how necessary is a windlass
 

"Jessica B" wrote in message
...
snippage

That's exactly what I was thinking... what happens if it fails...
mechanical and electrical things fail all the time, sometimes because
of your own stupidity (like, ummm... running out of gas) or because
there's a flaw or it wears out. What if something gets jammed in it? I
don't really think this is so much an age thing as it is a brains
thing. I know some pretty tough people in their 60's and 70's.

Young lady, you display an ability to think more clearly than most of the
so-called men in this group (rbc). Windlasses are infamous for jamming (not
to mention taking off a finger or a toe of the unwary user). And you're
right about some of use sextagenarians being tough. But, tough as I am I'd
rather downsize than have to deal with something too big and heavy for my
own good.

Would it not be wise for aged sailors to consider downsizing? Is it not
more
gratifying to sail something one can still handle instead of being at the
mercy of systems that often fail at the worst possible times?

Just a thought. This bigger is better attitude is just plain stupid.

I think if everyone downsized a little bit, this would be a better
place to live. Do we really need all those SUVs on the road??

The SUV bunch is bad enough but what about the greedy people driving RV's?
Those things just seem to get bigger and bigger. Many are now bigger than a
Greyhound bus and they stink up the joint with diesel fumes every bit as
badly. They should be outlawed. Land yachts are just awful and so
unnecessary. Those people are just too timid to invest in an environmentally
friendly sailboat. They drive around demanding all the comforts of home. My
suggestion to them would be to just stay home then. Duh!


Wilbur Hubbard

how necessary is a windlass
 

"Bruce" wrote in message
...
snip


Willie-boy, I keep telling you and telling you that you exhibit your
lack of knowledge every time you open your mouth. My mate, the
Australian, is 76 years old and sails a 55 ft Ferro boat with a
mechanical anchor windless and gets along quite well single handing
it.

Of course, he IS a sailor, not a wantabe.
Cheers,




Nothing looks quite a silly as an old man with skinny arms off of which the
skin hangs in folds standing on the bow of an overly large and cumbersome
yacht pulling on the lever of a creaky old mechanical windlass, slowly
stroking away with one inch of chain coming in at a pull.

If that isn't a good enough argument for downsizing then nothing will
convince you.

--
Gregory Hall

how necessary is a windlass
 

"Bruce" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 7 Mar 2011 11:00:01 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:
snip

If you find yourself actually needing an anchor windlass then it should
tell
you that what you really need is a smaller boat with smaller ground
tackle.
Or, you might need to examine your technique. If you can't brute force
something perhaps you can finesse it - like using the displacement of your
hull to break the anchor free or reducing the chain length or using the
(heaven forbid) the auxiliary. Just a thought.


There speaks the man with the tiny boat. Exhibiting both his envy of
his betters and his stupidity.



It is a well-known FACT that smaller sailboats sail more often than their
larger cousins.

Case closed!


Wilbur Hubbard

how necessary is a windlass
 

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 7 Mar 2011 12:36:37 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:

There is ONE good thing that can be said about windlasses. They encourage
adequately-sized anchors for the boat in question.

Too often I have seen forty-footers anchoring up with a 25 pound imitation
Danforth or cheap imitation plow of similar weight or, worse yet, one of
those ten-pound aluminum anchors. Too often have I seen them dragging if
the
wind blows more than 20 knots.

Since weight becomes less of a factor when a windlass is used, I notice
how
properly-sized anchors for the size of the boat are more often in evidence
to the benefit of all concerned.


Those are all excellent points.




Thanks. Many of my replies contain some degree of excellence but it
sometimes takes a more intelligent and discerning reader than the likes of
Bruce, for example, to realize it.

Wilbur Hubbard

how necessary is a windlass
 

On Tue, 8 Mar 2011 16:37:19 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:

"Bruce" wrote in message
.. .
snip


Willie-boy, I keep telling you and telling you that you exhibit your
lack of knowledge every time you open your mouth. My mate, the
Australian, is 76 years old and sails a 55 ft Ferro boat with a
mechanical anchor windless and gets along quite well single handing
it.

Of course, he IS a sailor, not a wantabe.
Cheers,




Nothing looks quite a silly as an old man with skinny arms off of which the
skin hangs in folds standing on the bow of an overly large and cumbersome
yacht pulling on the lever of a creaky old mechanical windlass, slowly
stroking away with one inch of chain coming in at a pull.

If that isn't a good enough argument for downsizing then nothing will
convince you.


Just goes to show you how little some people know about boats. People
who sail 50' ferro boats don't have an expensive lever operated
Simpson Lawrence winch. they have a geared two speed, local made,
fisherman windlass. the one with the exposed gears. See
http://motivationdocksupply.com/winc...nd-winches.php for an
example.

