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  #1  
Old 10-16-2008, 08:44 AM
Neptunes Violin Neptunes Violin is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 19
Default Windlass in the bow locker?

Hiya:

So the missus wants me to install a windlass. After all these years of weighing the hook, her biceps are shot. Bah, can't find good crew these days.

The thought of having a big chunk of steel on the foredeck bothers me. Is there any way I can hide the thing in the locker? I am sure there is enough room for the chain to fall below decks and there is enough room in the locker for the windlass.

Any thoughts? Should i remarry?
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  #2  
Old 10-16-2008, 09:50 AM
benz benz is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Newport RI
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The reason your wife wants a shiny new piece of hardware on the foredeck is probably because you yourself are not shiny enough. Have you considered having your teeth chrome-plated?
But seriously....
What kind of boat do you have? What size? unless it has one of those chain lockers where half the foredeck is a hatch that opens over a shallow sort of box, rather than a conventional dark hole in the forepeak with a chainpipe leading down, the difficulties in having a windlass below seem insurmountable. How would you have a fair lead for the chain? How would you be able to monitor both the windlass and what was going on outside at once?
I saw a boat once where they led the chain from the bow roller to a small manual windlass (the sort that works with a standard winch handle) on the side of the mast, from where the chain went down into the cabin to keep the weight centered. It certainly removed a lot of foredeck clutter, since they unshackled the chain each time and stored it below, and put the anchor elsewhere as well.
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  #3  
Old 10-16-2008, 03:23 PM
Ian McColgin Ian McColgin is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Hyannis, MA
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Probably not a great idea.

With an all chain rode, you need a clean lead from the bow roller or whatever to the gypsey. If the unit is a capstan (verticle axis) the lead to below is utterly wierd. If a windless (horizontal axis) the need to get the chain to connect to the gypsey through ninty degrees will be lost by the chain arriving at the gypsey from a serious up angle.

Any rope-chain rode - probably on your port anchor assuming that you are a properly equipped and prudent cruiser who uses the a nchors regularly - will be unusable if you mount the unit below decks.

ALL quality hydraulic and electric units have mechanical back-up that's rendered functionless by mounting below decks.

All that said, if you want to go with one of those toy electic wind-ups beloved by charter fishing boats, you could mount such a thing below if you could solve the lead needed to let it level wind.

Find a windless that suits the aesthetics of your deck, put it out where it belongs, and use it with pride.

Last thought: If you go electric, consider having a spare battery up in the chain locker to serve as a voltage enhancer. Even with really heavy cable, the voltage drop is a major issue.

G'luck
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  #4  
Old 10-17-2008, 07:01 AM
Auspicious Auspicious is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2006
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Swap places for a while, letting the missus drive while you haul. You may find your aesthetic changes.

I had a below-deck horizontal windlass with chain-rope rode on a previous boat. It was okay, but did reduce the chain fall from an on-deck installation. More is better.

On my current boat I have an all-chain rode and a deck-mounted vertical windlass. I find myself spending much less time fussing during anchor evolutions. A windlass with an incorporated chain pipe is cleaner, but does make recovery of a second anchor and rode a little more interesting.

Given time, money, and space I'd have a Lighthouse 1501 or similar two-sided horizontal windlass. Maybe I just like shiny things.
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  #5  
Old 10-17-2008, 08:14 AM
Neptunes Violin Neptunes Violin is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2008
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Chrome plate my teeth? What teeth? But now that you mention it, I have this great idea: galvanized dentures! Truly nautical. I will be the envy of every sailor from the left coast to the right coast.

Back to the matter at hand. Did exhaustive net search. Saw pictures of three installations on my model. (Pearson 36) All were different. One had vertical gypsy aft of the locker. One had horizontal gypsy on the locker lid. One had horizontal inside the locker.

Thanks for all the replies. The head-scratching continues.
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