Anchors, Windlasses & Rodes, Oh My!

[Rob Schepis]

In an effort to not highjack Neil’s Bertram Restoration thread, I am starting this new topic

Bill Fuller wrote:

Rob,
I am using a Lewmar windlass. I have it set up to be wired to a switch on the bridge and then a wireless system if you want to control from the bow. Just a small remote about the size of a key fob for a car. Actually I rarely use the remote. I raise and lower the anchor from the bridge. The remote is a Lewmar device. A few things I have found. One I do not like the Lewmar 1000. It is a free fall setup which I personally don’t like. Chain tangles because it falls faster than the anchor. And this free fall system seems to fail a lot. I use the 750 which requires a power down as will as power up. I have 60 feet of chain followed by 340 ft. of rode. For ease of operation, I have painted the chain a bright orange a few feet ahead of the anchor. This way you know when the anchor is about to the boat and you don’t crash it into the pulpit. For convenience I also paint orange stripes on my rode every 30 feet. One stripe equals 30 feet, 2 stripes equals 60 feet etc. Works really well.
Hope this helps
Bill

Thanks for the thorough reply Bill. I also have a Lewmar windlass, the Pro-Series 1000. The Pro-Series 700 & 1000 are non free-fall. The Pro-Fish 700 & 100 are the free fall series.

I agree 100% – when going with long lengths of chain you have to back down hard on free fall to lay it out. I had the Pro-Fish on my prior boat with 50ft of chain and never used the free-fall feature.

On my current boat I have the Pro-Series 1000 with 175ft of chain backed up with 125ft of 3-strand. The 3-strand is just there for emergency use, it’s never been wet, I always stay all chain with a bridle. 90% of what we do with this boat is gunkholing rarely anchoring in deeper than 20ft of water.

My windlass controls are limited to the at-helm switch. My wife sets the bridle while I’m at the helm. On the list is to have windlass control at the bow for adjusting, checking, etc. of the bridle. Was contemplating foot switches vs the wire or wireless remotes. Was happy with the foot switches on prior boat but why drill more holes if there’s another solution. Likely going to go with the Lewmar (model 68000967) 3-Button Remote setup and it sounds like that is what you haveas well. There are cheaper solutions out there but I am a believer of you get what you pay for (although unfortunately that does not always hold true).

As to chain markings I have done something very similar using liquid electric tape. Marked every 25ft. Each band represents 25ft. I’m on my 3rd season with the markings and they have held up well and are still easily visible from the bridge.

Topic

[Rob Schepis]

Kevin, Yes “great minds think alike” because YOU told me to use the liquid electric tape!

Getting back to the earlier posts on this thread – So last summer I bought foot switches from Defender but never got around to installing them because the more I thought about it I preferred a remote over the foot switches. Defender gave full credit on the foot switches 11 months later – a BIG thumbs up to Defender! And of course they had the wireless setup in stock and at a better price than anywhere else..

I wired up the terminal block receiver to a spool of wire at home which simplified the work on the boat. Before running the wiring and mounting the receiver unit I connected via jumpers to verify all functioned correctly and range with the remote was a non-issue. All installed yesterday and a perfect night last night for a “dinner-on-the-hook” to enjoy the new setup.

Here’s some pics and a couple very exciting quick video clips

[KevinS]

Hey Rob ..

I like your color scheme. Mine is a bit simpler using just red and white liquid electrical tape. Great minds think alike ….
With 125 ft. of 5/16″ chain attached to a 30 lb. anchor running through my Lewmar Pro-Fish 1000 I’ve learned that free fall is not to be used unless I’m dumping the whole load. Power up and power down only!

[Rob Schepis]

Bill Desmarais wrote:

ALL chain ????
What is the length of chain on the boat ?

175ft of 5/16″ chain

[Tony Athens]

For all those that do not have lots of diesel engine / boating back ground or the years of what I’ll call it “wallet experience” dealing with boats and diesels, specially higher speed higher power density diesels, when guys like Bill Fuller, Rob Schepis, Bill Desmarais, Philip Hein, and others with this long term real experiences, you need to realize that these guys really know what “Average Joe” needs to learn as they have definitely figured it all out as the what works and what does not work “wallet wise”.. I.E., These guys know their “sh–”

Put my input as something more to ponder to help you learn from them.. These are the guys that spend the bucks and they have already been thru the “learning curve” on their wallet………………….This is the perfect thread to show exactly what I mean–These are” hands-on” long term experienced guys that have that type of have experiences , I do not……………………….If you get into 20-100 ton vessels and 50-100 Lb anchors using 5-15 HP hydraulic winches that need to anchor in 5 ft seas and 30+ K’s of wind, plus you need to sleep at night, drop me a note..

Tony

[Bill Desmarais]

Thanks Bill !

[Bill Fuller]

Hello all,
A lot of activity on the two threads while I was out fishing yesterday.

Rob, I am not up on the exact models of Lewmars as you are. I know that the ones I have been associated with that had the free fall were a problem. I had one for a while and under free fall could jump out of the guide and would also would tangle the chain. I never tried the backing down hard trick. Mostly I was trying to get as close to an exact spot as possible in about 90 feet of water, FYI my boat is a 28 Bertram, so not a big anchor locker, which is pretty much full with my 400 ft. total. I like your paint job on the chain! Mine is not quite so pretty!!! The remote is really handy, especially if you have to lean over the side of the boat and move the windlass at the same time.

Bill, I do not have any personal experience with the Good windlass. I have always heard that they are the best.
When I put the first Lwemar on I was in a hurry, as usual, and could not find a Good in San Diego. The Lewmar I have now has been flawless for several years now. But again, it is the power up and power down model, no free fall. My anchoring is typically in 60-150 feet and I can hold the boat on the spot while deploying the anchor. I have been happy.

Bill Fuller

[Bill Desmarais]

ALL chain ????
What is the length of chain on the boat ?

[Rob Schepis]

Yes the Lewmar does require a substantial drop into a deep locker (shallow wide lockers are a no-go) and if the line is stiff that doesn’t help. Soaking the line in fabric softener helps. Well since I’m all chain this is a non-issue anyway..

[Bill Desmarais]

I had a Lewmar on my 1996 31 Blackfin.
The dam thing was horrible. I had the correct chain and line.
Instead of the line dropping into the locker the line would spool up on top of the Lewmar.
Never had any confidence in solo de-anchoring.

The GOOD windlass on my 1999 28 Henriques is the best I’ve ever used.
It NEVER fails to drop or retrieve.
I have 20 feet of chain.

http://www.goodwindlass.com/

[Author]

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