Boat Master
Motor Boat & Yachting|August 2017

GONE WITH

THE WINDLASS

Last time I was out on the boat – a Fairline Phantom 50 – it struck me whether I should be concerned about the strain on my electric windlass when retrieving the anchor. Is it okay to haul the whole lot in one go or does that put too much strain on the motor and risk damage? Michael Crowley

Boat Master

It depends on the age of the windlass but a modern one should be able to handle hauling the anchor and chain up in one go, especially if you’re anchoring in shallows and don’t need to retrieve a couple of hundred feet of chain and run the motor for an extended period of time.

It’s worth trying to make the work as easy as possible for the windlass by keeping the boat straight and to make the angle as kind as possible. If the chain is at an angle, then the windlass will have to fight against the weight of the boat, adding unnecessary strain on the motor. Send a crew member to the bow and get them to send signals to the helm so the skipper can align the boat in the best position to give the chain the easiest ride back into the roller.

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