Windlass Politics

[spartonboat1]

So some winlasses are left of center, while others are on-center (observed). There is no direct discussion in any of these threads about this location. I will be installing a new Maxwell, bought from Sams, on a '72 DCFB with an existing pulpit, but no prior windlass. If installed on center, the chain will run down the stbd side of the chute chase, up on the pulpit. If the chain wheel rim is mounted on center.with the windlass off to the left, then the chain will run the center of the chase up on the pulpit.

What thoughts are there about this? Any basis for one location or the other?

 

[Walter P]

Center the chain.......

Walt

 

[SEVEN]

Agreed. Center the chain.

 

[bobk]

Can you install a windlass with out removing the pulpit to reinforce it's underside? Mine has a solid block of wood fitted tightly between the pulpit and deck for reinforcement. Just asking....

Bobk

 

[saltshaker]

Can you install a windlass with out removing the pulpit to reinforce it's underside? Mine has a solid block of wood fitted tightly between the pulpit and deck for reinforcement. Just asking....

Bobk

You should verify that it's fine but the block should be there already.

 

[spartonboat1]

Whoa...sounds like center the chain has strong proponents! Pulpit was off for repairs, but there is room on the deck, aft of the pulpit for the windlass. I plan on serious support for the windlass, such as epoxI'd in place marine plywood block covered in fiberglass. Other posts also suggest cutting back the coring at the perimeter of the windlass hole and filling with thickened epoxy to prevent crushing the coring.

More to come, as have custom anchor chute coming.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

All windlasses that I have seen mounted on Hatteras pulpits were centered which means that the chain runs down the stbd side of the chute. I don' think there is room to mount them off center.

Don't believe everything you read on an internet forum. Look at what Hatteras did originally.

 

[Walter P]

Sky,

Just because Hatteras did it that way does not mean that it is the best way to do it. Hatteras also did'nt seal the deck core when they installed the windlass and we all know how that turned out. I agree that it works fine off center but I think it works better centered. Matter of fact most modern windlass manufacturers recommend centering the chain (off center windlass).

Walt

 

[Sailor John]

I just installed new Ideal windlass. Manufacturer said: Center the chain. Works very well with windlass offset a bit to center the chain.

 

[brico]

From the attached photographs of Hatteras fitted windlasses it is obvious that the windlass had to be centered due to the size of the bottom flange and chain ended up slightly off centre to the Starboard. With the hard rubber/plastic "v" shaped concave roller over which the chain passes down I do not see any issues and additional unnecessary friction point so with the original windlass with that large base flange this was OK. if your new windlass base is narrower and you can off-set it to port so the chain leads through centre, it will look better, but will not make much difference from the original design.

What is more important with new installations is the lead and distance from the windlass where your chain enters the chain locker so it does not pile up on deck and freely drops down into he chain locker without having to hand feed it.

 

[Glory]

Sky,

Just because Hatteras did it that way does not mean that it is the best way to do it. Hatteras also did'nt seal the deck core when they installed the windlass and we all know how that turned out. I agree that it works fine off center but I think it works better centered. Matter of fact most modern windlass manufacturers recommend centering the chain (off center windlass).

Walt

"Just because Hatteras did it that way does not mean that it is the best way to do it."
Hmm?

JM

 

[MikeP]

LOL!

I agree with Sky and Glory...

It seems that the majority of problems people have with old Hatts are due to changes that owners made to what Hatt originally did. A LOT of advice on this site re problems include words to the effect of "put it back the way it was when it left the factory."

The oem chain "offset" is so slight as to be almost unnoticeable. On our OEM Ideal windlass/chute the chain feeds in the center of the OEM SS tapered roller despite that slight chain offset . Re the roller - it tapers from each end to a wide "V" in the center; there is no way it can do anything but center the chain when under load. There is no "offset" in any functional - and hardly any visual - way.

Do it the way Hatteras did it!

 

[Glory]

LOL!

I agree with Sky and Glory...

It seems that the majority of problems people have with old Hatts are due to changes that owners made to what Hatt originally did. A LOT of advice on this site re problems include words to the effect of "put it back the way it was when it left the factory."

The oem chain "offset" is so slight as to be almost unnoticeable. On our OEM Ideal windlass/chute the chain feeds in the center of the OEM SS tapered roller despite that slight chain offset . Re the roller - it tapers from each end to a wide "V" in the center; there is no way it can do anything but center the chain when under load. There is no "offset" in any functional - and hardly any visual - way.

Do it the way Hatteras did it!

"Do it the way Hatteras did it!".
That's how we got here.

JM

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Sky,

Just because Hatteras did it that way does not mean that it is the best way to do it. Hatteras also did'nt seal the deck core when they installed the windlass and we all know how that turned out. I agree that it works fine off center but I think it works better centered. Matter of fact most modern windlass manufacturers recommend centering the chain (off center windlass).

Walt

So, lets see photos of a Hatteras pulpit with the windlass off center and some testimonials of how it works. Quincy wants his new windlass to work properly. He needs to know what works in the real world with what he has to work with, not theory and speculation based on other newer designs.

 

[Glory]

My boat didn't have a windlass or a pulpit, I still have no pulpit, but after careful consideration I decided that it would be on center.

If replacing a windless the existing hole(s) nay dictate the location to avoid a larger job. In the end it's only a few inches one way or the other. I went for balanced distance on deck.

JM

 

[sandspur1966]

When talking Windlass politics I would go with center as well...

My concern would be that if I mounted it to port, the windlass would become entitled and expect handouts and complain about working.

if mounted to starboard it would work hard all its life and do its job... but I would be concerned that every time I were stern-to in a crowded marina.... it would try and get the other windlasses there together for a tea party.

just sayin

 

[jim rosenthal]

Oh, this'll light the fuse good and proper.....

 

[SKYCHENEY]

When talking Windlass politics I would go with center as well...

My concern would be that if I mounted it to port, the windlass would become entitled and expect handouts and complain about working.

if mounted to starboard it would work hard all its life and do its job... but I would be concerned that every time I were stern-to in a crowded marina.... it would try and get the other windlasses there together for a tea party.

just sayin

I would be more concerned that if I mounted it too far stbd that it would be falsely accused of being racist, homophobic, sexist, and against the elderly, poor, and illegals. Just sayin

 

[sandspur1966]

I would be more concerned that if I mounted it too far stbd that it would be falsely accused of being racist, homophobic, sexist, and against the elderly, poor, and illegals. Just sayin

good one

 

[Avenger]

I thought the windlasses were dealer installed.