Electric anchor winch

[griffin40m]

Hello

Any ideas, recommendations and photos for the installation of an electric anchor winch?!

[FinallySailing]

Hi, and greetings from the English east coast to Malta.
I have a 26S and I don't have an electric anchor winch. I have a manual anchor winch that I've painstakingly cleaned and restored (fleebay find that was sold including 30+ meters of new chain ) which is now waiting to be finally installed on "Rockhopper". I nevertheless hope that you will find some of my general advice helpful.
Choose your anchor and esp. your type of anchor rode first (i.e. chain only or chain and rope). The choice will depend on your sailing grounds, what the bottom of the sea is like (sand/mud/rocks/kelp etc), currents, streams, winds and so on. This will determine the size of the gypsie (the wheel that takes the chain) and also how strong your anchor winch should be. The pull is supposed to be x3 the weight of your ground tackle, i.e. of anchor and chain+rope. Think if there is anything else you would like to use your anchor winch for as well (this is the reason why I choose mine, it will have to help raising the mast as well). The next question is if you would like a horizontal or a vertical windlass (this relates to the direction of the main driveshaft). The choice depends on wether you have space under deck for motor/mechanics (vertical) or if all has to sit on deck in its own housing (horizontal). Some say that vertical windlasses have better control of your rode with less chance of it slipping off the mechanism. If you choose an electric windlass, ensure you're batteries are adequate. You might want to have a dedicated battery for your windlass (or opt for a winch that can be operated manually as well as electric).
Phew ! Reading all this, I hope I haven't confused you even more now
Fair winds,

FS

[bartmac]

Not fitted yet but lack of space on the foredeck of a 26X brought me to the conclusion that a drum winch was the answer.So both the rope and chain are stored on the drum.

[Ixneigh]

I have an M.
I wanted to have an electric windlass but someone gave me a very nice Vertical drum manuel one so I used that instead of buying an electric one for500 dollars -,-

Mounting the electric windlass will be an enormous task. You will need to do these things:
Install a chainlocker below the deck inside the forepeak of the boat. It must be watertight from the rest of the boat and have a drain of course.
Run the wiring with its own fuse. This can be run easily under the seats inside the boat.
Mount the windlass. You will need to either cut the bottom out of the existing anchor well and put permanent strong decking over the hole and bolt the windlass to that, or mount the windlass in the bottom of the well and beef up the structure to take the load. Then modify the locker lid to fit over the top of the windlass. This last is what I did however I do not think it feasable for a horizontal drum unit. I did not make a belowdecks chainlocker. I did not want that moisture in the boat. I was too lazy to make a watertight container. All the rode I typically use fits inside the anchor well. The anchor now sits on the roller. I fixed the lid so it still closes and added glass because I think it's very flimsy to begin with.
If you look at my YouTube account you can see my installation step by step
Lastlionmonday is my user name.

Ixneigh

[mastreb]

So would I be able to dual purpose a drum winch to raise the mast as well? Because that might sell me on it.

[bartmac]

A drum winch isn't going to be able to lift your mast as the rope(warp?) and chain are stored on the drum...the reason I went for the drum style was to not have to organise a chainlocker

[Ixneigh]

I'd have to see a picture of the rode stored on the drum idea. I can't see it practical for ocean anchoring situations. This system already exists on a power sailor?

I find it hard to think of a system any easier then the M model mast winching system. It works great. The hoisting pole is a chore to stow but I found a fine place for mine. even with a deck mounted puller you will still need the Pole and side stays.
Ixneigh

[bartmac]

The drum winch is not yet fitted to our 26X.....I'm interested to find out the reason for it not being practical??? I was hoping to be able to drop/raise anchor from the cockpit and from the foredeck using a hand held control...obviously there's a need for 12v power to winch both down and up...the drum is over sized to hold more rope and chain than we currently carry and would and do carry a spare anchor....am I missing the obvious

[mastreb]

I'd have to see a picture of the rode stored on the drum idea. I can't see it practical for ocean anchoring situations. This system already exists on a power sailor?

I find it hard to think of a system any easier then the M model mast winching system. It works great. The hoisting pole is a chore to stow but I found a fine place for mine. even with a deck mounted puller you will still need the Pole and side stays.
Ixneigh

It does work surprisingly well. Where did you find to put it? Mine occupies the v-berth.

