Question About Anchor Windlass Positioning

[Triton318]

I have a 28' Pearson Triton that I'm in the process of doing some work on to get it ready for some serious cruising in three years. Every time I see a picture of an anchor windlass, the gypsy wheel thing for the chain is lined up with the bow roller and the chain feeds directly into the anchor rode thru-deck fitting and then below.

I don't plan to do much cruising in the tropics, so I wasn't planning on using an all chain rode. If most of the rode is line, then do you position the windlass so the line drum is lined up with the bow roller and the thru-deck fitting?

Thanks.

[AnchorageGuy]

Most gypsy's handle both chain and line. It is recommended that you use at least the same length as the boat in chain.

[GMac]

Yeah, what Chuck said, get a auto rope to chain winch and problem solved.

Almost all new winches for 3/8" and smaller sized chain are 'auto rope chain capable' these days anyway.

If you are thinking rope (mostly) capstan only the positioning isn't quite as critical as an all chain gypsy model.

[Dave the Canuck]

The only way the through deck works is if you're all chain. I toyed with the through deck but all chain made me bow heavy. You'll just have to open the anchor rode locker and pass the rode down after it comes from the gypsy. That's my experience, anyway. 50' chain, 200' nylon.

Good luck!

[Liberty28]

It's been my experience that the last of the anchor rode coming in is the hardest to get off the bottom with the anchor and all. Therefore, the gypsy is needed the most frequently for the hardest part of the anchor retrieval, hence , it's line up for the chain and not the rope portion. Keep in mind, however, that I have no idea what I'm talking about!