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Windlass question

2K views 18 replies 4 participants last post by  Zanshin 
#1 ·
Auto part Wheel Automotive wheel system Rim
Should I be worried about this 4-year old winch on a boat I am looking at purchasing? It currently only runs in one direction (pulling up anchor) but seller is willing to repair it. It looks dented and scratched in the wrong places. I'd rather have it replaced, but perhaps I'm being too harsh
 
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#4 ·
Surfesq - that's what I thought, but the angles of the dents are all wrong (this windlass is mounted at the same height as the anchor roller). My first thought was that it had been mounted from another boat. I also seem to recall reading either here (couldn't find it in search) or elsewhere about windlass bearings seizing and only going in one direction. I just think I'm going to buy a piece of equipment that will be soon find its way onto a boatyards scrap heap. Then again, it is heavy... 2nd backup anchor?
 
#5 ·
Okay...I think you are on to something.

If the top of the windlass is flush with the anchor roller, the chain will drag across the top of the windlass. This is because the force of the windlass against the drag of the anchor will create a straight line with the chain. Follow me? In other words, the throat of the windlass should line up with the natural line of the chain when it is tight. Now, if the windlass is sitting too low, the force could theoretically destroy the bearing and gearing inside of the windlass as it bends back to meet the chain and allow it to wind.

But I would have the owner repair it at his cost and then simply mount it at the correct height after you buy the boat. I would also check the mounting because I would imagine that this force would also create leaks.
 
#6 ·
It's hard to determine how old that Lofrens windlass is just by looking at the photo, but to my eyes it sure seems much older than 4 years. I would not sleep well at anchor, with the thoughts of hauling my ground tackle by hand, due to a crapped-out, corroded hunk of aluminum.

When we negotiated purchase of our current boat, it had an inoperable vertical Maxwell windlass installed. I wanted it replaced so deducted the cost of a new one (among several other issues) from what we thought to be a fair offer. We now have a brand new Lewmar 1500, essentially paid for by the seller.
 
#7 ·
TB: I have a beautiful motorized Lewmar sitting in its box that I meant to install on my last boat. Just never got around to it. On my boat there is a windlass that is 20 years old. (Hand crank). I was going to trash it. But I took it apart, cleaned it and spray painted it. It seems to work fine. I am going to try it for a while and see how it goes.
 
#8 ·
I'll bet your manual windlass is chrome plated bronze and a very rugged piece of gear, if original to your boat. Just for the character, I would have restored it as well.

However, we anchor out in some very deep water up here, along the rocky cliffs of New England, using all chain. Somehow, the notion of pulling up a 45# CQR and 250 ft of 5/16" high test, is not very appealing.
 
#10 ·
Surfesq said:
Okay...If the top of the windlass is flush with the anchor roller...
The bottom of the windlass is in line with the roller, so if the windlass was used for the chain part then any dents would be along the bottom and not the top part. So I thought that perhaps this windlass might have been vertically mounted on another ship which had problems. I browsed the Lofrans site and the new models look different, I just haven't been able to find a 2002 windlass to compare it against.
I'll subtract the price of a windlass and installation from the boat price. Lets see... 200" of chain plus a 44lb anchor is a lot of wattage. Must be at least $5K for the replacement... :cool:
 
#13 ·
Check to see if the valves have the newer safety overfill protection. If not you won't be able to refill them. A pair of new 10# alum cylinders will set you back about $225. ea. One of my tanks has the OP style, the other dosen't - perhaps the valves can be bought separately from the tanks, saving some big cash.
 
#16 · (Edited)
This is a '02 Jeanneau 43DS and I hired the meanest, ornieriest and nastiest surveyor I could find. I also told him, right before the survey, that I'd overheard the charter company salesguy saying some really nasty stuff about his mother. :)

The windlass came up in the survey - not much could be said since it was inop. The recommendation for cutoff valves and solenoids came regarding the gas system as well. But the BVI doesn't subscribe to the US regulations, so it is only a safety recommendation. He didn't mention the tanks, but the statement is "fair wear and tear" from the charter company (who actually own the boat in this case). They are doing almost all the repairs and fixing almost all the items the surveyor found! I might need to do a bit of brightwork but won't have to pull out my trusty multimeter for a while.

If I think about it, just these two items on a boat with all the beeps-bells-and-whistles (genset, aircon, etc.) is probably far better than average. I saw a picture of the rudder damage and it is pretty minor - looks like gelcoat work only and no fiberglass.
 
#17 · (Edited)
About the propane tanks, the new valves can be purchased separately. I have done that for a couple of old Al tanks that I have. But the valves in the picture look like the new ones.
About the windlass. My guess is that someone used the rope drum to haul chain, instead of using the chain gypsy at the bottom. I am also guessing that the drum is aluminum and the chain did a number on it. I think all the newer Lofrans are chrome/bronze. The Lofrans is a top quality unit, make sure they replace it with at least equivalent quality.
P.S. The Al tanks will pretty quickly develop corrosion like in the picture if they get salt water on them and it is not rinsed off. They might well be only 4-5 yrs old. Charter boats get mistreated pretty badly.
 
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