Could you cobble up a windlass out off...

[deniseO30]

an old line winch and 12 volt harbor freight truck bumper winch? or the "gypsy thingy off a broken "marine windlass"

I'll be hiding behind my sofa when I ck the replies!

Or? mount it on deck (temporary) and use the remote control to send you up and down the mast? (always use a back up safety line as you go)

I've a friend that used his bumper winch and went up his mast with a rig he made.. I worked but he didn't use a 2nd line for safety. Guess who was on the ground working the remote? (boat was on the hard)

Guess I coulda tagged this thread "re-purposing 12 volt winches?

concerns would be "free wheeling" "weatherproofness" speed, shaft and drive differences. Reverse.. is that a plus or negative?

[sea_hunter]

You could cobble a windlass from a couple of beer cans, an upright vacuum and an old washing machine. I guess it would matter if you thought your life was worth a rat's a$$. So what's your point?

[tommays]

(boat was on the hard)

Your already at full insanity level

[deniseO30]

Originally Posted by tommays

(boat was on the hard)

Your already at full insanity level

I tried to talk him out of it! I was more nervous then him and I was on the ground. I've seen a few people go up masts while on the hard.

seahunt.. for a windlass, because they all use those 12 volt motors.

[pdqaltair]

Yup, if it only had to work once.

I always feel like a detective, looking through a Harbor Freight store, curious as to whether I can detect anything worth carrying home... for free!

[deniseO30]

wouldn't be funny (ironic even) to find out the motors in the "marine" windlass's are the same motors used in Harbor fright?

[Bob142]

At risk of getting the lunatic label ... but other then the no safety line nothing wrong with the basic idea...

Going up the mast on the hard you aren't putting any side strain on your blocks and I would hope that every boat would be properly blocked with chains to keep them from spreading...

Within reason winches are winches... 12volt is 12volt...the main difference is in the ability to stand salt water... If the winch from your bumper will haul your truck out from where you put it you can be quite sure that it will lift your body up the mast...bonus is you control the fast and slow and stop...

You want someone that you can trust on the deck to run the remote or too fix a problem with the winch should one occur...not much different then trusting someone on your mast winch..that they will hold tension and cleat you off when required...

Safety line required...

[deniseO30]

I shouldn't have mentioned the mast thing. I'm never going to be the one going up!

I was really more interested in anchor windlass cobbling. When I read how many "marine" duty anchor windlass's go bad I don't think they are all that well made either. AND if the motor is below deck....

[Bob142]

Leaving the mast thing out then yes it is possible...the main word becomes " Cobble"...Your two main components are first the gipsy and secondly the motor...The 4by4 crowd always have nice big winches for sale and usually cheap...Your problem becomes joining the two together...welding for sure and maybe some machining...Also winches are supported at both ends of the drum with bearings and windlasses have one free end...

[Brent Swain]

I've always built my own anchor winches, and have built them for friends, who have given up on the commercially made ones, after serious corrosion from their mixing an aluminium housing with a bronze gypsy, and a stainless shaft with mild steel keys ,aluminium drum, etc etc. None of mine has ever failed, in decades of use. I use all stainless, a wide open design, with no hidden parts.
Friends who spent a winter in the South Pacific, said they never met anyone down there who didn't have problems with commercially made anchor winches. You are far better off to weld up your own anchor winch. You'd get a far better product.