[C320-list] Converting rope windlass gypsy to handle chain

[christopher Brearley]

Hi Louis,

I completed an identical Maxwell upgrade as Gene has. 
Same challenges and mainly the same response to those 
challenges as Gene has mentioned.
I needed to upgrade my wiring as the existing was to small.
I only had an 80amp circuit breaker and it needed to be replace
with 135amp unit. 
I am very happy with the winch and would definitely recommend 
it.

Chris
#374


On 22/06/2014, at 9:49 AM, Gene Helfman wrote:

> We replaced our old Maxwell with a Maxwell VW10.  More than enough power
> to lift 50 ft of 5/16 chain and a 33 lb Rocna.  Used it extensively on a
> month-long trip into British Columbia.  We got the chain gypsy for 5/16
> chain.  There is sufficient room below deck for the unit, although we made
> our lives easier and removed a section of the forward bulkhead that sits
> behind the wooden wall in the forward part of the V-berth. When the wood
> goes back on, you don't know anything happened.
>        The installation was not cookbook, and I had a very experienced
> professional boat builder do most of the work.  Issues (beyond removing the
> old, frozen Maxwell) included conforming the windlass to its mounting base
> in the chain locker (it took adding a piece so the new unit had a
> flush/flat base to sit against), and installing a new, dedicated switch up
> near but not on the instrument panel/circuit breaker board  (but we
> fortunately were able to use the old wiring). Inconvenient issues that
> arose include limited space between the gypsy/capstan and the bulkhead aft
> of it: just barely room for chain with a thimble and shackle.  We;'re
> seriously considering going to a direct rope splice with our triple braid
> to the chain.  Raising and lowering take some getting used to, mainly in
> learning how much and when to apply and release the brake.
> 
> I have a photo of the final installation, looking down on the chain locker
> that I can send if you'd like (to your email since the list-serve doesn't
> handle attachments).   Feel free to ask questions and I hope I'll have
> answers, although it's a year out now and I don't remember all the details.
> Maxwell was very helpful, both over the phone and via email.
> 
> gene
> Satori, #398
> 
> 
> On Fri, Jun 20, 2014 at 5:52 PM, <aronella at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> " <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>> Mime-Version: 1.0 (1.0)
>> 
>> Has anyone added a combo rope/chain gypsy to the windlass? Can you share
>> det=
>> ails?
>> Thanks
>> Louis Spitz
>> #195 Merry Chase
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad=
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Gene Helfman, Professor Emeritus
> Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia
> PERMANENT address:
>    498 Shoreland Dr., Lopez Is., WA 98261
>    (360) 468-2136
>    genehelfman at gmail.com
> 
> "You noticed nobody gives a damn about beached minnows."