ANchor Windlass

[Bill Nugent]

I submitted this once before but received only one response and he was having the same thoughts as me. I presently have a hand crank windlass in the forward anchor locker and it is mounted too low so I don't get a 90 degree turn on my chain. I'm probably going to have to gut a hole in the anchor locker hatch so that I cane raise and also reposition the windlass farhter to the starboard. I am also considering installing a power windlass instead of the hand crank. (Its getting more difficult for this old body!!) I use my anchor quite often cruising to the Cannel Islands off the Southern California coast. Has anyone done this, thought about, talked to Hunter baout it, etc?

 

[Bob Blackmann]

Windlass

Hi Bill,I installed an electric windlass on my Legend 37. It was pretty involved, but I'll give you a general idea of how I did this. So that the rode would fall into the anchor locker, I cut about 8 inched off of the rear of the locker hatch. I reinforced and fibreglassed the 8 inches to become part of the deck.The windlass was mounted about 1/3 on the deck and 2/3 on the reinforced locker hatch section. I am very happy with the results. I'm not far from you. I'm in Channel Islands Harbor, if you want to see my installation, feel free to contact me at slowdancebc@dock.netGood luck,Bob

 

[Charlie]

I have made several posts looking for ideas how/where to install a windlass on my Hunter 34. I saw one installation where the Windlass was installed aft of the anchor/chain/rope locker. The liner had been cut away, backing plates(wood) had been installed to reinforce the deck with the windlass bolted through the deck and the wood backing plates. The nuts and plate were covered with a very neat teak frame and cover. The down side of this is it clutters up the deck. I am still procastenating.Fair winds.CharlieP.S. I favor a hand windlass because they are almost crew proof.

 

[Jeff Jones]

I'm one of the others

Bill, Charlie,I have been looking (and occasionally posting) as well. I have thought about doing something similar to what Charlie describes with either a surface mounted horizontal or a recessed vertical such as the Maxwell. The vertical would certainly reduce deck clutter. Charlie, in the installation you saw, was the anchor locker hatch modified (opened up at the aft end) to allow the rode to fall into the locker with the hatch closed or did they have to open the locker? Has anyone consider splitting the anchor locker hatch in two, reinforcing and glassing in the aft half for the windlass mounting, removing the forward 'step'in the well and letting the rode fall in? Possibly through a fitting?I admit, I have not given this topic enough thought yet, as I am involved in an AC install and galley modifications (cabinetry) right now. Maybe these are thought starters though?Jeff'85 H34Escapade

 

[Charlie]

Anchor Locker Hatch Cover

Jeff,Sorry, I do not remember if the cover was modified or not.Charlie