Has anyone fitted a windlass on their 36-2? I am considering a Maxwell RC10-8 horizontal windlass, sealing and reinforcing the anchor locker top, opening the bottom of the locker into the hatch forward of the vee-berth and possibly running the chain, via a hawse pipe down by the forward water tank. Any thoughts?
Windlass for Pearson 36-2
- Thread starter BubbleCuffer
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I have a windlass on mine, however the placement stinks and is more trouble than its worth (bought with it on). I fully agree with the hawsw pipe down... lots of good room and will drop the rode and chain nicely once the windlas is properly positioned. mine is placed aft of the locker so you have to guide and place the rode back into the locker and with 50 feet of chain and 250 rode it has to be done neatly or it won't all fit the way it is right now (without the hawse pipe). Easier for me to have my wife just inch me forward as I pull it up.
I put a maxwell windlass on my 36-2. I mounted it in the front half of the original anchor locker hatch by putting a pair of aluminum angles underneath that extended across to either side beyond the hatch for strength. I cut the front of the bottom of the old anchor locker out and glassed deeper one in that extended to about the bottom of the inside v berth hatch. Then I cut a drain hole to let out the water through the bow at the bottom of the new locker. I also cut the back of the old anchor locker hatch loose in front of the lock so that I could still use the rear portion of the old anchor locker to hold the washdown hose. It also lets me in to the anchor locker without having to unbolt the front part of the hatch and the aluminum angles. It works fine. But I will tell you that I made a trip down the Chesapeake in heavy seas when it was half finished, the new bottom was not glassed in, and I got a lot of water in the bilges when we took green water over the bow.
I do not have very good pictures of it. If you are interested I will get some better ones when I go to the boat week after next.
I do not have very good pictures of it. If you are interested I will get some better ones when I go to the boat week after next.
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Love your set up... A new larger locker with drain. Absolutely. I see also you have a different bow rail void of the lower railing. Was this modified or did you have it custom built. Love to see more pictures; inside the locker and out when you get a chance..
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
The bow rail was replaced by the PO. I surmise they hit something. The lifelines had to be shortened by me when I got the boat I am guessing because the attachment points were different.
And I'll take some more pictures in two weeks when I get back to the boat and post them.
And I'll take some more pictures in two weeks when I get back to the boat and post them.
Thank you.
So, you cut your anchor locker hatch in two, fore and aft. The forward part has the windlass, but you didn't beef up the cover, but used aluminum struts bridging the anchor locker hatch cover, so that, with a fair amount of effort, this forward hatch could be opened. Am I correct on this?
So, this puts your windlass very far forward. Do you use only one anchor? It seems like this forward positioning of the windlass might make the use of a second (or alternate) anchor difficult, since the angle of the lead might not be good.
Yes, I would like to see more photos. How much chain, and what size do you use? How much rope? Do you have any issues with the rode in the new, deeper, locker.
Finally, do you have a remote control unit? Where did you locate the fitting so that you can use the rc unit and still have the connection water tight, or reasonably so?
Thanks so much. Mark
So, you cut your anchor locker hatch in two, fore and aft. The forward part has the windlass, but you didn't beef up the cover, but used aluminum struts bridging the anchor locker hatch cover, so that, with a fair amount of effort, this forward hatch could be opened. Am I correct on this?
So, this puts your windlass very far forward. Do you use only one anchor? It seems like this forward positioning of the windlass might make the use of a second (or alternate) anchor difficult, since the angle of the lead might not be good.
Yes, I would like to see more photos. How much chain, and what size do you use? How much rope? Do you have any issues with the rode in the new, deeper, locker.
Finally, do you have a remote control unit? Where did you locate the fitting so that you can use the rc unit and still have the connection water tight, or reasonably so?
Thanks so much. Mark
Actually I cut the anchor locker hatch side to side not fore and aft. The after part only has one hinge and the lock but it works fine. The forward part can only be opened by removing the four bolts holding it to the aluminum angles. I only planned on the windless using one anchor at a time. I put the 2nd anchor roller set up on because I did not like the original one on the boat and this one projects the anchor out further over the bow. The windlass has to be a little closer than I liked to the bow so that the rode will fall down in the deeper portion of the locker. On the plus side there is room for a small anchor and rode in the shallow after section or dock line storage on the bow etc.
I bought a premade anchor line for the windlass 15' of chain and 150' of line. I could have made the locker deeper and gotten a longer road but this was good enough for my needs. I also carry a second chain and line in the quarter locker which I could add on in an emergency. But we are really shallow in my cruising area. I have a bigger danforth I use when we anchor out to hide from hurricanes, but I have not needed a longer rode. To be honest for Irene, i couldnt find the bigger shackle I need for the larger anchor and I had to use the regular one. I only dragged about fifty feet and Irene's eye went right over the boat.
I might note also that I did beef up the underside of the hatch a little and placed spacers because the aluminum angles are held off by the lip of the anchor locker opening. Also, the after two bolts that hold the windlass down go through the hatch and the aftermost aluminum angle. Essentially I would have to tear the foredeck off to remove the windlass.
