Windlass Wear and Tear

[MichaelOnTheClaraMae]

I recently purchased my third anchor line in less two years. The first two had worn so that my Simpson Lawrence Horizon 400 would not pick them up. Unfortunately, it will not pick up the new line I just purchased either. After a closer look, it appears the plastic Rope/Chain Gypsy is worn out.

In the process of ordering a new Gypsy, I spoke to Tim Dean of Florida Rigging & Hydraulics who told me that the premature wear on the anchor lines and the gypsy was the direct result of not tying the anchor line off to a cleat while at anchor. He said eventually anchoring without tying off would wear out the gear in the windlass as well.

Well I already knew what he was saying was right there in bold print in the SL manual but I didn't believe them. I do now and guess I will start tying that puppy off and see if I can't reduce my replacement costs.

[Molly Brown]

Hello Michael:
Just went thru all that and I think a thread about it was started but I always have trouble figuring out where to find them (hint,hint O'great DaNag).
We changed out our first plastic gypsy in the first year and in the second when it started to slip again we turned to rode end over end and used the rarely used portion of it hoping to get a better bite.Soon discovered a new gypsy would be the only solution and I'd read that a metal replacement was available for the 500 but not the 400. Went to see our "guys" at WM to order a new gypsy for $48 and learned that the retrofit for the 500 would work on the 400 too! Cost was $185 so I ordered a plastic one. After a couple of days thinking about what it would cost to upgrade I reconsidered and begged off my first order and got the metal gypsy. Good product and definitively the only way to go.
Tying off is good advice and I admit that we were lax about it in the beginning and there was one time in the Bahamas where we couldn't get our anchor up and had the rode"singing". All in all I believe our problems are over and intend to a fun finding out.!
Give us a shout if you drop below the 30th parallel...

[MichaelOnTheClaraMae]

I should receive the plastic gypsy today so I am going to give it a shot. Thanks for the info on the metal replacement. It will be my next route when I do this again (hopefully not for a few years).

Tying off the anchor line is not that easy on the CD-25 since the only bow cleat is right behind the windless. And there is little room between the bow roller and the windless itself. The bow eye is the best option without adding any new hardware but you have to be on your chest to reach it. I saw a slick "cinch ring" in a magazine just the other day that would work great with a good snap hook (http://www.montanacinch.com). I will let you know how it works.

[Jammin]

Michael

I talked to the SL people when Cheery's gypsy went smooth. I don't remember any talk of tying off. It seems to me the problem is more the result of slipping. Anyway they offered me a free replacement but I went for the metal unit that worked better.

Dennis