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- Thread starter bburgin
- Start date
El and Bill
New member
Congrats on the new 'baby' - let the good times roll.
starcrafttom
Active member
towing in the snow, sound like fun. I have done it several times over the years. In the Sierras I towed my 16 star craft TO the snow. loved fishing the high lakes in the winter when the big browns and rainbows are hitting surface plugs. people would give me strange looks as I chained up the truck and trailer and head up the hill into 3 ft of snow for one of the lakes. nice part is that you always find a parking spot.
starcrafttom
Active member
I prefer the look of the deck mounted vertical windlass with the motor below deck. You do have to cut a bigger hole to mount but not much bigger. No matter what brand you get insure that the motor is horizontal and not vertical under the deck. I think, after rebuilding a few, that the vertical motors are more prone to water. In fact the three that I rebuilt where all lewmars. I believe that lewmar changed to the motors being mounted horizontally
bburgin,
The horizontal windlass IMHO is the way to go. Too many of us here have had the dreaded water leak into the gearcase disaster with the vertical. Freezes them right up. The Lewmar works fine with 1/4" chain and 1/2" rope rode. 50-75' of chain works wonderfully.
Here it is
The horizontal windlass IMHO is the way to go. Too many of us here have had the dreaded water leak into the gearcase disaster with the vertical. Freezes them right up. The Lewmar works fine with 1/4" chain and 1/2" rope rode. 50-75' of chain works wonderfully.
Here it is
I agree that the vertical looks the best, but that the horizontal is more foolproof and saves wasting space and interfering with rode locker access under deck in the v-berth.
I have a Vertical Quick Aires with a horizontal motor below deck, and while I don't use the v-berth for sleeping, it does take up space.
The vertical windlass with a horizontal motor is a better system because it has a better seal, and the motor can be mounted horizontal because a worm gear drive is utilized, which can develop greater mechanical advantage.
Moose and I had problems at first with that windlass because the pressure finger (called the Fleming) wasn't strong enough to pass the chain/rope splice, so I developed a splice with a smaller diameter.
There are a myriad of manufacturers and models. I'd stick with something that others that I trust say works in the boat you have. It's a lot less trouble that striking out on your own.
Getting the windlass, rode, anchor, and anchor roller to work together to self-launch the anchor can be an engineering task that takes a considerable amount of time to work out! Each combination is unique.
You need the self-launching feature to take full advantage of the windlass's possibilities. It allows you to safely launch and retrieve the anchor without going up on the deck in hazardous seas, and is one of the most useful advantages of windlass ownership!
P.S.: An alternative is to have a husky 15-20 some year old male offspring that you can convince needs the anchoring/retrieving exercise as part of his football conditioning! (as per B~C). However, the food bill for same may be more expensive than the windlass. Not to mention the other risks and commitments.
Joe. :teeth :thup
I have a Vertical Quick Aires with a horizontal motor below deck, and while I don't use the v-berth for sleeping, it does take up space.
The vertical windlass with a horizontal motor is a better system because it has a better seal, and the motor can be mounted horizontal because a worm gear drive is utilized, which can develop greater mechanical advantage.
Moose and I had problems at first with that windlass because the pressure finger (called the Fleming) wasn't strong enough to pass the chain/rope splice, so I developed a splice with a smaller diameter.
There are a myriad of manufacturers and models. I'd stick with something that others that I trust say works in the boat you have. It's a lot less trouble that striking out on your own.
Getting the windlass, rode, anchor, and anchor roller to work together to self-launch the anchor can be an engineering task that takes a considerable amount of time to work out! Each combination is unique.
You need the self-launching feature to take full advantage of the windlass's possibilities. It allows you to safely launch and retrieve the anchor without going up on the deck in hazardous seas, and is one of the most useful advantages of windlass ownership!
P.S.: An alternative is to have a husky 15-20 some year old male offspring that you can convince needs the anchoring/retrieving exercise as part of his football conditioning! (as per B~C). However, the food bill for same may be more expensive than the windlass. Not to mention the other risks and commitments.
Joe. :teeth :thup