Has anyone installed a windlass on a 336, or any other mid-sized Hunter? Do you just mount the windlass on the anchor locker hatch? Do you need to reinforce the hatch latches? Did you choose a vertical or horizontal model? How did you back it? How did you run the wires? Do you have all chain, or a rope/chain rode? If rope/chain, how do you deal with the transition between the two rode sections? I am seriously considering a manual windlass, just to make sure I have 10 fingers to count in the future. Tom Wood makes a pretty compelling case for manual windlasses in a sailnet.com article. Anyone have any opinions about manual vs electric windlasses? Thanks, Paul sv Escape Artist
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Windlass on deck
Hi, I think you should NOT mount your windlass to the anchor locker cover, it simply is not strong enough! Mount it behind the locker on deck, thru-bolted. If you choose an electric model, mount another battery close to the winch, and add a separate battery charger, this arrangement will cost less, and work better. Best of luck!
Hi, I think you should NOT mount your windlass to the anchor locker cover, it simply is not strong enough! Mount it behind the locker on deck, thru-bolted. If you choose an electric model, mount another battery close to the winch, and add a separate battery charger, this arrangement will cost less, and work better. Best of luck!
John, follow-up question
Agree that the strength of the locker hatch is suspect. However, it seems from looking at their pictures that most windlasses expect to be mounted right on top of the opening (hawsepipe?), so that the rode dumps straight down from the gypsy into the locker. If I mount the windlass behind the locker hatch, how to I get the rode from the windlass down into the locker? Also, with the rode running across the deck and over the locker hatch to the bow rollers, I wouldn't be able to open the locker without removing the anchors from the bow rollers if the windlass was installed behind the locker door. I don't mean to sound like a know-it-all, I actually know nothing about this sort of installation. These are just potential problems that I am imagining. I should point out that I would prefer a horizontal vs vertical model because the locker on my 336 isn't very deep.
Agree that the strength of the locker hatch is suspect. However, it seems from looking at their pictures that most windlasses expect to be mounted right on top of the opening (hawsepipe?), so that the rode dumps straight down from the gypsy into the locker. If I mount the windlass behind the locker hatch, how to I get the rode from the windlass down into the locker? Also, with the rode running across the deck and over the locker hatch to the bow rollers, I wouldn't be able to open the locker without removing the anchors from the bow rollers if the windlass was installed behind the locker door. I don't mean to sound like a know-it-all, I actually know nothing about this sort of installation. These are just potential problems that I am imagining. I should point out that I would prefer a horizontal vs vertical model because the locker on my 336 isn't very deep.
I've got on on my 336
I've got a windlass on my 1995 336 that was installed by the previous owner. It is a Maxwell either 500 or 800 ( I forget). It is mounted in front of the anchor locker and it deposits the chain/line into the cavity under the v-berths. I've only used it a couple of times but the only drawback I see is that the newly created anchor locker is not segragated from the cabin and the wet line gets a mildew smell. I may go to an all chain rode to eliminate this problem, unless I can figure a way to ventilate that forward area.
I've got a windlass on my 1995 336 that was installed by the previous owner. It is a Maxwell either 500 or 800 ( I forget). It is mounted in front of the anchor locker and it deposits the chain/line into the cavity under the v-berths. I've only used it a couple of times but the only drawback I see is that the newly created anchor locker is not segragated from the cabin and the wet line gets a mildew smell. I may go to an all chain rode to eliminate this problem, unless I can figure a way to ventilate that forward area.
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