windlass hang up

T

terraplane

New member
My R 25 came equipped with a 16.5 claw anchor, 50ft HT chain, 200ft. line.The windlass is a Lewmar Pro 1000. I find that when i am bringing in the rode, the chain get hung up and "stalls"...i have to go into the locker and kind of shift the pile around, then it works.

Also, sometimes the anchor self deploys, sometimes not.

terraplane tom in rock hall

Suggestions?
 
Yeah, me too. Except my anchor always launches just fine. But the rode pile is a hassle sometimes.

One thing I found is that stiffer rope piles better because it doesn't curl up as tightly. The stiffness forces it toward the walls of the locker so it doesn't coil up in the middle so much. Before I got tired of my cheap rode and bought new Lewmar branded rode I had to cut 100' of the 300' off to get it to work at all. Even with the good rope I have to watch it so I stuck a video camera in there hooked up to my Garmin display. That way I see the problem coming before it jams. The chain jamming is bad enough, but if a kink or knot in the rope gets stuck it can be a huge job getting it out of the windlass and hole.
 
There are several types of problems with chain/rode "piles". One is that there is not enough "fall" (space under the deck) for the chain to properly spread out, and it ends up in a pyramid. Second is that the rope bunches up and does not lay properly, Third is that the chain/rode, "tosses" and becomes entangled.

Each type of boat requires a different solution. If the area foreward is not deep enough, you may want to decrease the amount of chain. If there is a way of deepening the anchor locker, consider doing this (removing a false floor or grating). The type of rope rode makes a difference, if it is too stiff, it will not lay, vs if too limp, it may bunch--again trying and listening to what works for others.

In some boats the anchor locker has to be divided with either a net or a petition to keep the chain from tossing.

Look critically at precisely what the dynamics are, and then see if you can deeping the locker or change the amount/type of rode.
 
I went out today and ran out 50 ft of chain and about 75 ft of line...no problem on intake until about the last 15 feet of chain, and then i had to reshuffle the chain pile, then it came in fine...on one attempt a kink was in the chain links...

tom
 
Tom:

What do you have connecting the chain to the anchor? If it's a plain shackle, I'm wondering if your problem is trying to feed a twisted chain over the gypsy, which is not going to work. That might also explain some of the difficulty you're having with the line coiling properly in the locker. If the setup is right, and there's enough vertical clearance, the line should coil neatly in the locker, with the chain plopped right in the center of the coil.

You need a swivel at the anchor, and perhaps what's really happening while you mess with the rode in the locker, is that the anchor is free of the bottom, and rotating on the chain until the twist is out, at which point the chain will feed over the gypsy.

Let us know what setup you have. If you need a swivel, I can make a few suggestions.

david
 
The cone is an interesting suggestion, but if there is lack of room (fall), which I suspect, then it would take up even more room in the locker, but it might be worth a try. On the other hand, cutting off 15 feet to 20 feet of chain may also solve the problem.

My experience is that it is rare that anchor rodes lay in a neat coil in lockers, since they are usually narrower at the bottom.

There are pluses and minuses for swivels. I have rarely used them. If the chain is twisted as the anchor comes up, pausing will allow it to straighten. Swivels are often the weakest link, they do not seem to work well under load, and at times put an abnormal side strain on the anchor shank, as well as make the transit over the roller more difficult. It depends on which roller system one has. I do not use swivels on my C Dories..
 
After several exercises with the system, I am concluding that shortening the amount of chain would probably solve the problem. The pile only forms in the last 15 ft or so of chain, so i wonder if removiing that amount. leaving 35 ft of chain would do it.

tom
 
Thataway wrote:
There are pluses and minuses for swivels. I have rarely used them. If the chain is twisted as the anchor comes up, pausing will allow it to straighten. Swivels are often the weakest link, they do not seem to work well under load, and at times put an abnormal side strain on the anchor shank, as well as make the transit over the roller more difficult. It depends on which roller system one has. I do not use swivels on my C Dories..
Click to expand...
Bob, you bring up a good point. My boat is the first I've used a SS swivel on since it is the first with a windlass. The local dealer pointed out that he has seen these swivels fail due to high side loads when connected directly to the anchor's shank. I plan on installing an additional shackle at the anchor shank to connect the swivel to, this will eliminate that side loading. Although it will put the swivel very close to the windlass' gypsy when the anchor is in the stowed position.
 
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