Is an electric windlass a necessity when living on the hook solo?

[sailon46]

When my electric windlass stop working in BVI in bad blow my 40 foot snubber to my 54 lewmar winch did the job 20 feet at a time

[Glossamer]

I know what you mean . They are expensive and involved to put in. How tough
could it be to just pull it up when you need to? I went to visit friends on their boat for a couple weeks in Boco Del Toro . Some days we would drop and pick up the anchor more than ten times , I think the record was 13. That a hell of a lot of pulling chain . I’m a big strong guy but there is no way I could drop and pull all day long and be able to carry on with the rest of the day. Buy a winch.

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by richard_wb

I don't understand why you are asking this question. Since you have a boat, you can presumably try raising your anchor manually to see if you have the physical strength to accomplish the task.

I'm gonna say a Shannon 38 is using 3/8" chain, at least 100Ft, with a rode of line.
That's quite a load if your tasked with leaving in a hurry or dragging an anchor.
SV Cloud Duster

[edlepera]

Having used a manual and electric windlass. I much prefer the electric. On a day sailor 20, I actually carry the anchor can to the stern rail and tied it of with a slip hitch running the anchor line From the bow back to the anchor. I will leave Enough slack for an initial 5 to 1 scope. Sail over my mark and let the anchor go. Then I luff up. Works nice. I knew a fellow once who used the same technique on a 36 footer

[DarwinHolmstrom]

Originally Posted by Lancerbye

I spend 4 to 5 months a year cruising the coast changing anchorages almost daily, solo. Without a good strong powered windlass that I can remotely control, none of that would be possible. I am 76.

Thank you. My goal is to be doing this for many more years. My dad's 85 and he still works in his shop every day, his dad worked on our farm until he was 95, and my grandmother worked as a seamstress until she was 95, so there's at least a chance that I could be doing this for many years, so an electric windlass seems like a good investment.

[Mr B]

Im 72 and drag both my anchors up by hand, 24 Kg and 40 Kg plus 6 mm chain,
Both have been proven in over 40 knots of wind,
But I dont pull them up in extreme winds, I just sit there till the wind dies down,

I motor up slowly to the anchor and pull the chain up as I move forwards,
I have an anchor stopper, So the chain cant run out again,
I use the boat to break my anchors free,
They do bite in solidly,
I lay my chain out on the deck to know how much chain I put out,
The depth sounder gives me the depth. The water here is cloudy and you cant see the bottom,
I have always been single handed,

One disadvantage of this, Once I drop my anchor, I stay put, Till I leave,
I cant be bothered dragging up my anchor to move just over there a bit,
Which would be nice in some anchorages,
The water is a bit flatter or still, EG; No waves for sleeping on the boat, ,

I have just got a new electric windlass, Reason being,

My new Girl has pointed out if I die or get incapacitated, She cant drag the anchor up by herself, ,
She also paid for the windlass, So I am installing it on our boat,

She also mentioned it would be easier for me with an electric windlass to move a bit more often in the same anchorage,
I must agree with her on that point, She has watched me drag up the anchor to move to a better fishing point when we have been out fishing, ,

As we will be living full time onboard for the next two years, It will make life easier for me not dragging up the anchors,
I will use the big 40 Kg anchor all the time now,

I have put the start Battery, 900 CCA AGM in the forward sail locker, It comes with foot pedals, and a dash switch, It has a solenoid for switching,
At the moment it is a separate system run off the wind genny,
But I can always hook it up to my 920 amhhrs of battery bank if I need too,

I have drilled holes for the 400 amp leads from battery to windlass, sail locker to anchor locker, So all the electrics are in the dry sail locker,
I still havent decided where to put the foot switches, I want them out of the way,
The front of my deck is solid and no access,
I also have a Generator on the deck if I need more power for the windlass,

FWIW, My boat sits level with the Plimsol line about one inch above the water line, Front and back,
Even with the extra weight from the batterys, New hulls and Anchors, 90 litre Freezer,
Full tanks of water and spare diesel, Gas tanks, Food, Etc Etc,
We are ready to leave,

My Mate and me stood on the bow, 200 Kgs, The Bow went down to the Plimsol line,
It sank one inch,

Cheers, Brian,

[DarwinHolmstrom]

Originally Posted by TrentePieds

Quote: "So, by the way, could a pretty Yorkshire lass :-)!
TrentePieds

Thank you. This is definitely going in my binder. Excellent advice. I'm not counting on any pretty lasses, Yorkshire or otherwise, to wind my anchor, though! I think I've been winding my own anchor for too long for anyone else to be willing to wind it for more than a night or two. It's probably a bit too salty for most people's tastes.

[DarwinHolmstrom]

Originally Posted by j.g.evans

I found that I have to be at the bow up-hauling. The chain tends to pile up under the windlass and the windlass jams. The biggest problem is mud, especially in anchorages along the Intracoastal. I had to install a wash-down at the bow.

Thank you. I'm considering installing a wash-down at the bow too, for that same reason. Also it might make a handy place for a quick shower when I'm anchored in a place where I can let Big Jim and the twins flop about without traumatizing anyone.

[DarwinHolmstrom]

Originally Posted by LittleWing77

Darwin, I think you're absolutely right to think about keeping your back healthy. Imagine if you threw your back out in the midst of hauling the anchor...? The boat adrift and you laid out on the foredeck groaning.

Thank you. I broke T12 vertebrae in a motorcycle racing accident 17 years ago. It's healed up pretty well but I still try not to abuse it too much.

[darylat8750]

There is a link to videos of anchors setting earlier in this thread. Well worth watching. Another thread that will teach you more in a couple of hours than most people can learn in a lifetime of anchoring: https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ng-126073.html

[argonauta1]

Merry Christmas in these difficult times. Just a comment to add: Yes, no problem raising the anchor manually as a single crew but as we all know, conditions when needing to raise the anchor can vary. In a strong wind one might need to be in two places, at the helm and at the bow. Obviously impossible and that is why an electric windlass with an additional remote control at the helm might save your butt someday.

[icemate]

If you have the money definitely install one. I was in Tonga and pulled a muscle in my back while attempting to raise my anchor to leave with the tide. I laid on the deck in pain for a couple of hours until another yacht came by and seen my. One of their crew swam to my aid and raised the anchor for me and I was able to make my way back to the cockpit with his help. Continued on and once in New Zealand installed the windless. Best thing I did and I also installed a line so I could remain at the helm and operate it without going forward.

[rick bertram]

It all depends on the weight of the anchor and chain your lifting along with your strength. If you’re going to sail to different anchorages I’d recommend it. It’s a tiring and dirty task raising an anchor manually.

[Sofa King Fishy]

Originally Posted by DarwinHolmstrom

Is an electric windlass a necessity when living on the hook solo? I prefer to keep everything as manual as possible to eliminate electrical malfunctions but I have a heavy boat (Shannon 38) and worry about raising and setting the anchor when sailing solo. I intend to be living on the hook as much as possible from now on.

Absolutely a necessity- if you’re solo, you’ll need to control it from the helm as well. It’s one thing to set anchor on a calm day in an empty anchorage, it’s another in 15k with steady current in a crowd. Sweet vessel BTW!

[wholybee]

I have done a lot of cruising worldwide with no windless. 38' boat, with 45lb anchor and 100' of chain followed by 300' of rope.

Only once was that difficult, and even then I managed, singlehanded. The difficult anchorage was 85' deep, with wind and a swell. Most anchorages at less then 30' are no problem at all.

I am under 50, and reasonable fit, so that I'm sure makes a difference.