Cheers,

Bruce

how necessary is a windlass
 

"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in message Those people are just too timid to
invest in an environmentally
friendly sailboat.


Not everyone wants to sit in a sailboat that's going 3 MPH, and look at
nothing but water.
When you have seen water from horizon to horizon once, it looks pretty much
the same the next time you see it.
Only someone of low intelligence could sit in a boat for weeks at a time and
do nothing.

--
JerryD(upstateNY)

how necessary is a windlass
 

On Tue, 8 Mar 2011 16:39:37 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:

"Bruce" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 7 Mar 2011 11:00:01 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:
snip

If you find yourself actually needing an anchor windlass then it should
tell
you that what you really need is a smaller boat with smaller ground
tackle.
Or, you might need to examine your technique. If you can't brute force
something perhaps you can finesse it - like using the displacement of your
hull to break the anchor free or reducing the chain length or using the
(heaven forbid) the auxiliary. Just a thought.


There speaks the man with the tiny boat. Exhibiting both his envy of
his betters and his stupidity.



It is a well-known FACT that smaller sailboats sail more often than their
larger cousins.

Case closed!


Wilbur Hubbard


If that is true, and I'm not saying that it is, what is your excuse
for sitting there for all these years on the yellow peril?

Cheers,

Bruce

how necessary is a windlass
 

"Bruce" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 8 Mar 2011 16:37:19 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:

"Bruce" wrote in message
. ..
snip


Willie-boy, I keep telling you and telling you that you exhibit your
lack of knowledge every time you open your mouth. My mate, the
Australian, is 76 years old and sails a 55 ft Ferro boat with a
mechanical anchor windless and gets along quite well single handing
it.

Of course, he IS a sailor, not a wantabe.
Cheers,




Nothing looks quite a silly as an old man with skinny arms off of which
the
skin hangs in folds standing on the bow of an overly large and cumbersome
yacht pulling on the lever of a creaky old mechanical windlass, slowly
stroking away with one inch of chain coming in at a pull.

If that isn't a good enough argument for downsizing then nothing will
convince you.


Just goes to show you how little some people know about boats. People
who sail 50' ferro boats don't have an expensive lever operated
Simpson Lawrence winch. they have a geared two speed, local made,
fisherman windlass. the one with the exposed gears. See
http://motivationdocksupply.com/winc...nd-winches.php for an
example.

Cheers,

Bruce



That would look real nice on a farm tractor. LOL! Do they sell one in John
Deere green?


Wilbur Hubbard

how necessary is a windlass
 

"Bruce" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 8 Mar 2011 16:39:37 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:

"Bruce" wrote in message
. ..
On Mon, 7 Mar 2011 11:00:01 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:
snip

If you find yourself actually needing an anchor windlass then it should
tell
you that what you really need is a smaller boat with smaller ground
tackle.
Or, you might need to examine your technique. If you can't brute force
something perhaps you can finesse it - like using the displacement of
your
hull to break the anchor free or reducing the chain length or using the
(heaven forbid) the auxiliary. Just a thought.


There speaks the man with the tiny boat. Exhibiting both his envy of
his betters and his stupidity.



It is a well-known FACT that smaller sailboats sail more often than their
larger cousins.

Case closed!


Wilbur Hubbard


If that is true, and I'm not saying that it is, what is your excuse
for sitting there for all these years on the yellow peril?


Waiting for the right girl to come along, maybe? When a man has sailed the
world lone-handed he just might decide it would be a nice thing to share
with the right woman.


Wilbur Hubbard

how necessary is a windlass
 

JerryD(upstateNY) wrote:
"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in message Those people are just too timid to
invest in an environmentally
friendly sailboat.


Not everyone wants to sit in a sailboat that's going 3 MPH, and look
at nothing but water.
When you have seen water from horizon to horizon once, it looks
pretty much the same the next time you see it.
Only someone of low intelligence could sit in a boat for weeks at a
time and do nothing.

You got that right!! One trip on the Atlantic ON A BIG BOAT has lasted me a
lifetime and I didn't even cross the whole thing!!
;-)

We did downsize our RV, but the smaller RV gets 1 MPG less mileage than the
larger one did. :-(

At least the co-pilot can help drive it!!
:-)

BTW, we did our recreational enjoyment for years with a boat on the lakes
and want no part of that any more either. Who has the right to tell me how
to spend the kids inheritance if they are not complaining?? :-)

Just put $110 fuel in the motorhome today and it's still not full, but that
was all we could get the 19 cents a gallon discount on. :-(

Tom J