow cleat and therefore might not want to pass smootholy through the windless on its way out.
Ross Thanks for the suggestion. I will try it this weekend. My concern right noiw is that the line will be offset from the windless if wrapped oround the bow cleat and therefore might not want to pass smootholy through the windless on its way out.
Joe, Completely disengage from the
windlass and lower by hand. When you weigh anchor then pull up to a short scope and engage the rode to the windlass. The rope comes in with very little effort until you start lifting the chain. My 35 pound CQR and 30 feet of 3/8 chain is a serious load to haul in when I anchor in more than ten feet. I have no windlass but do have a twenty foot length of 3/8 line spliced to a grab hook. Any winch on the boat will then pull the anchor and chain up to where I can stow them. Ross
windlass and lower by hand. When you weigh anchor then pull up to a short scope and engage the rode to the windlass. The rope comes in with very little effort until you start lifting the chain. My 35 pound CQR and 30 feet of 3/8 chain is a serious load to haul in when I anchor in more than ten feet. I have no windlass but do have a twenty foot length of 3/8 line spliced to a grab hook. Any winch on the boat will then pull the anchor and chain up to where I can stow them. Ross
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