Installing a windlass on a MKII

[TomTillisch]

I am considering installing a MUIR VMC500 manual windlass on Hytta, my MKII. Has anyone installed either a manual or electrical windlass on a MKII? I would love some advice and photos.

[jen1722terry]

Hi Tom,

We have a 31 new to us last summer, and we're also considering adding a mostly-chain rode and, therefore, a windlass.

We read quite a bit about windlasses on the various forums and books. The main complaints about the manuals are retrieval speed, difficulty in short-handed situations and, possibly, safety when trying to plant your feet and crank the windlass near chains/lines under tension on a small foredeck. The simplicity is alluring, though, but the cost is not all that much different.

We also studied the differences between horizontal and vertical windlasses and, given that we're a 31 with a limited amount of fall for the chain down into the locker, we're leaning towards the horizontal. This type of windlass (if electric) has the added advantage of not having the windlass motor extend down into the (already cramped) V-berth, where we often sleep.

Lastly, we've studied the user evaluations of many of the windlasses on the market, particularly the reliability and ease of use (speed, lack of jams, gypsy accommodating chain and line) and learned they differ markedly.

We are tending toward a horizontal electric with a chain/line gypsy on one side and a drum on the other, to make it easy to set/retrieve the lighter or heavier anchor without having to make a lot of adjustments on the foredeck. We may install both a cockpit switch and toe switch on the foredeck.

Another useful bit of wisdom we gleaned had to do with buying anchor chain. Be sure the chain is compatible with the windlass and even run the chain through the windlasses to ensure there are no problem links prior to installation.

Hope this helps. Stay in touch, and we can trade notes on our respective choices in windlasses.

Jenn and Terry McAdams
Kearsarge, NH
"Glissade" CD 31 #33

[TomTillisch]

Hi Jenn and Terry,

Thanks you for your reply. I have been through exactly the same research and have come to the same conclusions. What draws me to the manual windlass is that if I anchor in 30' or less I can pull the chain and anchor by hand. If over 30' the combo of chain and 33 lb anchor becomes too much and I need a mechanical advantage. The vertical manual windlass is much smaller than the horizontal windlass so has a smaller impact to the foredeck and I don't have to move the hawsepipe opening. I have a feeling that most Cape Dory owners hate to screw up the beauty of these boats, so I may not get many answers to my original question of "installing a windlass".

[rorik]

I moved my chain locker aft, to where the holding tank used to be under the forepeak furniture. That moved the weight from 2 rodes with 75' of chain and 150' nylon each three feet lower in the hull and four feet further aft. I found a Simpson Lawrence Hyspeed manual windlass at a jumble for $25 and rebuilt it for another $400.
It is mounted just in front of the cabin trunk, giving the rode an almost four foot fall into the locker.