From: Lynn Marie (Original Message) Sent: 4/22/2003 5:26 PM
A project this winter was installing a power windlass on the Lynn Marie. With help and research everything went just fine until I used it. I selected a Lewmar "Sprint " series which has the motor below deck and pulls at a horizontal flat direction. I also replaced the standard factory bow roller with a Simpson Lawrence pivoting bow roller (model 66840007). It worked fine the first time or two but then I allowed the rode to get some slack which let the back end of the roller pivot up. This caused the rode to jump up off of the gypsy. I did get it back in and the anchor aboard without damage to anything but my ego and I was starting to have concerns about the possible damage to my pocket book.
After looking over all the options to remidy the situation I decided on adding an additional roller to the set-up to keep chain/rode in proper aliagnment coming off the roller and into the gypsy. I puchased a Windline model AR-4 from West Marine which I mounted just ahead of the windlass. All parts are through bolted with a single piece of 3/16" thick aluminum backing plate on the inside of the deck. This has cured the problem it appears but only time will tell.
The space available to do all this is vary limited because of the factory mounted bow cleat, etc. so I feel realy lucky to have had enough room to get the extra roller on and correct what could have been a very expensive project.
I do like the windlass and the way it lays out but if I had it all to do over I'm not sure if I wouldn't go with an over the top set-up such as the Lewmar "Horizon" series. Lots of C-Dories have this type of system and they all work just fine using the pivoting bow roller. The windlasses all work OK but choseing ALL the right rollers to go with them is really important. Hope this helps someone else from going through the same pitfalls I did. Good luck and safe boating.
Tim
PS Sorry I don't have pictures to go with this.
From: SeaWolf Sent: 4/26/2003 7:03 PM
Tim- Glad to hear you solved the problem. Every installation seems to have it's idiosyncracies. Every time a variable in changed (different anchor, bow roller, rode, etc) the geometry changes a bit and a new "problem" arises. Happy to hear you solved yours intelligently and simply.
Joe.
A project this winter was installing a power windlass on the Lynn Marie. With help and research everything went just fine until I used it. I selected a Lewmar "Sprint " series which has the motor below deck and pulls at a horizontal flat direction. I also replaced the standard factory bow roller with a Simpson Lawrence pivoting bow roller (model 66840007). It worked fine the first time or two but then I allowed the rode to get some slack which let the back end of the roller pivot up. This caused the rode to jump up off of the gypsy. I did get it back in and the anchor aboard without damage to anything but my ego and I was starting to have concerns about the possible damage to my pocket book.
After looking over all the options to remidy the situation I decided on adding an additional roller to the set-up to keep chain/rode in proper aliagnment coming off the roller and into the gypsy. I puchased a Windline model AR-4 from West Marine which I mounted just ahead of the windlass. All parts are through bolted with a single piece of 3/16" thick aluminum backing plate on the inside of the deck. This has cured the problem it appears but only time will tell.
The space available to do all this is vary limited because of the factory mounted bow cleat, etc. so I feel realy lucky to have had enough room to get the extra roller on and correct what could have been a very expensive project.
I do like the windlass and the way it lays out but if I had it all to do over I'm not sure if I wouldn't go with an over the top set-up such as the Lewmar "Horizon" series. Lots of C-Dories have this type of system and they all work just fine using the pivoting bow roller. The windlasses all work OK but choseing ALL the right rollers to go with them is really important. Hope this helps someone else from going through the same pitfalls I did. Good luck and safe boating.
Tim
PS Sorry I don't have pictures to go with this.
From: SeaWolf Sent: 4/26/2003 7:03 PM
Tim- Glad to hear you solved the problem. Every installation seems to have it's idiosyncracies. Every time a variable in changed (different anchor, bow roller, rode, etc) the geometry changes a bit and a new "problem" arises. Happy to hear you solved yours intelligently and simply.
Joe.