Anchor windlass chain slip

[Old Sailor 2]

Good day. As we get closer to good cruising season I have a question regarding my anchor chain and the windlass. Mine is a 1992 42 Passage with the windlass mounted horizontally in the anchor locker forward. I have only anchored 3 or 4 times and each time as I step on the switch the windlass begins to wind up the chain just perfectly. After several feet are brought up the chain begins to slip and it seems the chain is not falling freely into the locker. When the chain backs up toward the windlass the chain on the windlass breaks out of the "teeth" and the anchor begins to fall in a dangerous fashion. I don't want to grab the chain as I like my fingers where God put them. Does anyone have any advice on modifications or techniques to eliminate this slipping?

As always, thanks !! Sandy

 

[Phil Herring]

You've discovered one of two flaws in the 42. The only solution I ever found was to have someone tail the chain from _behind_ the windlass (so fingers don't get caught in it).

 

[Lee Coller]

Sounds like you're windlass is missing a part. Mine has a control arm that holds the chain on the gypsy. What windlass do you have? Is it similar to this one: http://www.lewmar.com/\assets\img\dataset\Manual-Sprint Atlantic B.pdf

Mine has the Sprint Atlantic A, which is the B modified to allow the chain to slide out the front (more accurately get piled up at the front).

 

[Old Sailor 2]

Mine is a Maxwell windlass. I believe it is in tact but I will look at the owner's manual and see that it is fully there. It works fine for about the first 10' or so and after the chain gets filled in the locker then it starts to slip. I think the best way without major modification to the anchor locker is to have a crew nest the chain OR simply raise the anchor by hand.

So Phil, what is the second flaw in the Passage?

 

[waternwaves]

Same number 2 problem as on the 40, The collapsible boat hook used to keep the chain clear does not fit in the anchor locker. (especially next to the spare spin sheets and spare anchor/rode up there)

Not a lot of fall distance.

 

[Ken13559]

I believe this jamming of chain is quite common to Hunters (and another common production make) as the anchor locker is not deep enough where the chain falls. What I do is aid the chain to fall forward after the windlass. You could use a short stick with a "J" at the end to feed the chain forward/away from the drop.

 

[Alex Dare]

While not enough room in the locker will lead to jamming, if your chain is slipping or jumping off the chainwheel after only 10 feet, you very well may have a mismatch between the chain and chainwheel. All Maxwell windlasses have a number or set of numbers stamped into them that the can be cross referenced. For a given model windlass there may be as many as eight or more chainwheels available. Also check that the stripper is oriented properly.

 

[Old Sailor 2]

While not enough room in the locker will lead to jamming, if your chain is slipping or jumping off the chainwheel after only 10 feet, you very well may have a mismatch between the chain and chainwheel. All Maxwell windlasses have a number or set of numbers stamped into them that the can be cross referenced. For a given model windlass there may be as many as eight or more chainwheels available. Also check that the stripper is oriented properly.

I will look tomorrow for the stamped numbers to see if I can cross reference the correct chain. Thanks for the advice, Sandy

 

[Rick486]

I believe this jamming of chain is quite common to Hunters (and another common production make) as the anchor locker is not deep enough where the chain falls. What I do is aid the chain to fall forward after the windlass. You could use a short stick with a "J" at the end to feed the chain forward/away from the drop.

That's for sure. The only design flaw on my 44DS that I have come across is the anchor locker. It's simply too small and the slope away from the windlass is too shallow, so the chain piles up and must be pushed down by hand or the windlass jams. It's very disappointing. I have boarded larger Catalinas at boat and found them to have a beautiful, very large, and very steep anchor locker. You would think Hunter could have corrected this.

 

[Old Sailor 2]

This is one of the few flaws I have discovered. One of the other major ones is inaccessibility of the aluminum water tanks. But, Phil in his original contribution to this thread said I had discovered one of the two flaws in the Passage. I am still wondering what the other is.

 

[Alex Dare]

The number you're looking for will be cast into one of the chain pockets of the chainwheel. If there is a 4 digit number, that number determines what windlass the chainwheel was made for. The three digit number indicates what size chain it was made it fit. These are part numbers and do not represent anything other than that. You will need to call or email Maxwell to cross reference the number to the chain size/type.