windless for Legend 35.5

[captainpat]

The more research I do regarding installation of an anchor windless on my Legend 35.5 the more I conclude that it just may not work properly, despite the fact that others have made this addition. This is due to 1) the size/shape of the anchor locker - a vertical windless requires a fall of about 18", and 2) the off center (to stbd) path of the chain/rode off the bow roller - A horizontal windless requires a centered alignment. I would appreciate any information and suggestions regarding installation as well as recommendations about specific brands and models.

 

[Alan]

Just my opinion.........I would never have one for our smaller boats. I'll explain.
Anchor windlasses are used for retrieving your rode. Instead, I pull or motor forward taking in the rode till it is vertical. Then snubbing the line for a few minutes to allow the boat to release the anchor. When the line goes slack, its free and time to go.
I've used this technique for years and never had a problem with it.
Anchoring and docking are both skills that take just a little practice to master but once done is amazingly easy without the need for thrusters and windlasses.

 

[captainpat]

Alan, I do appreciate your input. As it turns out I have been using your technique for more years then I care to remember. However, we do quite a lot of anchoring and as I get older it would be nice to have some mechanical advantage, especially when weighing anchor in less then ideal conditions and in slippery, muddy bottoms. The technique is the same, meaning that the windless is used as an ASSIST for retrieving the 50' of chain (plus rope) thereby saving the back muscles and extending my time as a sailor. - hopefully!

 

[heart of gold]

Captain, I'm in the process of installing a flush mount gypsy on my 1985 H34 for the same reasons, in fact I just got it powered up my last days off and am ready to install 100ft of chain and 200ft of rode with the ol Bruce. I may shorten the chain or rode to make a little more room in the locker but I'm fairly optimistic that it will work fine. I may have to rake the line out of the way as the anchor is weighed but thats okay as I will be right there anyway. I bought a Lemar V700 that uses 1/4 in. G4 Chain and half in. 3 strand rode. I like this little unit as it only draws 35amps. I had to modify the anchor locker cover a bit for strengthening. I'll take some pictures these days off and post them for you and I will be posting the project in mods. Cheers,

 

[captainpat]

Thanks for the reply. I was originally looking at the lewmar V700 but decided to go up one more level to the Lewmar V1-sport.. Its composite housing makes the price attractive while at the same time giving more maximum pulling power. I'm familiar with the hunter 34; there are a lot of similarities between it and the Legend 35.5 and I have sailed on one several times. I would be very interested in any details you might care to offer. My primary concern is the anchor locker depth, which I don't believe is as deep as the 34's locker. My locker does slope down forward but I'm concerned that it is not enough to automatically feed the rope/chain forward in the locker causing the rode to just pile up under the windless. Of course I can always manually feed the line forward as it comes aboard, which I believe is what you are planning on doing.

 

[BLIGHT]

Captainpat
I have a manual installed on my 35.5 and it does solve the problems of bring up the hook once it is free. On my arrangement I manual feed the chain/rode into the locker since it is mounted to the aft of the locker. If you would like I could take a picture of its location the next time I'm down to the yard.

Bob

 

[gwhite]

I am thinking of adding a windlass anchor winch to my Hunter 336, thinking of cutting the abchor locker hatch about 1/3 from front, adding some hardwood across the locker for support, glassing the whole thing in so I can
mount the winch on the forward part of thr hatch, moving the upper hinge & rebuilding a flange onto the rest of the hatch, maybe a notch midway to
accomadate the chain & rode, may have to modify the depth of the locker
in order to get 25' of 1/4" BBB chain & 200' or rope in there, may infringe on the "V" berth, and have to re-route the drain overboard, any ideas ?

 

[heart of gold]

Gwhite, Thats pretty much what I am doing to my 34. This weekend I will install the rode and chain and the job will be nearly finished. I will be posting some pics of what I've been up to.

 

[gwhite]

Thanks so much, looking forward to your pictures, how deep did you make the locker & did it interfere with the "V" berth, did you find a wire conduit running back to the panel, I gueess you havee to be a fiberglass expert to tackle it.

 

[Sailfish74]

CaptainPat, The attached pic is a Lewmar on my Legend 35.5. The previous owner had it installed on the heavy stainless steel plate that goes all the way to the bow roller. Winch angle adjusted for inline chain operation. Yes, everytime it is raised I'm on my knees feeding the chain forward in the chain locker. I use 100' of HT chain plus 85' of 1/2" line. Does the job. If you need more pics let me know.

