How to Use a Windlass
The modern recreational vessel may or may not be equipped with a windlass as a standard item. The windlass, used in conjunction with fairleads, a block and tackle or an anchor davit may simplify some of the heavy lifting that you may encounter in fitting out or in operation. In most cases, if the windlass was supplied with the boat, you should look in the owner's or winch operator's manual for the specifics of its operation.
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Things You'll Need
- Windlass Heavy leather gloves Boat owner's manual Windlass/winch operator's manual
Instructions
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Turn the anchor windlass on. If the windlass was part of the boat when you purchased it new, the instructions for starting the anchor winch or anchor windless will be found in the boat owner's manual. Both electric and hydraulic windlasses usually have at least the main switch at the operator's control station.
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2
Control a hydraulic windlass with the friction brake lever adjacent to the winch. Squeeze the handle on the brake lever to move the lever and vary the braking force applied. By varying the brake's application, you can speed the windlass up or slow it down. Electric windlasses are controlled by a rheostat, which may be located at the vessel's control station or in a waterproof box adjacent to the windlass.
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3
If a windlass is not self-tailing--that is, not equipped with an attachment to assure that the line winds on to the windlass levelly--then you will have to guide the line. If the line is a fiber line, the case in almost all recreational boats, a heavy leather glove can be used for this operation. Most modern windlasses for use with chain or wire rope are hydraulic; leveling the line on a hydraulic windlass which is not self-tailing requires two persons with specialized training.
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Secure the load that the windlass has been used to move. If the windlass has been used to raise an anchor, secure the anchor ring to the appropriate deck fixture without removing the connection to the anchor rode. After the load is secured, move the brake or the windlass control switch to the neutral position and allow the strain on the line to release.
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Turn the windlass off. For a hydraulic windlass, this means setting the brake and locking the brake in place, and turning off the hydraulic pump. For the electric windlass, this is usually a matter of throwing a single switch.
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Tips & Warnings
A short length of chain and 2 shackles can be used to secure an anchor to a deck fitting.
Always secure the load and release the strain on a windlass/winch line used for raising anchor, allowing the deck fitting to bear the weight of the anchor. If a line under a strain parts accidentally, it can kill or severely injure a person. The operation of a hydraulic deck windlass requires specialized training and is not recommended for those unacquainted with the procedure. The use of fairleads to control the direction of a line requires prior knowledge and experience with the safe working loads of lines.
