I need to buy chain for a Maxwell 800 capsan windlass. This is on my 2004 Catalina 400 MKII. The manuel I found on line says to use 5/16" Acco G40. Does that sound like what other people are using? Thanks, Scotty
Chain size for Maxwell 800 Windlass
- Thread starter Scotty C-M
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I'm assuming that that windlass has a gypsy?
If so, then you have little choice. Chain rating, 3B, HT, etc. is NOT interchangeable, as we just found out with our new Lofrans Falkon.
It was sold to us w/ a 3/8 HT gypsy and we were assured by Budget Marine that it would fit our 3B chain. It does not! So here we are with a beautiful, brand new windlass that will not work until we either get new chain or find a 3B gypsy, and the whole company (Lofrans), is on vacation until September; you've gotta love those Europeans!
If so, then you have little choice. Chain rating, 3B, HT, etc. is NOT interchangeable, as we just found out with our new Lofrans Falkon.
It was sold to us w/ a 3/8 HT gypsy and we were assured by Budget Marine that it would fit our 3B chain. It does not! So here we are with a beautiful, brand new windlass that will not work until we either get new chain or find a 3B gypsy, and the whole company (Lofrans), is on vacation until September; you've gotta love those Europeans!
I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, BUT YOU COULD TRY BACONsAILS.COM (aNNAPOLIS, md, usa). I GO THERE OFTEN, AND THEY HAVE QUITE A FEW GYPSIES, BUT I WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR FOR YOU.
At the moment I feel it is the responsibility of Budget Marine to see that I have a functioning system, after all, it is brand new and it should come w/ the correct gypsy. If circumstances dictate that I must rectify someone else's mistake then I shall do whatever is necessary.
Anyway, I will have a better idea of where I stand tomorrow, as carnival will finally be over and stores will open again.
Thanks, though.
I still do not know it the OP's windlass has a gypsy and/or only a capstan; if only a capstan, then any chain would do just fine.
Could be, your existing chain would be the better indicator of what fits your gypsy. Someone could have changed the gypsy...like me, I like 3/8 3B, and it would not fit a gypsy built for 5/16 G4. Contact Vetus / Maxwell Marine.
Don't guess or assume, unless your the original owner, that the chainwheel hasn't been changed. If you look in the chain pockets of the chainwheel you'll find in one of the pockets probably the number 105 or 108. Call Maxwell at 410-712-0740. They will be able to tell you what size chain it fits.
If there is a difference in cost between the two chains, I would always go with the cheaper chain of good quality.
It makes absolutely no sense to get hung up on chain strength. If the chain is tight between the anchor and the bow of the boat, even if the G-4 is twice as strong as the 3B, it's breaking strength is still significantly less than the weight of the boat and will fail. The scope and a good snub line are your safety here, NOT the strength of the chain, IMO.
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