Anchor winch on a Compass 29

[Maeling]

Ross of Karmel asked the following questions

Now that's am looking at my sixty second birthday I have decided to install a manual anchor winch.  I find now that when I pull the anchor hand over hand I have to sit down for 5 minutes to recover.

I've read your book and see you did the same thing.  Muir have a newer winch similar to the anchormate.  Can you assist with some questions.

Did you think about reinforcing the anchor well hatch cover and putting a winch on the cover?

 Did you modify the inner cabin lining?

 Did you also use epoxy filler on the inside as well as the deck for the curvature?.  I assume Epifill would be ok?

 Many thanks in anticipation

 Ross on Karmel C29

[Maeling]

Ross, I sympathise, I was in my 40's when I figured how heavy and anchor and chain was.  I have found my Anchormate a great winch  but  a 10" bronze double handed winch handle is probably a good investment to go with it.  I elected to stay with silver rope rather than softer nylon that ages to the hardness of steel-wire cable.  Silver doesn't clear the winch riving knife unless tension is kept on the tail. So I take the rope around the winch and anti-clockwise around the bow cleat to my left hand.  With the right, I use the knob on the top of the handle and with about 3 winds take in a metre, get a new purchase with my left hand and do the next metre etc.  One the chain is on the gypsy, I keep winding as I uncleat the rope and drop it in the locker.  As the anchor breaks the surface, if there is no seaway, I motor slowly forward under autopilot and let any mud wash off the anchor before bringing it aboard.

On fitting the winch, I made a stepped block to fit between the anchor hatch lip and back onto the liner to avoid crushing the liner.  I mixed up Epifill under the winch base (not too much as the centre of the winch is on the deck. Tighten it all up gently until firm but not tight. Stay aboard and when the Epifill gels, trim it with a razor knife and cleanup with the point of the knife and acetone. When it is hard the next day tighten it.  I am sure I drilled 1/4" holes in the deck and cut a 5/16" Whitworth thread with a $2 Shop tap set, so the winch was firm on the deck, then check-tightened the next day and the block, nuts and washers added.

The Muir soft splice to chain is easy and works well - happy to do another one if you are in the area

Regards

Geoff Raebel

[transall]

Hi Ross,

In cleaning out the cockpit locker I found a winch affixed to an aluminium "shoe"....what this winch and "shoe" was for I had no idea, new to sailing and new to my compass 29.....I  tried to figure out it's use to no avail, then one day I need to drop anchor and retrieve...bingo light turned in in the brain...quickly retrived the "shoe/winch" from the locker, then placed the "shoe" over the front of the anchor tie off cleat..it fitted perfectly, 2 turns on the anchor rope and stated pulling, was

manual but made easier with the winch.

The "shoe" is made from h/duty (thick alum.) with winch fitted on top and a bar on the underside of the "shoe" to keep it lifting off the cleat.....very simple..

I might add that this "device" also mystified more experienced sailors as to it's use when I asked about it use, I will try and get a photo of it, meantime for info I guess weighs about 5Kg, about 8" long and 2.5" wide, 

Hope this helps

Barry / Dreamtime, C29

On Monday, February 11, 2013 8:22:03 PM UTC+11, Maeling wrote:

[Maeling]

Sounds nifty but you actually cleat off to the cleat when at anchor, don't you

Geoff Raebel

[Maeling]

On Friday, February 15, 2013 11:48:42 PM UTC+11, Tino@Risk wrote:

On Monday, February 11, 2013 8:22:06 PM UTC+10:30, Maeling wrote:
> Ross, I sympathise, I was in my 40's when I figured how heavy and anchor and chain was.  I have found my Anchormate a great winch  but  a 10" bronze double handed winch handle is probably a good investment to go with it.  I elected to stay with silver rope rather than softer nylon that ages to the hardness of steel-wire cable.  Silver doesn't clear the winch riving knife unless tension is kept on the tail. So I take the rope around the winch and anti-clockwise around the bow cleat to my left hand.  With the right, I use the knob on the top of the handle and with about 3 winds take in a metre, get a new purchase with my left hand and do the next metre etc.  One the chain is on the gypsy, I keep winding as I uncleat the rope and drop it in the locker.  As the anchor breaks the surface, if there is no seaway, I motor slowly forward under autopilot and let any mud wash off the anchor before bringing it aboard.
>
>
> On fitting the winch, I made a stepped block to fit between the anchor hatch lip and back onto the liner to avoid crushing the liner.  I mixed up Epifill under the winch base (not too much as the centre of the winch is on the deck. Tighten it all up gently until firm but not tight. Stay aboard and when the Epifill gels, trim it with a razor knife and cleanup with the point of the knife and acetone. When it is hard the next day tighten it.  I am sure I drilled 1/4" holes in the deck and cut a 5/16" Whitworth thread with a $2 Shop tap set, so the winch was firm on the deck, then check-tightened the next day and the block, nuts and washers added.
>
>
> The Muir soft splice to chain is easy and works well - happy to do another one if you are in the area
>
>
> Regards
>
>
> Geoff Raebel
>

Hi Geoff,
I have recently become the proud owner of a great C28 and am looking to fit muir's manual vertical anchor winch, before voyaging Adelaide to Gold Coast.
What you have there sounds like a nice example of how to fit the winch, but i was wondering if you could share some pictures with me on what it all looks like, so i can wrap my brain around it, with the help of a visual aid.
This could save me trying to reinvent the wheel.
Thanks

Tino

[Maeling]

Tino, Welcome aboard, If I get my act together and get the Register posted you could be in line for the Register prize at the Compass Regatta 2013. Sorry forgot to attach some text to the pics.  The C29 has a bigger foredeck and good anchor stowage especially for the tackle. Some C28 cruisers have a vertical bulkhead in the snout for chain and rope stowage. Very late C28s had the C29 anchor locker.

Geoff Raebel

[Tino@Risk]

Thanks Geoff,
Well I've shelved the winch idea due to my youth and the complexity and cost involved in redesigning the now of the boat. Thanks for the ideas, still building the best system for this boat in my mind, for a future project.