how necessary is a windlass
 

OK, I have not hauled my anchor in the last 6 months but then it was
not too hard (28' 8000lb boat). Am I missing something? Does hauling
the anchor (slowly) get that much harder as one gets older (I am 55).
Generally, I haul her in slowly allowing the boats momentum to do most
of the work until the rode is vertical. That is when it requires a
bit of pull. I also use 1/2" nylon rode with 30' of chain so I am not
hauling all chain.
Does it get that much harder with a larger boat?
In place of a windlass, why not mount an old manual winch on the bow
and use it to help haul it in?

how necessary is a windlass
 

In article 07f06dc5-c126-4d4c-aa06-
,
says...

OK, I have not hauled my anchor in the last 6 months but then it was
not too hard (28' 8000lb boat). Am I missing something? Does hauling
the anchor (slowly) get that much harder as one gets older (I am 55).
Generally, I haul her in slowly allowing the boats momentum to do most
of the work until the rode is vertical. That is when it requires a
bit of pull. I also use 1/2" nylon rode with 30' of chain so I am not
hauling all chain.
Does it get that much harder with a larger boat?
In place of a windlass, why not mount an old manual winch on the bow
and use it to help haul it in?

Here in the Northwest a lot of boats over 30' use all-chain rodes.
Those are really not fun to handle manually.

A winch might work, but it would probably have to be self tailing.
It also might not last long with constant exposure to spray, mud
and sand. There's also the problem of tailing it off and getting
the line into the locker or bucket or whatever.

How much scope do you usually have out? How well will you be
able to handle things if there is wind or currents? These
are the things that make a second person really handy.

Mark Borgerson

how necessary is a windlass
 

On Sun, 6 Mar 2011 19:52:41 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch
wrote:

OK, I have not hauled my anchor in the last 6 months but then it was
not too hard (28' 8000lb boat). Am I missing something? Does hauling
the anchor (slowly) get that much harder as one gets older (I am 55).
Generally, I haul her in slowly allowing the boats momentum to do most
of the work until the rode is vertical. That is when it requires a
bit of pull. I also use 1/2" nylon rode with 30' of chain so I am not
hauling all chain.
Does it get that much harder with a larger boat?
In place of a windlass, why not mount an old manual winch on the bow
and use it to help haul it in?

Well, yes,it is a bit harder with a larger boat. Say something over 40
- 45' with 3/8 inch chain. 3/8th inch BBB chain weighs about 1.67
lb./ft. and say you are anchored in 30 ft of water. Being lazy you use
a scope of 3 x water depth so you've got about 150 pounds of chain and
say a 40 pound anchor in the water, 200 lbs. more or less. The current
is running at about 3 MPH, or 264 ft./minute, and your boat is
anchored 150 ft. off shore.....

As for handling the anchor on a smaller boat you can mount a vertical
spool winch on the foredeck and wind in chain or rope; run rope rode
back to the sheet winches or halyard winches. Or just put on a pair of
gloves and haul away. The vertical spool is much easier to handle the
rode with single handed.

For whatever it is worth I set out, some years ago, to make a 3 day
trip to Malaysia. We usually anchor out each night as islands abound
along the way. The first morning we got up, ate breakfast.... going to
get an early start and all. Hit the winch switch and it didn't even
grunt. Nothing. So I hauled the anchor in by hand... with frequent
stops to catch my breath and we continued on our way.

By the time we got back a week later my arms were an inch bigger and I
made damned sure to get the anchor winch fixed.

Cheers,

Bruce

how necessary is a windlass
 

On Sun, 6 Mar 2011 22:12:34 -0800, Mark Borgerson
wrote:

In article 07f06dc5-c126-4d4c-aa06-
,
says...

OK, I have not hauled my anchor in the last 6 months but then it was
not too hard (28' 8000lb boat). Am I missing something? Does hauling
the anchor (slowly) get that much harder as one gets older (I am 55).
Generally, I haul her in slowly allowing the boats momentum to do most
of the work until the rode is vertical. That is when it requires a
bit of pull. I also use 1/2" nylon rode with 30' of chain so I am not
hauling all chain.
Does it get that much harder with a larger boat?
In place of a windlass, why not mount an old manual winch on the bow
and use it to help haul it in?

Here in the Northwest a lot of boats over 30' use all-chain rodes.
Those are really not fun to handle manually.

A winch might work, but it would probably have to be self tailing.
It also might not last long with constant exposure to spray, mud
and sand. There's also the problem of tailing it off and getting
the line into the locker or bucket or whatever.

How much scope do you usually have out? How well will you be
able to handle things if there is wind or currents? These
are the things that make a second person really handy.

Mark Borgerson

A good friend owned a Bristol Channel Cutter, built by Morse, that was
fitted with a vertical, bronze, hand cranked anchor winch with a
combination gypsy and rope capstan. It worked pretty well and was
easier to handle the rode then the usual horizontal winches.


Cheers,

Bruce

how necessary is a windlass
 

I'm 68 and manage my Tartan 30 anchor by hand. It's a 25lb CQR with
40 feet of chain, then rope. Patience is the key, and maybe the fact
that I never anchor in much more than 20 feet so the weight of chain
I'm lifting is limitted. Of course in all but the calmest condition,
it's the engine, not the anchor rode, that moves the boat up to the anchor.

how necessary is a windlass
 

"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
OK, I have not hauled my anchor in the last 6 months but then it was
not too hard (28' 8000lb boat). Am I missing something? Does hauling
the anchor (slowly) get that much harder as one gets older (I am 55).
Generally, I haul her in slowly allowing the boats momentum to do most
of the work until the rode is vertical. That is when it requires a
bit of pull. I also use 1/2" nylon rode with 30' of chain so I am not
hauling all chain.
Does it get that much harder with a larger boat?
In place of a windlass, why not mount an old manual winch on the bow
and use it to help haul it in?