 

[gwhite]

Thanks for the info, how big a winch does it take to haul up a 30 lb anchor, chain & rode, I'm thinking of a Lewmar 600 for 1/4" HT & 1/2" rope, I have the rode, waiting to see what winch I want as I understand some won't handle HT chain, only BBB.

 

[Steve Dion]

Here ya go! This is from Lewmar. Other mfg. may have different specs.

http://www.lewmar.com/cms/assets/1/categories/windlass_selection_guide.pdf

 

[gwhite]

Thanks Steve, that chart is a big help, trying to gather all the info I can, so I don't make a mess, probably hire a good fiberglass expert to rebuild it all.

 

[heart of gold]

Here is some shots of my V700 install. I removed the core from the locker lid and thickened it with mat and heavy cloth, then cut it as it shows in the pictures. along the edges I used strips of 1 1/2 aluminum to tie this part down and at present they are attached with stainless wood screws, but I have decided to through bolt them with backing plates and nylock nuts on a least the back 2 on each side. I can just reach the underside of this area from the forward berth. I will be sealing the edges with 4200 as well. I will be adding a SS triangular plate over the area in front of the winch to cover the old rode entrance and provide some protection and strength in this area. I had a dry run today and you guys are right. it would be nice if the locker was deeper. I had to rake the rope back as it came in and might go all chain in the end as it packs way smaller. I did remove the step in the locker and this gave me quite a bit more room. I have 100ft of chain and 150ft of rode. I may also look at making the locker deeper next year but for now this will work fine. Any comments appreciated Cheers

 

[gwhite]

Thanks for the pictures, you're lucky, my 1996 Hunter 336 has a very shallow locker,only measures 8", I figure I need to cut out the rear part of the floor & add 12" to the depth, I will seal off the front half under the cut
lid to mount my Dolphin D1012C windlass, sealing up the existing pathway
for chain/rode, and heavy reinforcement under the winch mounting, also
adding a new drain to the lower floor, overboard. Getting at the bottom of the locker is a problem as the headliner in the "V" berth seems to be glassed right to the locker floor, maybe if I cut with care, I can lower that
part as 1 unit, I want the winch mount to be able to hold 6500 lbs of load.

 

[heart of gold]

G, I was wondering where the figure of 6500 lbs came from. That must be some windlass you have. I guess I'm just using mine to drag the anchor up off the bottom, meaning its own weight plus chain and rode, about 150lbs. I would still tie off to a bow cleat with the anchor set. I think this is even mentioned in the Lemar instructions. Never hurts to beef everything up though. I haven't put mine to the big test yet but looking forward to it. If i were you though I would deepen the locker as much as you possibly can, it will make life easier. The rode is a big space hog. Cheers

 

[Steve Dion]

G-white:

I am also interested in the 6500# number. The power of the winch only needs to be the weight of the chain & the anchor. If you anchor in 20' of water you would probably be looking at 20# of chain and 30# for your anchor (50# total). If you anchor is rated at 700# you have the capacity for approx 175#.

The down side of the Lewmar V700 is that it will only accept 1/4" chain and 1/2" rode.

 

[gwhite]

I assume that when you are hauling in the anchor, if it hangs up, the entire load is transfered to the winch, I would expect it to rip the locker lid right off the boat if that is all that's holding it, I think 6500 lbs should withstand a load as stated, maybe I'm over doing it, but I entend to beef up the mount with 2 piecess of 1" x 2" alminum all the way across the width of the bow under the lid, reinforce the lid with 1/2" marine plywood inside, glass the whole mess with plenty of cloth & resin, might even concider
adding a 1/4" aluminum plate under the anchor bow roller including the winch area, and cover the existing feed hole ( which I will enclose with glass) glass in the front anchor lid with winch solid, that should hold anything

 

[Steve Dion]

These windlasses only have 700# - 1000# working load. It is going to either blow the breaker or stall out long before you reach that load.

I understand that you are talking about the anchor locker lid, but your boat only weigh about 13,000#. There is NEVER going to be that much load up there and the load is from a different direction too.

 

[gwhite]

windlass

Maybe you're right, I probably don't need to plan for that much load on the winch, I understand a 700 pull load without kicking the breaker, all I am planning for is when the anchor windlass is retreaving my stuck anchor and it is draging the boat up over the spot
where it's stuck, but I still wonder if the weight of the boat itself isn't loading unto the anchor line & winch, ripping something apart, might as well plan for the worst. Build it strong. get er done.