Anchor Drum Winch

stevej · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2022 12:41 pm Post subject:

Going to be working on the boat today and will grab some measurements for you Hardee.
Fairly sizable package, if I remember right believe it’s loaded with 170’ of 1/2 rode and 30’ of 3/8 chain. Not a deep water system but good up to 40’ or so.

robhwa · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2022 1:39 pm Post subject:

NORO LIM · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2022 4:34 pm Post subject:

hardee · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2022 5:44 pm Post subject:

I like the concept of keeping the rode and chain out of the V-Birth. I also like the Spectra/Dyneema size weight and working load ratio. Still, that takes a pretty good chunk of space (Thanks Bob, for the brochure link), and don't have measurements but that foredeck on a 22 is just not huge.

Harvey
SleepyC

thataway · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2022 5:57 pm Post subject:

I agree that Dyneema or Spectra would be ideal materials for the drum windlass. The joining of the Dyneema and a nylon section would easily be made by an eye place or Brummel splice in the Dyneema, into an eye splice into the nylon. There nylon would be a rope to chain splice to the chain.

One disadvantage of the Spectra or Dyneema is that you cannot make a bridal to the dyneema or spectra. (only if you were at the end where you could make an eye splice. )

On the other hand, many fishing boats world around use steel cable spliced to the chain on a drum windlass for their anchoring system. No more shock absorbing system other than the catenary of the chain. We do know at about 40 knots of wind, (depending on the vessel type) that the catenary disappears, and the chain starts to b some bar tight- and no shock absorbing effect.

stevej · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2022 9:27 pm Post subject:

Nash 22 · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2022 11:14 pm Post subject: Lone Star Marine

Check out Lone Star Marine winches.
I installed a GX-1 winch on my boat and love it.
I don’t have to go to the bow to tie the rode to a cleat and the winch doesn’t interfere with my line of sight.
The winch holds my boat nicely with a 13 lbs anchor, 20' of chain, and about 200 feet of synthetic rode.

You can also purchase the pre-made wires for the installation.

Check out my album to see a couple of pics.

thataway · Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 11:24 am Post subject: Re: Lone Star Marine

NORO LIM · Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 5:05 pm Post subject:

When I was toying with the idea of a drum winch, Lone Star was the brand I was looking at. Their testing results were really impressive. As always, a bit of skepticism is in order when a manufacturer tests its own product, but the winches appear to be very well built and durable. I never got far enough down the road to do a mock up to see what an installation might look like, and how it might affect line of sight. Scratch pad drawings had me pretty well convinced it would be doable. My thought on the rode was roughtly: 50 feet of chain, 150 feet of 8-plait or double-braided rope, and however many more feet of Dyneema would fit. I figured the chain catenary and the braided rope would suffice for shock absorption. Generally, the fewer connections the better in almost any system, but anchor to chain to braided rope to Dyneema to drum didn't seem unreasonable. It only adds one connection to a pretty standard set-up.

Nash 22 · Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 2:00 pm Post subject: Re: Lone Star Marine

Punkin Drublic · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2025 11:23 pm Post subject:

Given the anchor swivel topic going on, thought I'd necro this topic. Anyone with more to add on the subject of drums in the last couple seasons? Was a option I was considering myself. Sounds like its a tight fit on a 22, is the 23 venture any better or worse?

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 447 Photos: Thistle

Punkin, I second your enthusiasm for the drum winch. I was a pesticide operator earlier in my life and came to appreciate the hose winches that are exposed for all to see what is going on. They were dependable, visible and easy to use...jump ahead 48 years, I'm a boater looking for a solution for anchoring convenience. The style of the drum winch impresses me. So I'd like hear first hand from users and if the GX-1 wouldn't just be the cats meow for the 22.

Also, I'll have to go back and re-check, but did I hear that with a GX-1 you don't have to tie off the anchor when completely up (completely retrieved) or deployed? That would be a worthwhile attribute.

If I could use the Drum winch then I would repurpose the deck pipe to hold a spare rode, ready to hook to a spare anchor, and yet be protected by the cover. I've been on a number of sailboats that had a rode ready to use should the main anchor fail in some way.

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 447 Photos: Thistle

I may have just found a reason to avoid these winches but I seriously am interested in your take on it. Look at the table below. As far as which model I would need for the weight reasons I would be wise to have GX-1 or GX-2. Then I happened to notice that, although they used heavier rode in their videos like 1/2" or so the recommendations below call for only 1/4 or 5/16 rope. Well "this changes everything". I don't think these arthritis ridden hands would enjoy fumbling with such a small diameter rope. Any thoughts on this?

225ft 1/4 inch D/B rope & 20ft of 1/4 inch S/L chain
300ft 5/16 inch D/B rope & 25ft of 1/4 inch S/L chain
300ft 5/16 inch D/B rope & 25ft of 1/4 inch S/L chain
330ft 3/8 inch D/B rope & 35ft of 5/16 inch S/L chain
425ft 3/8 inch D/B rope & 40ft of 5/16 inch S/L chain
450ft 1/2 inch D/B rope & 35ft of 3/8 inch S/L chain
500ft 7/8 inch D/B rope & 39ft of 1/2 inch S/L chain

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 447 Photos: Thistle

I had the time so I called the owner of Lone Star. He was very genuine and sincere when He explained that he has sold many of these GX-1 & 2 with very fine spectra line. In fact he mentioned Halibut fishermen in Alaska using his setups as they need to put out a lot of line to anchor in several hundred feet of water.
He uses 4mm Spectra or Dyema for CD22 sized boats and they all have 25 or so feet of a larger top line ahead of your chain. Very I'm impressed. What are your thoughts on 4 or 6 mm as your primary anchor line? Could you set a 4mm anchor line and go sleep soundly?
As we discussed his products further I became convinced that I should pay attention to this technology and learn what I can. It offers a lot to Loopers that are in mostly calm waters that are usually of a shallower nature. Especially CD22 owners where storage space is at a premium.

Penny for your thoughts and big bucks for actual, users, testimonials.

thataway · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 2:54 pm Post subject:

I personally would not want to give up the deck space for a reel type of windlass. They are used on commercial fishing boats on a regular basis--far more often than on recreation vessels. Perhaps if you were going to anchor every night in a different place or multiple times a day---I might consider. But for the usual. use in a C Dory, it does not make a lot of sense.

Yes, the synthetic lines have a very strong weight and size ratio to the safe working load. They would be a devil to work with if necessary by hand. They have no shock absorbing ability. You have to figure some ways to give shock absorption for the rode system. Although these ropes are reasonably. resistant to abrasion, they would not take much of a cut to be weakened substantially.

I have used the original deck pipe for a second rode as Donald describes--net to "fence off' the primary rode. If length of rode is an issue ref space, then the 8 plait makes sense, even if you have to go down to 3/8" (for most boats 1/2" works very well). I have never found storage of anchors or rodes to be a problem in C Dorys--usually a generatio 3 or 4 anchor on the bow, and a Fortress or 2 or 3 for stern and mud works well. The Fortress and Guardian break down very easily and fairly quickly for storage.

These drum anchor windlasses are rarely seen on full time long distance cruising recreational boats. There are reasons. Even the mega yachts where money is not an issue rarely use these systems.