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?

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.

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/

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.

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.

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?

Hi Gary. Let's say you had 500' out, how long would it take
to wind that in?


--
Scott Vernon
Plowville Pa _/)__/)_/)_


"Gary" wrote in message
news:I2Dvg.212879$Mn5.171196@pd7tw3no...
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?