Power windlass

[sailme88]

Greetings,
Our C-34 has a deck mounted windless the is powered by Armstrong. Now retired we plan to do many overnights, and a power windlass would really help. Our hand crank system is mounted centerline about 1 ft +/- aft of the anchor locker. Since our CQR runs off the stbd roller, I've been toying with the idea of removing the stbd anchor hatch, and glassing in composite material into the hollow area of the hatch. It would be reinstalled with locking points, and a horizontal power windlass installed. It would directly feed the 1.5 shot of chain into the locker.
My question to you is: have any of you done such a retro?

Thanks,
Rick

 

[SG]

I would guess that the situation is similar to our Sabre 42 (we had Hull #4). We mounted a vertical windlass aft of the anchor locker hatch and then had the chain drop down into the anchor locker through the "lid". We had a SS "chafe guard" made.

If you search for other Catalina 34's, they must have some pictures. There is one that I saw on a web search -- but it didn't have a blow-up that I could paste. (It's late, and I'm going to bed :^)))) )

 

[capta]

Sounds like a good idea except for the vertical windlass. Assuming all this is aft of your headstay, in conditions when you will want to deploy your #2 anchor, the drum on the opposite side of the gypsy of a horizontal windlass should line up with and be used to handle the #2 anchor tackle, even if it doesn't feed below. You may not be able to get a fair lead on your #2 to the drum of a vertical windlass.

 

[Kings Gambit]

With a power windlass, I question whether or not one really needs a "No. 2" anchor up on deck at all. Make the heavier/larger anchor the principal one that you use w/ the windlass nearly all the time. Stow the other one below with its tackle (nylon rode and some chain) in an anchor bag, getting it out only if or when needed for some specialized anchoring.

 

[capta]

With a power windlass, I question whether or not one really needs a "No. 2" anchor up on deck at all. Make the heavier/larger anchor the principal one that you use w/ the windlass nearly all the time. Stow the other one below with its tackle (nylon rode and some chain) in an anchor bag, getting it out only if or when needed for some specialized anchoring.

Not to say necessarily ready to set on the bow at all times, just that if conditions were such that the #2 was deployed, wouldn't you want an independent place on the windlass to deal with it?
There have also been times when we are working on our #1 at anchor (changing shackles, marking the chain or replacing the chain, etc.) while sitting on the #2. The #1 must remain in the gypsy, so the #2 needs its own place on the windlass for deploying and retrieving.
Of course, we live on a 77,000-pound boat and sometimes I forget that most of those asking questions don't, lol.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Of course, we live on a 77,000-pound boat and sometimes I forget that most of those asking questions don't, lol.

I think this is the insightful point!! Even a weak-kneed old duffer could probably haul up an FX-16 Fortress w/o a power windlass.

 

[SG]

I think a vertical windlass has a greater range of lead options. Your choice of rode (all chain, for example) and whether you want to use the windlass for helping with winching lines would affect your choice of windlasses.

The stripper for the windlass needs to be positioned where you need it forward

 

[JimInPB]

A power windlass is a nice thing to have, but please be aware of it's limitations. You really need to be moving the boat upwind, towards the anchor, before you engage it. Those things are (just barely) strong enough to lift your ground tackle off the bottom as you sail over it. They are very much not designed to pull the boat forward nor hold the boat in place in unfavorable conditions.

I have made some repair parts for name brand windlasses that have failed mechanically. I was not impressed with the beefiness of the original internal components. I have yet to see an automatic clutch system that I actually like & trust.

 

[capta]

A power windlass is a nice thing to have, but please be aware of it's limitations. You really need to be moving the boat upwind, towards the anchor, before you engage it. Those things are (just barely) strong enough to lift your ground tackle off the bottom as you sail over it. They are very much not designed to pull the boat forward nor hold the boat in place in unfavorable conditions.

I have made some repair parts for name brand windlasses that have failed mechanically. I was not impressed with the beefiness of the original internal components. I have yet to see an automatic clutch system that I actually like & trust.

The point of a powered windlass is not necessarily to get the boat to the anchor (in fact all windlass manufacturers' instruction manuals I've read specifically say not to do this) but to get the anchor, once broken free, up and out of the water as fast as possible, especially in adverse conditions.
I can't count the number of times I've seen folks with manual windlasses being blown around an anchorage at 3 AM, with their anchor dragging on or nearly on the bottom, while the guy is cranking furiously. Occasionally, he fails to get it up far enough before the helmsperson loses control and the vessel veers off head to wind, and catches another vessel's anchor rode.
A proper powered windlass should be able to bring your anchor to the surface at around 60 feet per minute. If it can't, it is not the correct windlass for the boat, IMO.

 

[sailme88]

As a follow up... In a previous life I would position the boat, dash forward let go the anchor, pay out the rode based on my depth, secure and run back to the helm to back down. Recovering, I'd motor forward to where I thought the chain rode was and start hauling. Never had any issues . Would never attempt in crowded field. Now I can see the option of free falling the anchor, having a counter for rode length and then backing down, all from the helm. Recovering...motor forward while hauling.. I also plan to place the battery in the locker. Short run of heavy wire. Longer run of lighter charging wire. Appreciate all of your thoughts...Rick

 

[capta]

Just as heads up regarding pulling up your anchor from the helm.
Leaving Chaguaramas, Trinidad one morning, the anchor below was fouled in our chain about halfway out to the anchor. Had someone not been forward monitoring the situation, imagine the damage this 250# beast would have done as the windlass pulled it into the bow fluke first!