Can anyone identify this winch?

[sailglobal]

email John Muir and ask if he would like to trade the antique for a new or reconditioned winch appropriate for your yacht. (don't tell him the suggestion came from me )

[Ironman162]

Oooo...I would be sad to see this winch go ... its been with me for a long time, just never used as I was young and stupid I always believed firmly that the only thing I can trust is my own muscle power ....until father time started to show me a 'better' way
I will approach John Muir though thanks for the sugestion
Me and my whole boat is antique...lol... a new winch might look wholly out if place. .ha ha ha!


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[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Ironman162

Oooo...I would be sad to see this winch go ... its been with me for a long time, just never used as I was young and stupid I always believed firmly that the only thing I can trust is my own muscle power ....until father time started to show me a 'better' way
I will approach John Muir though thanks for the sugestion
Me and my whole boat is antique...lol... a new winch might look wholly out if place. .ha ha ha!


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Might have to get a new boat, so the winch doesn't look out of place.

[Ironman162]

Would be nice, but Im happy with the old girl we belong together

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[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Scaramanga F25

Sorry, it's not a winch, it's a windlass. LOL

I just had to .

Not correct. It certainly is a winch. A windlass (like a capstan) is a type of winch, often called an "anchor winch". There was nothing wrong with what the OP wrote.



What's not correct is to call just any anchor winch a windlass. The OP's winch is a windlass, but many of us have anchor winches with vertical shafts. These are capstans, not windlasses. I am guilty of this myself.
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[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Not correct. It certainly is a winch. A windlass (like a capstan) is a type of winch, often called an "anchor winch". There was nothing wrong with what the OP wrote.



What's not correct is to call just any anchor winch a windlass. The OP's winch is a windlass, but many of us have anchor winches with vertical shafts. These are capstans, not windlasses. I am guilty of this myself.
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With respect Dockhead, the 'capstan' is only a reference to the always vertical (on boats) part of the winch or windlass that you wrap a rope around and apply pressure. It's correct not to call that part a 'winch' or 'windlass'. A 'capstan' can be a single unit and not attached to winch or windlass or it can be part of a winch or windlass.

A windlass / winch is the same thing. Which may or may not have a capstan attached. . . So winches / windlass can have a capstan but a capstan is not a winch/windlass.

You can also get capstan winches both vertical and horizontal for trucks, farm equipment etc.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

With respect Dockhead, the 'capstan' is only a reference to the always vertical (on boats) part of the winch or windlass that you wrap a rope around and apply pressure. It's correct not to call that part a 'winch' or 'windlass'. A 'capstan' can be a single unit and not attached to winch or windlass or it can be part of a winch or windlass.

A windlass / winch is the same thing. Which may or may not have a capstan attached. . . So winches / windlass can have a capstan but a capstan is not a winch/windlass.

You can also get capstan winches both vertical and horizontal for trucks, farm equipment etc.

What you say is correct on the farm, but in nautical usage a "capstan" is not the drum, but the whole machine including gears, and motor, if there is one. See: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capstan_(nautical). "A*capstan*is a vertical-axled*rotating machine developed for use on sailing ships to apply*force*to ropes, cables, and*hawsers. The principle is similar to that of the*windlass, which has a horizontal axle."

See also: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchor_windlass "Technically speaking, the term "windlass" refers only to horizontal*winches. Vertical designs are correctly called*capstans. Horizontal windlasses make use of an integral gearbox and motor assembly, all typically located above-deck, with a horizontal shaft through the unit and wheels for chain and/or rope on either side. Vertical capstans use a vertical shaft, with the motor and gearbox situated below the winch unit (usually below decks)."

However, I don't think it makes any sense to be excessively pedantic about it. As I mentioned, I do call my own vertical anchor winch a "windlass", which is not correct. I only got into this to defend the OP, not to criticism anyone else's terminology.

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[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

What you say is correct on the farm, but in nautical usage a "capstan" is not the drum, but the whole machine including gears, and motor, if there is one. See: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capstan_(nautical). "A*capstan*is a vertical-axled*rotating machine developed for use on sailing ships to apply*force*to ropes, cables, and*hawsers. The principle is similar to that of the*windlass, which has a horizontal axle."


However, I don't think it makes any sense to be excessively pedantic about it. As I mentioned, I do call my own vertical anchor winch a "windlass", which is not correct. I only got into this to defend the OP, not to criticism anyone else's terminology.

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That article is exactly what I was saying. And no I wasn't referring to farm equipment. Have a look at the pictures in the article. The top one is the capstan and the bottom one is the windlass. You can see with the windlass it takes the chain.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

That article is exactly what I was saying. And no I wasn't referring to farm equipment. Have a look at the pictures in the article. The top one is the capstan and the bottom one is the windlass. You can see with the windlass it takes the chain.

If you agree with what Wiki says, then we have no disagreement I must have misread your previous post. But see, especially, the wiki article on Anchor Windlass, a reference to which I added to my previous post.

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[FamilyVan]

Maybe I could help with this, I can't find anything on wiki but as I recall from my deckhand learning, which I admit is a bit fuzzy.

Vertical winch is a capstan.

Horizontal winch for anchoring is a windlas, the smooth part for handling line is the drum and the knobby bit for chain is the "gypsy".

A non anchoring winch is just a winch or mooring winch, as far as I know, and some times incorporates a warping drum.

If its a vertical mooring winch its a capstan and generally only incorporates a warping drum.

I believe all of the above are winches, as are our sail trimming winches.

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[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by FamilyVan

Maybe I could help with this, I can't find anything on wiki but as I recall from my deckhand learning, which I admit is a bit fuzzy.

Vertical winch is a capstan.

Horizontal winch for anchoring is a windlas, the smooth part for handling line is the drum and the knobby bit for chain is the "gypsy".

A non anchoring winch is just a winch or mooring winch, as far as I know, and some times incorporates a warping drum.

If its a vertical mooring winch its a capstan and generally only incorporates a warping drum.

I believe all of the above are winches, as are our sail trimming winches.

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Exactly how I was taught, and I think that's pretty widely accepted maritime usage.



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[alctel]

Originally Posted by Ironman162

Ive taken your suggestion and emailed Muir in Sydney. Will post their comnent here if I get anything
Albeit a 40 years old 'wench' Im impressed with the quality of this windlass and didn't know it has Tassie heritage

Nothin' wrong with a 40 year old wench imo

[John_Trusty]

I always like learning these new, and somewhat obscure, terms. You've used one that I've only heard but can't define: Warping Drum. What's it?

[CarinaPDX]

Originally Posted by John_Trusty

I always like learning these new, and somewhat obscure, terms. You've used one that I've only heard but can't define: Warping Drum. What's it?

The drum of a winch or windlass is the part where a line is wrapped around multiple times for gripping (as opposed to a gypsy, which has pockets for grabbing chain). Warping is using line to move a vessel, often by setting an anchor and rope rode with a dinghy then using the windlass to pull the vessel to a new position. I once watched a 65 ft engineless racing sailboat warp a quarter mile or so across St. Georges harbor (Bermuda) with two anchors. I don't use the drum often on my windlass, but when I do it is most likely to be to warp rather than simply recover an anchor.

Greg

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by CarinaPDX

The drum of a winch or windlass is the part where a line is wrapped around multiple times for gripping (as opposed to a gypsy, which has pockets for grabbing chain). Warping is using line to move a vessel, often by setting an anchor and rope rode with a dinghy then using the windlass to pull the vessel to a new position....

Indeed. Or for warping the vessel into or out of or around in her berth. Very useful thing for boats too heavy to horse around by hand. I really miss having this.

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