Thanks for the information Ward. I purchased my windlass from The Binnacle here in Canada and it only came with one option - for 5/16" G4 Chain and either 5/8" or 9/16" 3 Strand Nylon Rope. I also ordered my rode from The Binnacle which was Titan Brand with 5/16" G$ Chain but I see now that the rope was 5/8" 8 Plait which is probably not the same as 3 Strand, no?
Ken Julian
“Idyll Ours” NS26C
Saint John, NB
8 Plait hase 8 strands braided, not twisted. The 8 plait lays down in the chain locker much better than does 3 strand. The Lewmar gypsy can apparently accept either 8 Plait or 3 strand.
I run 8 plait on my Maxwell 800 vertical windlass with no problems.
When I installed my Lewmar Pro 1000 I bought the chain/rope pre-spliced to Lewmar specs by the supplier. The chain (5/16) worked perfectly but the line which was a braid jammed in the gypsy and the stripper couldn’t strip it underneath if the anchor was hauled with any strain at all on the line.
I had a friend who wanted the whole combo line, chain, and anchor so I replaced the anchor with one size up and the line with some much thicker three strand that came with the boat. The gypsy loves it and only rarely momentarily chokes a bit on the splice.
While the gypsy is supposed to work with 8 plait, mine clearly doesn’t work very well like Paul found out as well. I think I need a thicker or rounder rope. Is your 3 strand rope still 5/8" Paul or something larger?
Ken Julian
“Idyll Ours” NS26C#9
Saint John, NB
It is actually quite a bit larger than the original but I can’t say for sure how big. I will check today (if I remember when I’m at the boat 
)
What I have noticed in dock and anchor line is some is much softer than others and that could be the issues…
Right! Mine is quite soft, the braid is flat and loose, and the even a bit slippery.
Ken Julian
Hi John,
I’m providing a pic of the fore-deck showing the alignment of the V700 with the bulkhead and drill template drawn to scale.
There’s really no choice/latitude for the position of this given the bulkhead and old hawse pipe, and the alignment to the bow roller.
However it does fit.
Also shown is the starboard cubby that will house all the switches and battery.
There’s also a shot of the underside of the fore-deck.
Nauti Girl is currently tucked behind the work shed in the marina at LCM. From the quarter deck you can see Cat’s Whiskers is still afloat
Cheers,
Mike and Ashley Read
NS 26C #120 Nauti Girl
Bath, Ont.
Hi Thor,
Ours has the Lewmar 700. We have 1/4" G4 chain. We had 9/16th 3 strand New England before I replaced it with a longer rode of 1/2" 3 strand New England. I spliced the chain and s strand on both set ups following the directions from Lewmar. roll the splice real well under foot to soften and taper the splice.
We have had no problem with the transition from chain to rode.
I check the splice each year and have redone it once due to some rust on the chain link.
Rob Powers
Respite 26C # 50
Sidney BC
Not only need you line it up for and aft with the bow roller, as well it should be aligned in the vertical plane as well. My manual windlass needed a 2 inch pad on deck to get the necessary alignment and I have 1/4 metal plate below deck. I’ll use the same pad with the new Lewmar. You might be able to lower the roller to reduce the pad.
You could extend the pad over the existing hawse pipe ( after you seal it) and install the up / down switches in that area. You’d be moving the winch forward and the aft end would be around the aft end of the existing hawse pipe.
Hi Thor,
Thanks for the insight. I was planning to use a 1" HDPE pad for the lift. I can use a router to round over the top edges and create a recess for the hause pipe flange. HDPE is clean, white, waterproof, hard/dense, and most importantly maintenance free. I hadn’t thought about an additional bottom plate.
As suggested, I think I’ll do a vertical study to see what the “angle of entry” the chain will have, and review the install manual for the tolerances.
Does anyone have pics of their install? There are many things that only become obvious once you’ve done it.
Cheers,
Mike and Ashley Read
NS 26C #120 Nauti Girl
Bath, Ont.
I replaced the hawse fitting with a deck plate that gave me access to the underside of my deck without removing the mast. It has come in handy since that time when I wanted to remove the “bowsprit”. It also could be used to access a second anchor line.
For comparison, my windlass requires a ~6 inch pad (teak, in my case) to bring it up to necessary vertical alignment. The deck is eccentric up there, so the pad is angled to keep the windlass from being off-vertical. For whatever reason, no metal plate below deck; just oversized washers. Maxwell 3500.
Brian
SV Serenity
Nonsuch Nereus #003
Pax River, MD
Mike;
Nauti Girl is currently tucked behind the work shed in the marina at LCM. From the quarter deck you can see Cat’s Whiskers is still afloat
Not any more - no she did not sink (smile), but hauled out for the winter this morning.
I’m providing a pic of the fore-deck showing the alignment of the V700 with the bulkhead and drill template drawn to scale.
There’s really no choice/latitude for the position of this given the bulkhead and old hawse pipe, and the alignment to the bow roller.
However it does fit.
That is tight, hopefully it will fit ok. I did like PaulM’s approach of putting a deck plate in where the hawse pipe is.
BTW - I rebedded my mast collar and the hawse pipe last spring; on mine the pipe is 90% rotated to your picture, and the right hand third (I have pics if you want) was balsa cored, the remainder solid fir planking. So I do expect that the centre from mast collar to bow is solid wood.
JohnS, NS26C 046, now on the cradle at Bath, ON. for the winter.
Hello all,
It would seem by the frequency of threads, that this is the Winter of Windlass installation.
Enough banter, enough prevarication, the real work now begins…
Alas, the beast has arrived: I’ll “photo” document my installation misadventure for lessons learned, but mostly entertainment for those not silly enough to have this done professionally. Many thanks to those before me offering their advice.
Cheers,
Mike and Ashley Read
NS 26C #120 Nauti Girl
Bath, Ont.
Things are starting off well, guys - it’s in a box.
Ernie A. in Toronto
Thanks Ernie,
I’m prepared to bet this is the inflection point where it all goes pear shaped.
…measure once, cut twice, and all…
Cheers,
Mike and Ashley Read
NS 26C #120 Nauti Girl
Bath, Ont.
Hi Mike - will be following along with interest.
JohnS
Windlass-less NS26C 046 cradled at Bath ON
OK, so… what’s in the box?
Cheers,
Mike and Ashley Read
NS 26C #120 Nauti Girl
Bath, Ont.
It will all go to plan because the cookies that the box is hiding look fabulous. Seriously, this is quite a comprehensive package that looks well-thought out.
Good purchase, I’d say and, boy, will your backs thank you. Isn’t this snow, etc. great ??!! Poor folks just south of us - 3’ of it in mid-November.
Ernie
