Older Ideal windlass

[keaislandsailor]

This Ideal windlass came with the boat, which is a 1977 Irwin 52, 45-50k pounds or so.

Is this for rope only or can it be used for chain, too? Since the ground tackle was all chain, I am curious how the previous owner managed.

Thanks in advance.

[Jim Cate]

Well, you CAN wrap chain around the drum and hand tail it whilst it rotates, and it will indeed bring in the chain. But one risks hand damage and chewing up the drum of the windlass, so the practice has its drawbacks.

For reference, consider how roustabouts wrap chain around pipe strings to make and unmake coupling w hen working oil rigs... and how few of them have all their fingers!

But I dunno how your PO used the windlass!

Jim