Lewmar Windlass

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dotnmarty

New member
Well, our boat came with this windlass already installed.
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Unfortunately I have never been able to figure out 1)if it works and 2) if it works, how it works. So, for the entire time we've had it, it has resided in this cover.

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What I am asking is this. Is there somebody in the Seattle area who can show me, hands on, if the thing is worth keeping or should I just pull it out and fill the holes? I will pay whatever is reasonable for your work and travel and treat you to some good Thai food for good measure.
 
Hi Marty. A windlass is a great thing. There should be an up/ down switch on the dash. Breaker in the back somewhere. Could be a heavy toggle switch. Anything on your panel you don't use? Could be it. Generally a pretty big switch labeled. Windlass.
 
That looks like a shackle protruding from the top. I assume there's a rode of some kind attached. I'd clear the gypsy before you try any switches.

Any model numbers on it?
 
We have a windlass on our boat (first time), and absolutely love it.

Feel free to contact me via PM and I can come meet you somewhere and show you what Ive learned about ours. If yours is anything the same, you should keep it aboard.
 
redbaronace":eephzpq1 said:
We have a windlass on our boat (first time), and absolutely love it.

Feel free to contact me via PM and I can come meet you somewhere and show you what Ive learned about ours. If yours is anything the same, you should keep it aboard.
Click to expand...

Thanks Redbaronace. We are headed out of town tomorrow for a wedding (not ours). I'll try to get in touch with you late next week. Thanks again.
 
ghone":27xpucca said:
Hi Marty. A windlass is a great thing. There should be an up/ down switch on the dash. Breaker in the back somewhere. Could be a heavy toggle switch. Anything on your panel you don't use? Could be it. Generally a pretty big switch labeled. Windlass.
Click to expand...

Yup, I got that! Unfortunately the picture's fuzzyness reflects what I've been able to do with it.
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NORO LIM":1boj03qa said:
That looks like a shackle protruding from the top. I assume there's a rode of some kind attached. I'd clear the gypsy before you try any switches.

Any model numbers on it?
Click to expand...

OK, I'll remove the shackle and clear the gypsy.
It's a Prosport model, serial number 5680806709. It also has "RC-0762" stamped on a stainless part. Thanks for your help.
 
Marty-

The top unit is the thermal circuit breaker that works like a re-settable fuse, since a windlass motor can overheat and needs to be protected by a circuit interruptor that will protect it. An overheated motor will throw solder out of the armature and render itself useless.

The up/down switch is below. Can't see all of it in the photo. Most smaller Lewmar windlasses control the polarity of the current going to the windlass directly at this switch, and don't have a more complex relay to do so. By reversing the polarity fed to the DC (direct current) motor, it will turn in both directions, allowing for up/down operation.

Do you have a rode anchor and locker visible in the front of the boat below decks more or less at the front end of the v-berth? Is there rope? Chain? That shackle in the first photo must be attached to something!

Is the circuit breaker attached to a second pair of wires that lead back to the battery? (The 1st being the pair that lead from the lower switch to the windlass motor.) Are these feed wires protected by a fuse or circuit breaker that is closer back to the battery? (Recommended for fire safety.)

Is there a model number on the windlass? I haven't seen one exactly like that before, but if you understand electricity, electric motors, circuits, and windlasses, there are all a group of variations on a standard plan.

Wish I were closer to help you out!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Marty, I have a similar setup except mine is a vertical model, yours is the horizontal one. On the side of the gypsy (where the chain goes) should be a cover with a star shaped hole in the middle. A 1/2" socket wrench should fit in there. If you loosen that you should be able to free the rode and pull it out. It has to be tight for the windlass to work. You can put the ratchet in there and tighten it. There should be a spring loaded bar that acts as a ratchet keeping the rode from playing out. mine has a small detent to lock that open. You can also rai se and lower the anchor using the socket wrench. The circuit breaker looks just like mine. The red lever is how you "make" the breaker. I keep mine "open" unless using the windlass. There is a rectangular black button that when pushed "opens"the breaker. On mine the up-down switch is counterintuitive. Pushing the top of the rocker lowers the rode, pushing the bottom raises it.

I'll be glad to offer advice worth just what you pay for it.
 
Well, I should have looked more closely at your pictures. Instead of a star you have the three armed device with the same function. The black button on my circuit breaker is red on yours.
 
Joe & Barry-We are heading out now for a wedding back east in Annapolis. When I get back I'm going to read closely all that good advice and see if I can sort it out. -Thank you both for the great advice.
 
Marty, you should have a special wrench that will release the gypsy head from the gears/motor. Lacking that, a 1/2" socket wrench (no socket in it) will work too. Once released, you should be able to pull the line up.

What have you been using for an anchor line? In the meantime, you could just try resetting that breaker and use the DOWN switch momentarily to see if its functional!

Once you get it operational, with the right self launching bow pulpit, your trips to the bow to anchor will be over!

Ummm. Just looked at your picture again. Hoy may not have a hole for a wrench unless its on the backside that we can't see. I'll look on the net for some instructions. It may be that it can be released with that chrome gadget that has three "ears" on it by tapping it with a small hammer to loosen it.

Just found the manual,

http://www.lewmar.com/%5Cassets%5Cimg%5 ... 001242.pdf

It is the "ears" that loosen it. Once you do that, you should be able to pull on the shackle and some line should come out. Let us know!

Charlie
 
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