Anchor Winch (Manual)

brave_element · Aug 7, 2005

I am sailing offshore around North and Central America with my wonderful Vega. Among the modification to boat, I spent a lot of time thinking about the ground tackle. The end results is a nice setup the has worked very well...so well that I was able to leave a bad anchorage at night in a blow: 40 knots wind and 150 feet of 3/8 chain + 25 pounds CQR to lift up !!! and without any back strain !!!

I've installed a manual windlass made by LAwrence/Simpson (look at Online.com in the US for cheapest price ~ 500 US$). It fits very nicely on the forward deck and is very low profile. Works for all chain or chain/rope rode. For the layout I removed the original bow cleat and put a big Stainless steel 12'' bow cleat about 2 feet from the bow. Then I put the windlass in front of the cleat (about 1 feet from the bow) with a 1 1/2 thick teak wood to raise it a little bit (the chain falls a lot better in the chain pipe this way). I also removed the original small round chain pipe (hawse pipe) to put a bigger oval-shaped one (I just increased the hole to fit it in). Finally I installed a custom made anchor roller (altough I bought the one from Steve Birch...it arrived too late....what a story hein !!!) on the starboard side of the headstay chainplate (which was also modified to be stronger...). To make sure all those modification were really strong, I used 1/8 thick stainless steel plates as backup plates inside. This installation is so strong that it held up the stresses without a glitch generated on the cleats while I was transiting the Canal of Panama...
I can send pictures if required.

By the way the double anchor roller from Steve is for sale and is in Connecticut, US right now. Never been used, still in the box... I'm in Costa Rica but I can have someone taking care of the shipping.

________________________________

From: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Steve Birch
Sent: Sun 8/7/2005 5:07 AM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AlbinVega] Anchor Winch (Manual)
Hi All

Would like some ideas and suggestions on fitting a manual winch to a Vega.
Which one, how's it done, where does chain go? etc etc etc

Diana Webb now needs a winch as she is sailing single-handed a lot and hurt
her back thelast time she lifted her anchor.

Photos, experiences, anything at all would be appreciated.

Cheers

Steve BirchYahoo! Groups Links

schroath · Aug 8, 2005

Patrick,

Would love to see some pictures.

Jody

freeflight7 · Aug 8, 2005

Hi Patrick, hope you are enjoying your adventure.
We are saving for ours. I have not had the guts to install a chain
pipe yet always worried about how much it will leak offshore...do
you have problems with yours? Do you mind posting some pics on your
windlass installation. What other modifications to your vega was
worth doing? Dinghy? Stormjib(s)? Epirb? Radio? Radar? Reefing setup
for main? Seal cocpit floor? Autopilot? Windvane? other?
Would be interesting for all of to learn what works and what does
not?

Regards
Emile du Toit (From South Africa, living in US)

david772687 · Aug 13, 2005

Hi Steve
I had same problem as Diana.Purchased a S-L Anchorman. Fitted it on Starboard side just forward of cleat. If fitted in this position the chain simply falls of the winch directly down the chain pipe. No modifications required simply fit the winch.
I have used this for a number of years with no problems at all.
I will email you picture of its location.

Regards
David (Curlew)

brave_element · Aug 13, 2005

Hi,
Indeed I have done few modifications to take a bay cruising boat and make it an offshore/house sailboat..

Chain pipe: no leak, when offshore I remove the chain and anchor from the bow and use duck tape to make the pipe water tight... I have removed the holding tank from the storage place in the v-berth (aft of the water tank) and made it a ground takle storage (3 anchors -2 fortress and 1 CQR- with all the chain and rope)

Dinghy: no space on deck to store a rigid tender so I bough a roll-up onflatable that can be stored in the cockpit locker when undeway. The engine is also stored in the cockpit when underway.

Sails: I\'ve modified the main to have a third reef in it. All the lines required to take the reefs are permanently on the main with blocks that bring everything to the mast bast. I fell very secure (when attached off course) to take reefs in any conditions. And the Albin sail wonderfully well under triple reefed main only (no head sail) in 35 + knots wind...no need of trysail. I have also a standard genoa and have asked a sailmaker to make a working jib (very flat with a high clew poit to having waves craching in the sail...). I have ued it a few time in 25 -35 knot range.

I have a PEPIRB from ACR with a GPS integrated. since I\'m sailing solo, its small size allow me to wear it all the time with a belt clip. No radio, no radar. Only a VHF, a portable VHF and a portable SSB receiver from Sony (I can have weahter forecast anywhere in the world with it and I also can have the surface analysis chart from NOAA using a small computer program that demodulate the radio signal in a weather fax). If I would have more money, I would have fit a small radar.....I\'ve been scared a few times by close encounters while I was sleeping...

