We currently have our boat, Langsam, on St. Martin NA. We have 150’ of 8mm chain and 200’ of 7/16 rode. At the end of all of this we’ve got a 25# Danforth. So far, I’ve been able to win the anchor by brute force but, as time goes by, the force is bound to wane a bit. This causes me to consider getting a windlass of some sort.
As any 32 owner knows, the rode locker inlet is offset from the centerline to starboard. The centerline is occupied by the bow cleat. The chain has to be pulled in a straight line from the roller so it looks like I’d have to move the bow cleat to accommodate the windlass. This does not look trivial. I’ve considered mounting an idler cannibalized from an old windlass aft of the cleat and mounting the windlass over the existing inlet. I’ve never seen anything like this and I don’t know if it will work.
I’d like to know if anyone has attacked this problem and what was the outcome.
Thanks,
John Reed
S/V Langsam
The additi 
on of an anchor windlass to a F32 is not for the “faint of heart” in my opinion. I’ve studied the options for some time and while possible the solutions are not that feasible. I’ve looked at both horizontal and vertical windlasses but each has its problems primaily due to the longitundinal size of the anchor locker on the 32.
Recently I had the opportunity to look a nice installation of a vertical windlass on a F30 that looked like a neet factory installation. But to my supprise, the anchor locker on the F30 has a longiudinal dimension from the bow (at the main deck level) of over 3 feet. Going back and measuring our F32 ( a larger boat) the same dimension was only about 23". It seems that Hoyt never considered the need to install a windlass on the F32 but on the F30, produced a few later, the windlass installation was very feasible in relation to the anchor locker size. Other factors such as the centerline cleat and the location of jib forestay add to the problem. Setting the windlass over to one side results in a fleet angle to the bow roller which is not good. Changing the bow roller position is possible but again not the best for appearance sake.
I’m still use the arm strong method as nothing I’ve come up with seems to fit without looking a bit odd.
Any suggestions would be appreciated as the older I get the less appealing is hauling the anchor by hand.
George
S/V Guillemot, F32
I installed a Muir vertical windlass on my Hoyt 32. There are pictures of it in the photos section of the Yahoo group site. I love having it, I feel a little smug every time I just click the switch in the cockpit, listen for a big “ka-CHUNK” that means the anchor is fully in the roller, then drive or sail away.
Mounting it on center is okay; the chainwheel has a big enough diameter so the rode misses the forestay. I relocated the cleat just to starboard of it and normally rig a springy snubber to that so the load is off the windlass. The windlass has its own hawse pipe so the original one just sits unused, though I have plans to install a wash down hose in it
I have a pipe that leads from under the deck to the anchor locker. I had to notch the top of the door to lead it through. It drops at a very steep angle and for chain, not rope, that works well. I actually prefer a chain/rope rode but I’ve now gone to all chain just to make everything automatic.
If I had it to do over:
1)I’d forget having a rope capstan and just have a rope/chain gypsy. It seemed like a good idea but I haven’t found any use for it, nor is it particularly strong.
2)I had a CQR and have since gone to a Manson Supreme anchor, which I love. The Manson has a shorter shank than the CQR. I wish I’d known that, I’d have mounted the windlass a few inches farther forward.
3)You need both and Up and Down footswitch, I originally just had an Up (The links sometimes twist and jam on the way up. Reversing it with the Down switch for just a few links clears that.). I’d have put the Up switch a bit farther back if I’d known I would have both.
Installing it wasn’t all that difficult a job. If you have any specific questions, let me know.
Thanks Rick,
Sounds like a successful installation on an F32. I like the recommendation on windlass and anchor. I’m currently using a Delta with a Bruce as backup. Never thought about the shank length issue. Both anchors aboard are about 35 lbs which when added to about 50+ feet of 5/16" chain is a fair size load to do by hand. I’ve always resisted the approach of moving the windlass aft of the locker bulkhead as it then requires an angular chain pipe and effects the appearance of the v-berth, Have thought about using an offset roller also to guide the chain/rode to the winch mounted on one side of the bow but not sure how the chain links would turn in that kind of configuration and jam the winch.
PS. I’m new on this site so not sure how to get to the pics. Pls advise
GeorgeR
s/v Guillemot, f32
Seattle
The photos are at the old Yahoo Freedom group we used hang out at instead of at this nice, new website. The URL is:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreedomOwnersGroup/photos/album/56951381/pic/list
A few updates since those photos: They show my old CQR not the new Manson, I painted the white PVC under-deck chain pipe brown and I’ve generally tidied everything up, especially the sealing on the deck and the wiring inside the forepeak.
From a looks standpoint, I thought about building a removable cover for all of it but, now that the pipe is painted brown, it’s not that noticeable. If I had a do-over; make that headliner-holder piece wider and flat on the bottom instead of curving with the deck and it would hide all the machinery, unless you crawled right under it.
I noodled through installations with idlers or guide rollers or a custom bow roller or,… Something should work, but it all gets complicated quickly. Yes, I can’t have a rope rode that self stores, I had to notch the forepeak door and I have that chain pipe underneath, but I push a button and the anchor goes up or down without drama. All boats are a compromise. I declare victory.
And add another “do-over” item: I’d also not bother with the flapper-style chain stopper. Anchoring by hand it’s nice to have but with a windlass it’s rarely needed and it’s more often counterproductive.
I’ve just replaced the windlass on Fyne Spirit with a Anchorlift 1500 watt unit and gone to a 50 lb Delta anchor. Due to the need to stow the anchor and have the bow roller free for a swing mooring I also added an off set roller and launcher arrangement for the anchor. The replacement windlass is a through deck version and I note the space limitations for the anchor chain in the fore peak. I did consider and above deck (horizontal) type windlass which would have been easiy to mount and would not intrude into the limited space below, but the units available were very expensive so the thru deck version won the day.
Perhaps an above deck windlass would suit the F32?
Regards,
Maybe a silly comment as am not sure if the F32 is Balsa cored but if it is be careful if you move the front cleat as it should be bolted down onto solid material and if u just bolt it through the Balsa Core you will very probably have problems in the future.
All the best
Derek