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Nick Noll.
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| Choosing A Windlass |
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Selection & Fitting
Overview
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In order to select the proper
windlass for your boat, three questions should be answered:
1. How long is my boat?
Use the
selection guide to determine the general size of windlass to be used for
your boat length and displacement.
For example, if you have a 33ft/ 10m
boat, a 600lb/ 270kg pull windlass (Sprint 600) would typically be
selected. Adjust the windlass size if necessary, based on your answers to
questions two and three below.
2. How long is the anchor rode you wish to use
and will it fit into your locker?
Begin by examining the
depth of the anchor locker to determine the amount of 'fall' available.
The fall is the vertical distance between the top of the anchor locker and
the top of the anchor rode when it is completely stored inside the locker.
This measurement is important in determining whether your boat will be
best suited for a vertical or horizontal
windlass.
Horizontal
Windlass
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The Horizontal windlass is a no-nonsense design
widely used by boaters requiring optimum performance from their
anchoring system. Boaters who frequently anchor, especially in deep
water, require a no hassle self-tailing system. The horizontal
windlass offers the best performance with small or unusual locker
designs. As the anchor rode enters the gypsy it makes a 90º turn and
feeds directly into the anchor locker. a minimum fall of 12"/ 30cm
is recommended. |
Vertical Windlass
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Vertical windlasses provide aesthetic value and
offer the added security of the anchor rode making a 180º wrap
around the gypsy. The inherent design of the vertical windlass
requires at least 12"/ 30cm of fall.
This is to allow gravity
to properly self-tail the anchor rode through a 90º vertical turn
into the anchor locker. Additionally, nylon line is lightweight and
a short fall in a vertical windlass system might prevent the rode
from feeding properly into the locker. |
3. How much pulling power should my windlass
have?
Having selected the vertical or horizontal windlass
sized for your boat length and displacement, the correct windlass pulling
power for your needs must be determined using the following
formula:
First determine the total weight of the ground tackle
which comprises the anchor and rode.
For example;
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The weight of your anchor |
= 22lb/ 10kg |
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The weight of your anchor rode
comprises |
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15ft/ 4.58m of chain (at 0.74lb/ft or
1.09kg/m) |
= 11lb/ 5kg |
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200ft/ 61m of rope (at 0.06lb/ft or 0.09kg/m) |
= 12lb/ 5.5kg |
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Total weight of ground tackle |
= 45lb/
20.5kg |
Second, take
the total weight of the ground tackle and multiply by a factor of three to
arrive at the required windlass pulling strength. The factor of three
covers the effects of windage and the speed of tidal current and includes
a safety margin for unknown circumstances.
In our example the
required windlass pulling strength is 135lb/ 61.5kg (3 x 45lb/ 20.5kg).
Safety guidelines suggest that the required windlass pulling
strength must not exceed 1/3 of the maximum pull capacity of the windlass.
Therefore, our selection of a 600lbs/ 270kg pull windlass is correct as
the 135lb/ 61.5kg required pulling strength is well below 1/3 the maximum
windlass pull capacity.
Working
Load
In a typical anchor recovery situation, the
windlass will pass through a number of phases of operation as the
boat approaches the anchor and finally breaks it out of the seabed.
The load and speed will vary at each phase. For any anchor recovery,
the windlass will operate longest in the 'working load' phase and it
will experience a significant peak in load during anchor
breakout.
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Recovery
Begins |
Recovery
Underway |
Breakout |
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| Retrieval |
Stowed |
Electrical Circuit
Protection
Any installation of
electric powered windlasses must be protected with a circuit
breaker. This ensures complete protection of the electric motor and
installation cables if the windlass is overloaded.
Circuit
breakers are normally rated on a 'continuous' basis. This is the
load in Amps, under which they will retain electrical contact for an
indefinite period. For example, a 70Amp circuit breaker will not
trip unless the continuous current exceeds this figure. However, the
maximum tolerated current draw may be as much as 250 Amps, but only
for a short period of time. All our windlasses carry a
recommendation on circuit breaker rating based on continuous
operation.
Remember that motoring up to the anchor whilst
using the windlass to retrieve the anchor rode and using the boat to
"break out the anchor" is the proper anchor recovery procedure.
Using the windlass to haul the boat to the anchor is not recommended
and will result in damage to the windlass and motor.
Safety At Anchor
Windlasses are not designed to hold high loads
while a boat is at anchor. When the windlass is not is use and the
boat is at anchor, the anchor rode should be secured using a chain
stopper or attached to a load bearing point such as a
cleat.
Horizontal
Application
Vertical Application
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