I bought a remote but due to an electrical problem I havent been able to use it yet. It's a wireless Lewmar unit and I had trouble deciphering the wiring arrangement between Lewmar and Maxwell. Then when I thought I had it figured out the windlass stopped working because of another problem. I procrastinated sealing the connections and now I have to pay the price and find the bad connection as well as seal all the connections.
I put the up/down switch that came with the windlass in a new switch box in a quarter locker that I cut into the aft seat opposite the propane tank. (Incidently this is a great storage area that is much easier to reach with a hatch in the seat than through the main cockpit locker. I can reach the switch from the helm.
I bought a premade anchor line for the windlass 15' of chain and 150' of line. I could have made the locker deeper and gotten a longer road but this was good enough for my needs. I also carry a second chain and line in the quarter locker which I could add on in an emergency. But we are really shallow in my cruising area. I have a bigger danforth I use when we anchor out to hide from hurricanes, but I have not needed a longer rode. To be honest for Irene, i couldnt find the bigger shackle I need for the larger anchor and I had to use the regular one. I only dragged about fifty feet and Irene's eye went right over the boat.
I might note also that I did beef up the underside of the hatch a little and placed spacers because the aluminum angles are held off by the lip of the anchor locker opening. Also, the after two bolts that hold the windlass down go through the hatch and the aftermost aluminum angle. Essentially I would have to tear the foredeck off to remove the windlass.
I bought a remote but due to an electrical problem I havent been able to use it yet. It's a wireless Lewmar unit and I had trouble deciphering the wiring arrangement between Lewmar and Maxwell. Then when I thought I had it figured out the windlass stopped working because of another problem. I procrastinated sealing the connections and now I have to pay the price and find the bad connection as well as seal all the connections.
I put the up/down switch that came with the windlass in a new switch box in a quarter locker that I cut into the aft seat opposite the propane tank. (Incidently this is a great storage area that is much easier to reach with a hatch in the seat than through the main cockpit locker. I can reach the switch from the helm.
Forgot to add. I put the control box and the remote base unit on the shelf at the front of the vberth. this is a dry area of the boat.
Thanks again for the info. BTW, I meant to say that you split the anchor locker into forward and aft compartments, so we were on the same page.
I would greatly appreciate more photos. Do you have these compartments totally separate, or did you build it so that you have the aft compartment (at original depth) and the forward compartment as a deeper well for the the chain and rode? Also, have you had any issues with that drain, which must be pretty close to the water line.
On another subject, I like your idea of a small cockpit locker. I cut an access panel in the aft stateroom, very similar to the one in the vee berth to access the steering gear and other items below the cockpit. Way easier than dropping down into the cockpit locker and crawling around aft of the steering mechanism and then trying to turn 180 degrees to get back out.
I would greatly appreciate more photos. Do you have these compartments totally separate, or did you build it so that you have the aft compartment (at original depth) and the forward compartment as a deeper well for the the chain and rode? Also, have you had any issues with that drain, which must be pretty close to the water line.
On another subject, I like your idea of a small cockpit locker. I cut an access panel in the aft stateroom, very similar to the one in the vee berth to access the steering gear and other items below the cockpit. Way easier than dropping down into the cockpit locker and crawling around aft of the steering mechanism and then trying to turn 180 degrees to get back out.
The anchor locker is still all one compartment with two levels. I did worry about the drain and it is one reason I did not make the compartment as deep as possible. I have also considered putting a flapper or other restriction over it to keep water from flowing inward but have not done so so far.
You will have to wait until the weekend after next to see pictures. I will try to remember to take more than. I really thought I had more already but I am non a great picture freak.
the hatch in the quarterlocker is one of my favorite additions but the problem was that I bought a commercial hatch unit and the hinges have already broken. It is supposed to be strong enough to walk across. I am planning to replace the hinges this winter.
I was thinking about cutting through the after bulkhead for access to the other quarterlocker below the propane compartment. Had not thought of access to the steering gear but as I am planning to add an autopilot this is a great thought. I cannot believe some of the areas in boats I used to crawl into but as I am older now I do not bend so well.
You will have to wait until the weekend after next to see pictures. I will try to remember to take more than. I really thought I had more already but I am non a great picture freak.
the hatch in the quarterlocker is one of my favorite additions but the problem was that I bought a commercial hatch unit and the hinges have already broken. It is supposed to be strong enough to walk across. I am planning to replace the hinges this winter.
I was thinking about cutting through the after bulkhead for access to the other quarterlocker below the propane compartment. Had not thought of access to the steering gear but as I am planning to add an autopilot this is a great thought. I cannot believe some of the areas in boats I used to crawl into but as I am older now I do not bend so well.
I will try to remember to take photos of the aft hatch in the quarter berth area, next time I am at the boat. It came out pretty well, I think.
Here's a photo of the aft cabin. You can see the hatch on the aft bulkhead. I was really just shooting the saloon, and forgot to get a closeup of the hatch. Still, you can get a good idea.
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Great! that's just what I was thinking of doing on mine, only I was going to cut a square hatch. I think I like yours better.
We are headed to the boat saturday. I will try to get you some good pictures of the windlass arrangement and post them.
Steve
We are headed to the boat saturday. I will try to get you some good pictures of the windlass arrangement and post them.
Steve
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