My Wife has a bad back, as I dont want her to do any more damage to it and as she wont take the helm. I need to fit a windless. Is it possible to do with this hunter?? Your Ideas would be great. If you have already fitted one to a Hunter 336 please contact me. Thanks, Mike Barnett
fitting a windless to hunter 336
- Thread starter mike barnett
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Hate to tell you but,
While you can put a windlass on just about anything, it will not help your wife's bad back. Most of the work still needs to be done while bent over. If you go the electric windlass route then prepare yourself for a major upgrade to the electrical system and some serious mechanical strengthening of the windlass mounting. My call is that the windlass just gives you a purchase; it does not reduce the work. The amount of skill needed to woman the helm during a hauling of the anchor is minimal and you can direct her from the bow quite easily. In fact this is how I got my wife comfortable behind the helm. I got the engine going and told her to put the transmission in gear when I told her to. I then proceeded to haul in the anchor by hand till the rode was vertical and waited for the wave action to break the anchor free. I told her to put the transmission in forward and steer down the river. At idle I had the anchor up (still dirty) in short order and went back to relive her. She said "let me keep driving for a while but sharp shoot me". The rest is history and we can now sail out the anchor! And isn't it the man's job to open the pickle jar?
While you can put a windlass on just about anything, it will not help your wife's bad back. Most of the work still needs to be done while bent over. If you go the electric windlass route then prepare yourself for a major upgrade to the electrical system and some serious mechanical strengthening of the windlass mounting. My call is that the windlass just gives you a purchase; it does not reduce the work. The amount of skill needed to woman the helm during a hauling of the anchor is minimal and you can direct her from the bow quite easily. In fact this is how I got my wife comfortable behind the helm. I got the engine going and told her to put the transmission in gear when I told her to. I then proceeded to haul in the anchor by hand till the rode was vertical and waited for the wave action to break the anchor free. I told her to put the transmission in forward and steer down the river. At idle I had the anchor up (still dirty) in short order and went back to relive her. She said "let me keep driving for a while but sharp shoot me". The rest is history and we can now sail out the anchor! And isn't it the man's job to open the pickle jar?
Anchoring issues
I'm going to disagree with Bill about whether a windlass reduces workload but that's a fairly minor issue on a 33' boat. I'm absolutely going to agree with him on his second paragraph. In our years together my girlfriend and I have dealt with some seriously snotty conditions while setting/pulling the ground tackle on our H40 and I can tell you that we really don't miss not having a windlass (in shallower waters.) Communication is key. With our simple but effective hand signals I can let her know exactly what I need with her at the helm and me at the bow. In our case the signals are: Pointing right or left - direction the helm is turned. Pointing back - reverse Palm down - lower the engine speed Closed fist - neutral index finger pointed up and twirled - rev up (in gear) With these commands there's no yelling and we can manage anchoring situations in absolute control (and silence.) She's simply following instructions and there's no pressure on her. If there's a screw up it's my fault (as usual.) People are regularly surprised that we can manage in dicey situations without a bunch of yelling and screaming but in truth, it's really easy. Practice with your wife at the helm in a wide open area and some prearranged hand signals and as Bill suggests, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the confidence level she achieves. It's a beautiful thing.
I'm going to disagree with Bill about whether a windlass reduces workload but that's a fairly minor issue on a 33' boat. I'm absolutely going to agree with him on his second paragraph. In our years together my girlfriend and I have dealt with some seriously snotty conditions while setting/pulling the ground tackle on our H40 and I can tell you that we really don't miss not having a windlass (in shallower waters.) Communication is key. With our simple but effective hand signals I can let her know exactly what I need with her at the helm and me at the bow. In our case the signals are: Pointing right or left - direction the helm is turned. Pointing back - reverse Palm down - lower the engine speed Closed fist - neutral index finger pointed up and twirled - rev up (in gear) With these commands there's no yelling and we can manage anchoring situations in absolute control (and silence.) She's simply following instructions and there's no pressure on her. If there's a screw up it's my fault (as usual.) People are regularly surprised that we can manage in dicey situations without a bunch of yelling and screaming but in truth, it's really easy. Practice with your wife at the helm in a wide open area and some prearranged hand signals and as Bill suggests, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the confidence level she achieves. It's a beautiful thing.
Bill hits it right in the head.
I agree that rather than trying to figure out how to install a windlass perhaps it would be much better overall if you could figure out a way to place your wife behind the helm. Word of advise, don't yell; nothing happens fast in a sailboat. I had my wife try both and she decided taking the helm was much easier than raising the anchor.
I agree that rather than trying to figure out how to install a windlass perhaps it would be much better overall if you could figure out a way to place your wife behind the helm. Word of advise, don't yell; nothing happens fast in a sailboat. I had my wife try both and she decided taking the helm was much easier than raising the anchor.
But...
windlass is the best money you can spend. I'm not sure how others are installing theirs, but I just go forward and press the button. I do have to adjust the line in the locker, usually with my foot. Have friends with remotes who even do it from the cockpit (my anchor well is too shallow.) Install can be easy or hard, depending on how you do it. Did my 37.5 without too much grief. You guys with wives can haul line all you want. Any boat of mine will have a windlass.
windlass is the best money you can spend. I'm not sure how others are installing theirs, but I just go forward and press the button. I do have to adjust the line in the locker, usually with my foot. Have friends with remotes who even do it from the cockpit (my anchor well is too shallow.) Install can be easy or hard, depending on how you do it. Did my 37.5 without too much grief. You guys with wives can haul line all you want. Any boat of mine will have a windlass.
Nothing wrong with a windlass
Hi Don. I can't speak for the other posters but in no way am I knocking the installation and use of a windlass. I don't question that it's a labor saving device. On a larger boat with an all chain rode while anchoring in consistently deep anchorages a windlass is more than just a convenience. Having said all that, what I'm advocating is building skill sets as well as confidence levels for both the skipper and the admiral. While the installation of a windlass will alleviate Mike's short term problems it's not going to help him much when it craps out with a dragging anchor some stormy day. Regardless of whether or not he has a windlass onboard, does he really want to continue with a fearful, intimidated mate onboard? What could be wrong with an admiral who gains skills, confidence and ownership of what's needed to operate the boat? It's likely to create a partner who actually WANTS to continue boating rather than just tolerating it as an uninvolved bystander.
Hi Don. I can't speak for the other posters but in no way am I knocking the installation and use of a windlass. I don't question that it's a labor saving device. On a larger boat with an all chain rode while anchoring in consistently deep anchorages a windlass is more than just a convenience. Having said all that, what I'm advocating is building skill sets as well as confidence levels for both the skipper and the admiral. While the installation of a windlass will alleviate Mike's short term problems it's not going to help him much when it craps out with a dragging anchor some stormy day. Regardless of whether or not he has a windlass onboard, does he really want to continue with a fearful, intimidated mate onboard? What could be wrong with an admiral who gains skills, confidence and ownership of what's needed to operate the boat? It's likely to create a partner who actually WANTS to continue boating rather than just tolerating it as an uninvolved bystander.
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