All the opeing have been reworked to be 100% watertight and stronger. I´ve used car sealing tape to make a gasket for the cocpit floor.

I have a small Raymarine tiller pilot that does the job when motoring.

I´ve bought a Pacific Light windvane from Windpilot. This is truly the best investment a sailor can make. This thing is just incredibble....and sailing solo I needed something 100% relaible....after 7000 miles, Í\'m very very happy about that gear. My opinion: no offshore sailing without a windvane...!!!

I also have a sea anchor from Fiorentino and 300\' of 1/2\'\' nylon rode. Thát\'s my last solution when I\'m very tired and the wind/seas are very bad. Work wonderfully well and allow you to litteraly stop the boat in the middle of the storm. So great to be able to good inside the boat wind it´s blowing 30+ without having the boat heeling or lurching or whatever...

I have 4 batteries (2 for engine, 2 for service) with a 80W siemens solar panel. During the day I can run al the equipments and my computer only by the solar panel. I have mnted it on a porch 6\' above the stern so it would not interfere with the windvane....

And so many little details.... no time to discuss about everything but just to let you know, the Vega is a wonderful boat that can go very very far for very very little effort and money. It\'s jsut one of the greatest small boat one can sail !!!! And I have even made jalous owers of 40\'+ sailboat the nice cockpit table that can accomodate 6 people for dinner ...pretty rare to see that even on lot bigger boats, and after 6 months of nnavigaton, I´ve seen quite a few cockpit layouts !!!!

Ciao

________________________________

De: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com en nombre de freeflight7
Enviado el: lun 8/8/2005 10:23
Para: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Asunto: [AlbinVega] Re: Anchor Winch (Manual)

Hi Patrick, hope you are enjoying your adventure.
We are saving for ours. I have not had the guts to install a chain
pipe yet always worried about how much it will leak offshore...do
you have problems with yours? Do you mind posting some pics on your
windlass installation. What other modifications to your vega was
worth doing? Dinghy? Stormjib(s)? Epirb? Radio? Radar? Reefing setup
for main? Seal cocpit floor? Autopilot? Windvane? other?
Would be interesting for all of to learn what works and what does
not?

Regards
Emile du Toit (From South Africa, living in US)

chris20636 · Aug 13, 2005

Hi, Patrick:

I received your notes today. It still sounds as if you are enjoying your
"trip."

I did talk with "Dave" at the place where your truck was stored. He assured
me that the removal of your truck has been recorded, and to ignore that
letter. He also assured me that he would submit paperwork to stop notes like that
from coming to you. Your truck is still safely parked in my driveway, very
much out of the way. The battery is absolutely dead, and it will not take a
charge. I have not been able to find a usable replacement for it, except for a
new one.

I didn't know the cost of sending your boat to Seattle by barge or freight,
but it does seem a bit steep.

I look forward to hearing more about your voyage, with pictures.

Stay safe and well, my friend.

bv0820 · Aug 15, 2005

Dave, when you get the chance to send Pic of S-L Anchorman to Seve would you please send a pic to bv0820@...
Many thanks

Bob Vogel , Laughing Gull 1877

"David A. Daly" daviddaly1@... wrote:
Hi Steve
I had same problem as Diana.Purchased a S-L Anchorman. Fitted it on Starboard side just forward of cleat. If fitted in this position the chain simply falls of the winch directly down the chain pipe. No modifications required simply fit the winch.
I have used this for a number of years with no problems at all.
I will email you picture of its location.

Regards
David (Curlew)

imbissfrank · Aug 17, 2005

Steve,
Here is an alternative until Diana decides what to do. A "Real Manual Winch" :
Splice a chain hook to a ca. 30 foot length of 1/2 inch rope. Then splice a second chain hook to a ca. 3 foot piece of 1/2 inch rope with a large enough eye on the other end to fit over the bow cleat. To put into operation, simply hook the LONG ONE to the anchor chain and lead the rope back to the mast winch and crank. When the chain nears the mast, grab the chain at the bow with the SHORT ONE and bring the long one back foreward and do it again.
Frank Gallardo Jr
sv Cin Cin V-2184
Fair Winds and Following Seas

Steve Birch steve@... wrote:
Hi All

Would like some ideas and suggestions on fitting a manual winch to a Vega.
Which one, how's it done, where does chain go? etc etc etc

Diana Webb now needs a winch as she is sailing single-handed a lot and hurt
her back thelast time she lifted her anchor.

Photos, experiences, anything at all would be appreciated.

Cheers

Steve Birch