Windless Problem / Hunter 45 CC 2006 and newer

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Jeff20919

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Sep 28, 2006
60
Hunter 45CC Long Beach, Calif.
Has anyone experienced any problems with the SL Sprint Atlantis 600 Windless that Hunter installed on their 45 Center Cockpit boats starting in 2006? The problem that we are experiencing is when you go to loosen the clutch on the gipsy cap by rotating it 90 degrees counter-clockwise, it does not allow the chain / rope to "Free Fall", as the manual indicates. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jeff
Long Beach, Calif.
 
Viktor Eysselein

Viktor Eysselein

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Sep 5, 2009
135
Hunter 45 CC Marina del Rey
Windlass on Hunter 45CC

Dear Jeff:

On our Hunter 45 CC I just use the down button to let the chain down. You have to feed in the loose end (towards the anchor locker) otherwise the chain jams in the Windlass. We discussed this previously.

Best wishes,

Viktor
 
J

Jeff20919

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Sep 28, 2006
60
Hunter 45CC Long Beach, Calif.
Re: Windlass on Hunter 45CC

Viktor,

Thanks for the reply. I understand about the down switch, however the windless should also have a "free-fall" option where if you loosen the clutch on top of the gipsy, the chain and rode will just free fall or run out under it's own weight. I cannot seem to get mine to work.

Jeff
 
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Brian L.20665

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Jun 3, 2004
131
BC 37 Back Creek, Annapolis
Re: Windlass on Hunter 45CC

Jeff, we have a different model windlass, SL Sprint 1000 on a 2005 H41. I find that if I haven't used the free fall option in a while, say several months, the gypsy becomes 'frozen' in place and it takes some extra effort to get it going in free fall (such as letting the anchor grab on the bottom and pull on the chain while backing down). Then it works fine till we don't use it again for a while. I think some corrosion occurs between the clutch surfaces when not in use over time and that causes the surfaces to seize up. Do you know if yours ever worked, when you took delivery of the boat for example?
 
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Alex Dare

Alex Dare

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Apr 15, 2009
302
C&C 30 Annapolis
Jeff,
As Brian mentioned, it may just need used a bit to free it up. If it's been an ongoing issue then most likely the base could stand to be shimmed. The mounting base of the windlass is a large bronze casting and if the mounting surface isn't completely flat then the base flexes just a hair out of shape when the mounting bolts are torqued down. This can cause the free drop to bind just a bit. Try loosening the mounting nuts under the deck and see if the condition improves. If it does, a few well placed washers and a re-tightening of the nuts should do the trick. The washers go between the deck and the base casting as/ where needed to get the base casting as flat as possible. You'll want to re-caulk as needed.
 
Viktor Eysselein

Viktor Eysselein

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Sep 5, 2009
135
Hunter 45 CC Marina del Rey
Windlass on Hunter 45CC

Sorry for my late rtesponse but I was in Europe.

I have no problem to loosen the clutch and then the chain runs free down. To open the clutch I use the winch handle, insert it into the windlass and turn it counterclockwise until the clutch is loosened. It the clutch does not loosen it looks like your windlass is frozen. I am no expert how to take the clutch apart - you may have to ask Hunter marine.

Viktor
 
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