[restless]

Anchoring was always a messy business for us, until I added a nodding donkey. This took all the grief straight out. Fitting a windlass on a little boat like this requires far too much dedication for me, not to mention mega expense!



more pics n write up: http://www.ironengineer.com/mac/minimod ... index.html

[Ixneigh]

Re rode stored on drum.

I don't know.
I do know that
A: safe anchoring needs at least 80 feet of 3/8 or 1/2 inch rope minimum plus 15 of 1/4 chain at a bare minimum and MUCH more for anchoring in deeper water. I have 100 feet of 1/2 and 60 feet of 1/4 chain and hardly ever anchor in water more then fifteen feet deep.

B: as the drum fills up it will require more effort because the leverage of the drum is less. You will need a big motor and gear train. Regular windlasses that do not store the rode are not affected by this.

C: this unit will take up most of the tiny deck and will need a nice cover to look "shipshape"
Unless you don't care about looks. That's ok too

D: you could use an off road jeep style cable winch and use cable to anchor with. I've never tried that.
That would be the only way to do what you want in my opinion. But I'm always open to new ideas.

Ixneigh

[Ixneigh]

Oh the mast raising pole. I store mine along the back of the back berth from side to side. I put two small cleats and I can secure it off the berth without that much effort. It is still a bit awkward. But i can't see it now from the rest of the boat.
I deemed telescoping, break apart, or other fixes too difficult and anywayI am paranoid about this particular equipment. I have changed NOTHING about it. I might have a quick remove winch handle someday.
Even if sleepIng in the back, that I don't usually do, it is not objectionable to me there.

Ixneigh

[robbarnes1965]

I store my mast raising kit under the long seat in front of the head. Fits perfectly. You need to back it in towards the aft and then move it forward once it's in.

Ixneigh, your anchoring setup sounds incredibly secure but a bit a extreme. Then again I am on lakes rather than ocean stuff. I have a danforth which holds solidly in anything but rock. I have 10ft of chain and 150ft of line. The line acts as a great snubber to absorb shock. A burst of reverse on the engine sets it in deep. Our boats are pretty light so I don't see much of a need for more. I have anchored in a 7kn current and not budged and inch overnight. I have read tests in practical sailor that seem to show most of the solid, one piece anchors like a claw don't hold nearly as well in most situations.

[Divecoz]

I have given this mod considerable thought as well. I might find that being able to raise and lower the mast ( with a Roller Furler attached) to be Very Beneficial.. Homes on sailboat water are more expensive, smaller and not nearly as nice dollar for dollar, as the same priced Power Boat homes..I have thought more about it just being a means to un-pin the Forestay/Roller Furler,so as to easily lower my mast 10 feet..
to clear a bridge.

So would I be able to dual purpose a drum winch to raise the mast as well? Because that might sell me on it.

[Divecoz]

Rob I believe when it come to what works for anchors ? Its very much dependant on the bottom and the forces exerted / wind waves tides and how you set your anchor. I have had great luck with my Claw in soft sand mud etc. etc. even rocky bottoms. I have 30 feet of chain and I use a rubber strap ( truckers bungee hooked into the chain for a snubber ) But it seems everyone swears by what they have. I had drug anchor a couple years ago and ended up on a sand bar..When the Sea Tow Captain arrived, to tow me off and saw my Danforth on the Bow mount, he said that's why it drug.. I then told him no... I had a Claw out.. He was then surprised I had drug..According to him, a fellow who makes his living rescuing boats..Danforth's don't hold well in soft bottoms if .....any sort of vegetation is present. It seems to me that every manufacturer has the ability to make it look like their product is better than anyone else's..

Ixneigh, your anchoring setup sounds incredibly secure but a bit a extreme. Then again I am on lakes rather than ocean stuff. I have a danforth which holds solidly in anything but rock. I have 10ft of chain and 150ft of line. The line acts as a great snubber to absorb shock. A burst of reverse on the engine sets it in deep. Our boats are pretty light so I don't see much of a need for more. I have anchored in a 7kn current and not budged and inch overnight. I have read tests in practical sailor that seem to show most of the solid, one piece anchors like a claw don't hold nearly as well in most situations.