Identify This Windlass - Will It Handle Rope & Chain ?

[SV Simple Life]

Please help me, initially, to identify the windlass in these photos. I currently have 150ft of 1/2 inch chain on it. Will it also handle rope? Thinking of adding 300ft of 8-plait.

I am assuming 1" rope: any other ideas?

Many thanks.

[bobconnie]

Don't know the Brand but it sure has a Rope capsun on both sides! should be no problem to use two anchors and or rope or chain on both sides of the windless! looks like a real hardy set up to me !! what size boat is this windless installed on ?? Just asking cus it looks hell for stout!! "sorry bout the dumb question I looked at your heading and found my answer !!"

[Sailmonkey]

It'll handle rope on the Capstans, but the chain gypsys won't pull rope, they're missing the jaws in the recess.

[SV Simple Life]

Thank you Gentlemen.

Sailmonkey....do you think it likely that i could find and add the jaws? not over-familiar with these, yet..

[Sailmonkey]

Your best bet for something along those lines would be to have a machine shop build rope grabbing "teeth" into the groove in the middle of the chain gipsy. This windlass was never meant to haul a line in place of chain, finding a gipsy that would fit and do what you want already made will be near impossible. If you do go the route of having the original modified, you'll also need to add a line stripper of some sort to pull the line out of the teeth and dump it into pipe.

[SV Simple Life]

That's great information.... Many thanks, Sailmonkey!

[bobconnie]

Don't mean to start an argument, but why would ya want to spend money to modify the chain gypsys when the maker put rope capstans right alongside them ??? I must admit Ive never seen the gypsy made the way Sail monkeys talking about !! Just go's ta show ya your never to old to learn something new !!

[SV Simple Life]

Thanks Bob..... I'd planned to splice 300ft of 8-plait onto my chain: so ideally I'd be looking for a method of hauling in the rope, and seamlessly continuing with the chain...I don't think I could lift 150ft of chain from the capstan onto the gipsy.

[bobconnie]

If your anchoring in that deep of water ya better use all chain !!LOL with the anchor on the bottom ya don't need to lift anthing !! Ive been able to change from one to the other without any problem and Im 74 yrs old LOL

[GMac]

Originally Posted by MV Content

Thanks Bob..... I'd planned to splice 300ft of 8-plait onto my chain: so ideally I'd be looking for a method of hauling in the rope, and seamlessly continuing with the chain...I don't think I could lift 150ft of chain from the capstan onto the gipsy.

Your never going to get a auto rope to chain swap on that winch unless you spend more dollars modifying it than a new one would probably cost you.