Tomcat anchor

thataway · Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 11:45 pm Post subject:

I do not understand the concept of not securing the bitter end of the anchor rode for fear it will damage the boat! It is standard practice to secure the bitter end--to a strong point. Never heard of a boat being damaged by a properly secured bitter end of an anchor rode. You really don't want to allow all of the anchor rode to run out accidently--and 200 feet is not a lot of rode. With the lighter line, with several passes, you can undo this on the deck, and secure more line if necessary. The windlass never should be used as a point to secure a line or even as the "safety".

McDipple · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 9:42 pm Post subject: Anchoring TomCat

I am finishing the specs on a TomCat order. On my present boat I use an E-Z Anchor Puller winch and it works very well. There is never a need to go forward to tend to it at all which looks like a major advantage on a TC.

Has anyone used this product or have an opinion?

Sea Wolf · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 10:18 pm Post subject: Re: Anchoring TomCat

Doryman · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 10:59 pm Post subject: Re: Anchoring TomCat

matt_unique · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 10:09 am Post subject: Nice

Nice looking anchor rig! As with other Tomcat owners I removed the top roller and it works like a charm. I have a 300' rode that stows in my anchor locker.

Also - when I first got the boat there was some water in the port forward sponson. I suspected it came in through the hawsepipe and somehow made it's way down. I applied epoxy paste at the intersection of the anchor locker wall to port inside the drain hole and it has not leaked a drop since. While I was there I did the same to all the anchor drain holes inside and out.

McDipple · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 12:02 pm Post subject:

I will post when I decide. I have built a cardboard full-scale model of it to see how it fits on one at the dealer next week (it's a 2 hour round trip) and how it appears which is important to the boss. For me beauty is as beauty does; I thing A-10s are gorgeous!

I have one on my MaxCat and it is terrific but that's a much bigger boat. Too big for the elderly me which is why we're getting a TomCat. We won't be getting the actual boat until July or so.

Doryman · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject:

McDipple · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 11:26 pm Post subject:

I took some photos of my ugly cardboard mockup and put them in my album, I think.

This boat was at the dealer and as you can see already had a Lewmar windlass and cleat.

boscoj

This is one of the pictures of the mockup, the rest are in his photo album

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album724&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

thataway · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 10:05 am Post subject:

Question: How do you secure the anchor rode when the anchor is deployed? I notice that the reel windlass has a capacity of 300 to 500 lbs pull--what are the implications of leaving the load of an anchored boat on the reel?

Finally, are you buying the boat which already has the windlass in place? What back up plate will you use, and how is the access to that plate?

I agree that this reel type of windlass is a very handy device when you are anchoring frequently.

McDipple · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 2:36 pm Post subject:

The winch itself is the "cleat" that secures the anchor rode to the boat. The reduction gear is a worm drive and so the reel cannot be turned by pulling on the rode. The pull mentioned is that which can be exerted on the rode by the motor but you always use the engine(s) to ease the boat forward when weighing anchor.

There is no windlass on the boat I am buying so this would be a new installation and there will be a backing plate under the foredeck to distribute the load. It should be a lot stronger than the cleat aft of the normal windlass. Access is through the forward lockers. They recommend 3/4 ply as backup but I may use a heavy plastic board.

I like that there is no wet rode inside the hull. no hole through the foredeck and the singlehanded ease of use, always from the helm.

I am still hoping that the experts here can point out some snags before I take delivery of the boat in late June, I think. I grant that it is not beautiful!

thataway · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 10:00 pm Post subject:

The reason I asked about the backing plate, is that I wonder, with the size of this windlass, if the plate call all be foreward of the bulkhead?

I have always used aluminum plate to back up windlasses--plywood is also satisfactory, if used with large fender washers. I am not sure I would use "Plastic".

The use of the reel windlass, and no foreward cleat will not allow you to use snubbers--and this may not be important to you.

I personally would not trust my boat to a worm gear, without a solid cleat. Yes, I understand worm gears. But they have been known to fail.

McDipple · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 4:27 pm Post subject: EZ puller

I have talked with Ramsey Winch to check on the strength of the worm gear assembly following your good point and the unit used has a max operating load of 8,000 lbs (without a brake) so I am not too worried now about doing without the cleat.

We should get the hull mid-July and I'll do the fitting out then so by end of August I should have some experience.

Doryman · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:10 pm Post subject:

Did not know it was a Ramsey -- they are very highly regarded among the 4-wheeling crowd. If I put a winch on my Dodge it would likely be a Ramsey. So to me, that is an additional (big) point in favor of the EZ Anchor Puller.

Warren

Ancora Latina · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:06 am Post subject:

Although it is not a TOMCAT, you could be interested to see this ground tackle installation: Bow roller , windlass , cleats on a new Malcom Tennant designed Catamaran:

See:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mtdufour/DominoBowRollerTest?feat=directlink#
And
http://dominocatamaran.blogspot.com/2009/01/bow-roller.html

João