electric windlas

[Ray Bartschat]

Hi fellow Hunter Legend owners:I recently purchased an '88 Hunter 37.5 Legend. I'd very much like to instal (actually, have it done professionally) an electric windlas. In fact, had already purchased one but my installer advised me that there might be problems. He was concerned that due to the shallow locker the chain would not fall properly, requiring constant manual intervention. Has anybody out there done an installation? If so, what kind of windlas and what were the "challenges"?Thanks in advance for your comments.Ray

 

[Jim Ewing]

Do it anyway

I've got a '93 37.5 with an electric windlass. Yes, the rode requires manual flaking to get in the shallow well properly but it sure beats trying to haul up 50' of chain and a 44lb Delta by hand...Jim"Prospect"

 

[Mickey Goodman]

Windlass for a 88 Legend 37

Hi Ray:I just finished installing a windlass in my 88 Legend 37. I expect that it is the same boat. I purchased a Lofram low profile windlass and installed it directly behind the anchor and also behind the anchor rode storage box. On the low profile windlass the actual motor fits into the compartment in the V Birth direct behind the anchor storage box. On my windlass, the rode and chain exits the windlass through the deck and it required cutting a hole in the deck so the rode and chain would then go into the storage box. I also put "foot" switches for up and down activation of the windlass. What is required is my crew just step on the switch to put the anchor down without having to open the storage door.It is another case to lift the anchor up. My crew, my wife, opens the door to the storage locker and presses the up switch with her hand and feeds the rode and chain into the locker and coils the rode and just feeds the chain in as it comes. She doesn't mind doing it and it is very simple. I have thought about installing a pipe in the storage locker for feeding the rode and chain into the locker but she poo poo'ed it.Having just completed the installation I am sure I can give you some ideas and advice. If interested Email me at rgbcmy@tiac.net and I will be happy to pass on what I learned.Enjoy .. a windlass is a must as far as I am concerned. I told my wire it was a present for her. I just didn't want her to have to lift a 35 pound anchor with 30 feet of chain and 250 feet of 5/8 line.

 

[Ricky Prevete]

Pic Mick?

Mickey, Can you post pictures of your windlass installation?Thanks.

 

[Mickey Goodman]

Additional Windlass Installation Ideas

When I installed my Windlass I decided to put a battery in the V Birth overhead compartment rather than wire the windlass back to the electrical control panel. I calculated the cost of the wiring back to the panel to be more costly than buying a separate battery specifically for the windlass. It was also less expensive even considering the wiring cost of a leg from the battery charger to the windlass battery. I installed a separate on/off switch in the V Birth compartment for the windlass (prevents accidental deploying) and a separate circuit breaker in the compartment. I will be installing a remote switch so that I can deploy the anchor from the cockpit. I won't be able to use the remote switch to lift the anchor since I still need to have the rode and chain manually coiled in the locker.

 

[Ron]

Switches

I had the same problem with swallow locker, etc. If you install a foot switch you can use both of your hands to flak the chain, etc. Also, I wired mine back to the control panel. Only cost the price of a 40 amp curcuit breaker and about 40 feet of wire. A lot less than a new battery. I assume that the fella who installed a new battery doesn't charge it from his alternator??? Since the windlass draws a lot of amperage (40 amps/60=.66 per minute)that could be a problem. Did I understand this right??? Ron