[C320-list] Anchor Windlass Capability

[Colin Evans]

Gary,
Did you use the splice which connects the rope to the end link of the chain.
Most websites I`ve looked at do this.  My concern would be wear to the rope.
I`ve found a site that shows an elongated splice along the chain for 12 - 14
inches.  Have a look at
http://johndanicic.com/sailing%20pages/GOB%20articles/JF07_Splicing.pdf
and scroll down to the third page.
I like the idea of the smooth transition between rope and chain.
*************************
Regards
Colin Evans
Watermark #774
Lake Macquarie, Australia
 

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Gary Magnuson
Sent: Friday, 13 July 2012 2:48 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Anchor Windlass Capability

Hi,
  I guess ignorance is bliss, but on my 1995, I have been regularly 
raising the anchor rode and chain using the smooth drum, with seemingly 
no problems. I did make a anchor splice between rode and the chain to 
get rid of the nylon eye and shackle, which makes the drum happy during 
the transition.  I am controlling the tension on the drum by hand, but 
letting the winch do all of the work.  Perhaps I will someday need to 
replace the drum if the chain destroys the surface.    I hope I haven't 
made a big mistake.....

Gary
Time A Weigh #205

On 7/12/2012 11:26 AM, Gene Helfman wrote:
> Thanks for bringing this up.  We're in final negotiations on a 1997 320
> with "upgraded" ground tackle: 40 lb plow and 50 ft of larger chain than
> standard.  So we will need to replace the Maxwell 500 with a larger, more
> powerful windlass that has both rope and chain capability (granted, as
> Dennis noted, we could power up to the chain and get away with a chain
> donkey only).  Has anyone upgraded to something along these lines?
>
> thanks,
>
> gene
>
> On Thu, Jul 12, 2012 at 8:50 AM, Dennis Harris
<dharris02 at suddenlink.net>wrote:
>
>> As I understand it, the anchor windlass is not to be used to pull the
boat
>> towards the anchor location when taking in the anchor.  If the wind or
>> current is high, doing so would put lots of force on the windlass and
>> probably trip it out.  But if there isn't much wind, it would seem that
>> there wouldn't be much force.  The windlass supplied on our boats has a
>> smooth drum and no gypsy for chain, and as I understand it, the chain
>> should not be used on the smooth drum.  My guess is that many, like me,
>> have nylon rode with a relatively small amount of chain at the anchor.
>> Taking in the nylon rode when there is no strain on it (because boat is
>> being powered forward) is easy to do by hand and power assist is not
>> needed.  Picking up the bitter end with the chain and anchor (assuming we
>> have already broken out the anchor using boat movement instead of anchor
>> windlass pull) can/will be relatively difficult and power assist would be
>> helpful, but the windlass (as delivered on boat) is not setup to handle
>> chain.  So, it seems that we have this nice piece of equipment that
really
>> isn't available when there is some heavy lifting to do.
>> What am I missing?
>> How do most owners use the windlass?
>> And, most importantly, what is the line pull, in pounds, that can be
>> successfully applied to the anchor rode, or other line, using the
windlass
>> without damaging windlass or tripping it out electrically?
>> I don't anchor out often, as you can tell, and when I do, it is in
shallow
>> water, so I have done it by hand without the windlass in the past.  But
as
>> 73 approaches, the idea of picking up a 33 lb. Bruce anchor and 20 ft. of
>> chain seems less and less attractive.
>> Thanks for you guidance.
>> Dennis Harris  C320  #694
>>
>
>