Horizontal windlass challenge

[daltom]

Hello all. My 1992 Catalina/Morgan 45 CC has a horizontal windlass mounted below the deck inside the anchor locker. Keeps a nice clean deck, but only about 60% of the chain stays engaged in the windlass. If it gets strained, the chain slips and down goes the anchor. The second problem is that, when under load, the chain occasionally stays engaged in the windlass, creating over wrap. Has anyone found good solutions to these problems?
Thanks.

[Deadeye]

Does the rode lead into the locker through a hawse or is there a fairlead to come down from the deck ?
Sounds like you might need a straighter run onto the gypsy, assuming it's not too small for the chain of course.
That's just a guess, a pic of the deck layout might help.

[daltom]

The anchor locker opens to provide unobstructed access to the windlass and rode. The aft roller on the bow roller provides a good fairlead to the gypsy, and the chain is the right size for the system. I have considered mounting another roller below deck, forward of the windlass to increase the contact on the gypsy. This would have to be a strong installation, of course. I also need something to disengage the chain from the gypsy. Are those normally on a gypsy, or does the chain usually separate on its own?

I'll try to get a pic up later.

Thanks

[KeelHaulin]

There is an additional piece for some windlasses called a "chain stripper". It looks like a wedge shaped bar that goes into the groove of the gypsy and will pop the chain off of the gypsy when it contacts the stripper. On the following parts schematic for the SL 510 it's item #60


http://www.slspares.co.uk/Hyspeed%20510.pdf

Your chain should engage the windlass for at least 90 degrees for it to be able to hold the chain and keep it from slipping.