Electric Windlass: How Important?
 

I'm trading up to a 42' cruising sailboat, and I have narrowed the
search down to a used Pacific Seacraft, Shannon, or Valiant.

Numerous salespeople have lectured that, despite being big and strong,
I won't be able to, or want to, use a manual windlass with this size
of boat.

Acutally, I do want to use a manual windlass, if possible.

Any opinions?

Electric Windlass: How Important?
 

Ruskie wrote:

I'm trading up to a 42' cruising sailboat, and I have narrowed the
search down to a used Pacific Seacraft, Shannon, or Valiant.

Numerous salespeople have lectured that, despite being big and strong,
I won't be able to, or want to, use a manual windlass with this size
of boat.

Acutally, I do want to use a manual windlass, if possible.

Any opinions?

We have a manual windlass and I can operate it with no problem. And
I'm big g but not particularly strong or fit. We have a CSY 44 and
almost always use all chain rode and an anchor that's about 55 lbs.

The trick (as I'm sure other people will agree) is not to try to pull
the boat with the windlass. Bob normally gets up and goes up on deck
at takes the slack out of the rode, and then goes and gets a cup of
tea. While he's doing that, the boat comes up closer to the anchor.
Then he repeats until the boat is up to the anchor. If necessary (if
there is a lot of wind or current), then we motor up to the anchor.

We got a Sea Tiger second hand at Bacons in Annapolis. It didn't have
a handle, so Bob made one.

Electric Windlass: How Important?
 

In article ,
Ruskie wrote:

I'm trading up to a 42' cruising sailboat, and I have narrowed the
search down to a used Pacific Seacraft, Shannon, or Valiant.

Numerous salespeople have lectured that, despite being big and
strong, I won't be able to, or want to, use a manual windlass with
this size of boat.

Acutally, I do want to use a manual windlass, if possible.

Any opinions?

Remember that you sometimes need/want to reset the anchor, and that
will often be in a deep anchorage after a long day, you're tired, and it
has to be done NOW.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Electric Windlass: How Important?
 

On 19 Jul 2006 19:48:02 -0500, Ruskie wrote:

Numerous salespeople have lectured that, despite being big and strong,
I won't be able to, or want to, use a manual windlass with this size
of boat.

Acutally, I do want to use a manual windlass, if possible.

My recommendation is to get an electric windlass with good manual back
up. The convenience (and safety) of electric is difficult to over
estimate. I say safety because you will be less inclined to skimp on
anchor weight and chain size if you have a good electric windlass, and
ultimately there is no substitute for a good heavy anchor with lots of
chain on it.

Electric Windlass: How Important?
 

I have a 33 foot boat with a 35 lb CQR and 300 feet of chain. I have no
problems with my manual windlass. I was also the captain of a 102 foot
ketch with a 180 lb danforth and 600 feet of chain and we had a manual
windlass (with lots of crew). It worked fine also.

Gary

Ruskie wrote:
I'm trading up to a 42' cruising sailboat, and I have narrowed the
search down to a used Pacific Seacraft, Shannon, or Valiant.

Numerous salespeople have lectured that, despite being big and strong,
I won't be able to, or want to, use a manual windlass with this size
of boat.

Acutally, I do want to use a manual windlass, if possible.

Any opinions?

Electric Windlass: How Important?
 

On Thu, 20 Jul 2006 06:06:49 +0000 (UTC), wrote:

I used to say that I didn't need an electric windlass.
Then I bought a boat that has one. I LOVE this machine!
I will never not have one.

I'll bet it sucks the power right out of your batteries. And I wonder
how long it will be before it starts to give you headaches. Will you
still love it then? Will you love shelling out the cash to rebuild it?

People say the same thing about their beloved autopilots and computer
chart plotters.

The one thing I really miss having on my cruiser is a high-speed
internet connection, but I can't afford it. No electric windlass,
autopilot, or big-screen chart-plotter either. -

poor, poor pitiful me,
it's amazing that I can get from point a to point b.

Electric Windlass: How Important?
 

On Thu, 20 Jul 2006 06:06:49 +0000 (UTC), wrote:

I used to say that I didn't need an electric windlass.
Then I bought a boat that has one. I LOVE this machine!
I will never not have one.

I agree.

Electric Windlass: How Important?
 

On 20 Jul 2006 02:27:02 -0500, Vallie wrote:

poor, poor pitiful me,

Yes.

Electric Windlass: How Important?
 

Jere Lull wrote:

In article ,
Ruskie wrote:

I'm trading up to a 42' cruising sailboat, and I have narrowed the
search down to a used Pacific Seacraft, Shannon, or Valiant.

Numerous salespeople have lectured that, despite being big and
strong, I won't be able to, or want to, use a manual windlass with
this size of boat.

Acutally, I do want to use a manual windlass, if possible.

Any opinions?

Remember that you sometimes need/want to reset the anchor, and that
will often be in a deep anchorage after a long day, you're tired, and it
has to be done NOW.

Perhaps we've been lucky, but we haven't had that happen yet (knock
wood). We rarely anchor in deep anchorages, we don't generally do
long days, and our anchor rarely needs to be reset. Less than 5 times
in 6 years.

Besides which, it IS a windlass and you don't have to pull the anchor
up by hand.

Electric Windlass: How Important?
 

my my, how negative you are. must be a black cloud over your head
following you around.


I'll bet it sucks the power right out of your batteries. And I wonder
how long it will be before it starts to give you headaches. Will you
still love it then? Will you love shelling out the cash to rebuild it?

It runs when the engine runs. Besides, I have a big house bank of golf
cart batteries.

People say the same thing about their beloved autopilots and computer
chart plotters.

Have an a/p too. It's been several years with both devices and they work
hummingly. After 3 decades of manual work I LOVE these machines. If
they break I can do it myself, but until & unless I have no reason to be
bleak or cynical.

poor, poor pitiful me,
it's amazing that I can get from point a to point b.

You said it.