[C320-list] Anchor Windlass Capability

[Warren Updike]

Here is an approach that has worked for me.  Once you are pulled up short on
the anchor, use the windlass to take a strain on the rode, enough to pull
the bow down slightly.  Then, wait.  The other dynamic forces at play will
s-l-o-w-l-y pull the anchor out of the mud or sand.  If not, further
powering with the windlass may not help.  In that case, cleat the rode, go
aft and drive over it. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Harris [mailto:dharris02 at suddenlink.net] 
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2012 9:57 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Anchor Windlass Capability

Thanks everyone for your responses.  The Maxwell website lists the pulling
capability of the VC-500 at 660 lbs.  I found a couple of websites wherein
the authors presented extensive studies of wind force on anchored boats. 
ABYC also has formulas for calculating the wind force on anchored boats. 
ABYC calculations suggest for a sailboat the size of a C320, the winds, to
reach the 660 lbs. pull on the anchor rode, would be about 27kts.  Both of
the studies said that ABYC formulas were very conservative, on the order of
a safety factor of 3 in normal conditions.  However, when waves were over 3
ft., then additional dynamic forces come into play, and at that point, the
ABYC formula predicted a something less than the real formulas.  Current was
not a significant issue, and even a 6 kt. current was only equivalent to a
15 kt. wind.

Since I most often single hand, or have on board persons who are not well
versed in boat handling, it is difficult/risky to attempt to motor forward
while I am at the bow taking in the anchor.  Based on all the information
that has been provided, I plan to start using the anchor windlass to get the
anchor and rode on board without trying to motor forward...just have the
engine idling out of gear, so we ready to go when the anchor is up.  I
shouldn't be tripping breakers under those conditions.  I'm not sure why the
owners manuals say to move the boat forward with the engine (easy to do with

two experienced persons however).   The chain and nylon of my rodes are 
spliced, so I think I will let the windlass lift the chain and anchor even
though I don't have a chain gypsy. Again, thanks.

-----Original Message-----
From: Utility Email
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2012 2:10 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Anchor Windlass Capability

My 2007 C320 MK II has a chain gypsy as part of the windlass.  We anchor out
all the time and the windlass works great.  No tripping breakers.  Two
winters ago I installed a seawater washdown pump under the head sink with a
quick disconnect outlet in the anchor locker.  I connected the inlet to the
head sink drain line so I can run seawater (or even freshwater from the
sink) through the washdown pump to the anchor locker on the bow of the boat.

Works great for cleaning the anchor and rode and also washing down the deck
while at anchor.  We have 50 feet of chain and 250 feet of nylon rope for
our anchor rode.

Dave Swanson
S/V Emily Ann
2007 C320 MK II, No. 1107
Mukilteo, WA

On Jul 12, 2012, at 8:50 AM, Dennis Harris 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