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.


Wilbur Hubbard

how necessary is a windlass
 

"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in message
anews.com...
"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
OK, I have not hauled my anchor in the last 6 months but then it was
not too hard (28' 8000lb boat). Am I missing something? Does hauling
the anchor (slowly) get that much harder as one gets older (I am 55).
Generally, I haul her in slowly allowing the boats momentum to do most
of the work until the rode is vertical. That is when it requires a
bit of pull. I also use 1/2" nylon rode with 30' of chain so I am not
hauling all chain.
Does it get that much harder with a larger boat?
In place of a windlass, why not mount an old manual winch on the bow
and use it to help haul it in?



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.


Wilbur Hubbard


A windlass is standard equipment on all serious boats, but as you say, a day
sailor like yours can make do without one.

how necessary is a windlass
 

"Waldo" wrote in message
b.com...
"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in message
anews.com...
"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
OK, I have not hauled my anchor in the last 6 months but then it was
not too hard (28' 8000lb boat). Am I missing something? Does hauling
the anchor (slowly) get that much harder as one gets older (I am 55).
Generally, I haul her in slowly allowing the boats momentum to do most
of the work until the rode is vertical. That is when it requires a
bit of pull. I also use 1/2" nylon rode with 30' of chain so I am not
hauling all chain.
Does it get that much harder with a larger boat?
In place of a windlass, why not mount an old manual winch on the bow
and use it to help haul it in?



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.


Wilbur Hubbard


A windlass is standard equipment on all serious boats, but as you say, a
day sailor like yours can make do without one.



Windlass = big electrical consumption = big motor with big alternator or =
big, stand-alone generator = big wiring = big battery bank = big weight =
big expense = big complications = big nuisance = big headache, etc. Is that
what sailing is supposed to be all about?

Waldo, the biggest part of the discussion here concerns aging sailors. There
comes a time when we MUST recognize the limitations that age imposes upon
us. In the case of ground tackle, the limitations are mostly due to a
reduced capacity in the aged to handle heavy weights. Sure, a windlass can
substitute but what happens when the windlass fails? Then the aged sailor is
stuck with no viable options often in dangerous situations. Would it not be
better to avoid danger than ask for it?

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.



Wilbur Hubbard

how necessary is a windlass
 

On Mar 7, 11:38*am, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:
"Waldo" wrote in message

b.com...



"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in message
tanews.com...
"Frogwatch" wrote in message
....
OK, I have not hauled my anchor in the last 6 months but then it was
not too hard (28' 8000lb boat). *Am I missing something? *Does hauling
the anchor (slowly) get that much harder as one gets older (I am 55).
Generally, I haul her in slowly allowing the boats momentum to do most
of the work until the rode is vertical. *That is when it requires a
bit of pull. *I also use 1/2" nylon rode with 30' of chain so I am not
hauling all chain.
Does it get that much harder with a larger boat?
In place of a windlass, why not mount an old manual winch on the bow
and use it to help haul it in?

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.

Wilbur Hubbard

A windlass is standard equipment on all serious boats, but as you say, a
day sailor like yours can make do without one.

Windlass = big electrical consumption = big motor with big alternator or =
big, stand-alone generator = big wiring = big battery bank = big weight =
big expense = big complications = big nuisance = big headache, etc. Is that
what sailing is supposed to be all about?

Waldo, the biggest part of the discussion here concerns aging sailors. There
comes a time when we MUST recognize the limitations that age imposes upon
us. In the case of ground tackle, the limitations are mostly due to a
reduced capacity in the aged to handle heavy weights. Sure, a windlass can
substitute but what happens when the windlass fails? Then the aged sailor is
stuck with no viable options often in dangerous situations. Would it not be
better to avoid danger than ask for it?

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.

Wilbur Hubbard

My 28' S2 is a day sailer? Then how on earth did I manage to sail so
much on overnight passages?

how necessary is a windlass
 

"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
On Mar 7, 11:38 am, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:
"Waldo" wrote in message

b.com...



"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in message
tanews.com...
"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
OK, I have not hauled my anchor in the last 6 months but then it was
not too hard (28' 8000lb boat). Am I missing something? Does hauling
the anchor (slowly) get that much harder as one gets older (I am 55).
Generally, I haul her in slowly allowing the boats momentum to do most
of the work until the rode is vertical. That is when it requires a
bit of pull. I also use 1/2" nylon rode with 30' of chain so I am not
hauling all chain.
Does it get that much harder with a larger boat?
In place of a windlass, why not mount an old manual winch on the bow
and use it to help haul it in?

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.

Wilbur Hubbard

A windlass is standard equipment on all serious boats, but as you say, a
day sailor like yours can make do without one.

Windlass = big electrical consumption = big motor with big alternator or =
big, stand-alone generator = big wiring = big battery bank = big weight =
big expense = big complications = big nuisance = big headache, etc. Is
that
what sailing is supposed to be all about?

Waldo, the biggest part of the discussion here concerns aging sailors.
There
comes a time when we MUST recognize the limitations that age imposes upon
us. In the case of ground tackle, the limitations are mostly due to a
reduced capacity in the aged to handle heavy weights. Sure, a windlass can
substitute but what happens when the windlass fails? Then the aged sailor
is
stuck with no viable options often in dangerous situations. Would it not
be
better to avoid danger than ask for it?

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.

:: My 28' S2 is a day sailer? Then how on earth did I manage to sail so
:: much on overnight passages?
::



Waldo is a nut and an agitator! He's been on the rag since Jessica B gave
him his comeuppance.