Windlass Troubles

[bwweaver360]

The windlass on our 360 stopped working last weekend in the middle of retrieving the anchor while we were at the beach.  All I am getting is a loud clicking sound coming from a box that is located behind the sub woofer on the starboard side of the boat.  I think that this box is some kind control/relay box.  

I am not really sure how this windlass is wired and I was hoping that someone could give me some idea of how the power is getting from the battery to the windlass.  Beside the control/relay box, the flag fuse, the windlass and the toggle switch is there anything else in the windlass wiring?  Has anyone else had this problem?


Thanks,

[Black_Diamond]

Are you sure it's electrical?  I had mine 'go out' and it turned out to be the nut on the windlass loosened (it's made to loosen if you needed an emergency release).  I used a channel lock to get it to work.  I never got the wrench with the boat (new) so I had to buy one for keeping it tight.  Might be worth checking.  It will run, just not hoist.

[Rob_boater]

Did you try dropping then bringing the anchor back up.  

Also check the circuit breaker for the windlass on the panel near the battery switches.

[mflauer]

Same thing happened to mine this past weekend (2005 Fiesta Vee 342). I tried to drop the anchor and all I got was clicking with hitting the switch regardless of the position of the control breaker on the dash with no movement of the windlass. I tried the breaker at the battery switch compartment a couple of times and checked to see it was binding anywhere and it wasn't. I hit the breaker a 4th time and then it started working again and has been OK since. Still not quite sure what happened. Thank g-d it was working during my harrowing Delaware ride because the anchor kept loosening up and I had to reel it back in about a dozen times and it was too rough to go to the bow and try to tie it off!

[Black_Diamond]

read the manual..it sounds like the clutch bolt like i mentioned above.  If it loosens it won't lift or hold.

[mflauer]

read the manual..it sounds like the clutch bolt like i mentioned above.  If it loosens it won't lift or hold.

That sounds like what must have happened because though it wasn't loose, it sure wasn't tight. By the way, what is a manual

[Black_Diamond]

The bolt does not have to be loose for it not to work, but it does need to be tight.

[bwweaver360]

Thanks for all of the suggestions.  It turned out being the fuse located in the battery switch panel.  I did not know that there was a windlass fuse located there because I could not see the fuse due to the fact that they are located on the top of of the panel but once you get down on the floor you can see them. 

Thanks,

Brant & Jen
Dream Weaver - 360EC

[eddie]

I have a 2002 270 fiesta vee. my windlass stops now and then. it seems that on mine the line gets caught in the windlass when retrieving upward. i have to loosen the windlass nut and un jamm it. then it works okay. hope this helps

[merwin10]

Hi All -

Windlasses can be problematic if you don't have a swivel connection at the anchor! What happens is as the boat spins on its anchor it twists the rode, when you pull up the anchor these twists cause knots to from either at the windless or worse yet in the rode locker.

If you find this happening let out all of the rode on land and take the twist out then install a swivel at the anchor between the last link in the rode and the shank of the anchor. Now as the boat spins on the anchorage the swivel spins and not the rode!

Believe me when I say it is not fun when you come into a crowded anchorage and you push the button for the anchor to go down and nothing happens it get jammed in the rode locker  panic! Now you need someone to go down and unknot the rode, most of the time out of hearing reach, while the captain tries to keep the boats position! Not much fun!

Mike - 

[rdlegacy]

I too, like most of us, have had windless issues.  Most are like those described in these responses.  One puzzling issue was  that the rode would get 'stuck' as it crossed over the clutch at the splice of the rode/chain.   Another symptom that I noticed was that the gypsy (the clutch whell) was getting beaten up, dented and such.

After talking with the company who advised me to make sure I have the correct 'gypsy' matched with the correct rode/chaing...., I found that they were not matched.  The line/chain was one size too large for the gypsy that was on the windlass, it was 5/8" and should have been 1/2"!

You all probably know that Rinker (nor any boat mfg.) does not provide the anchor / rode / chain.  Those are installed by the dealer, so not all boats will have the same set up.

So, this means that my dealer installed an incorrect rode/chain size for my boat.  They they were either ignorent, made an honest mistake, or did not care.  I had to order a new rode anyway since it had become too chewed up by the slipping, and a lot of chaffing in the first 40' or so.

Some may now be asking..., "How can I tell if I have the right match?".  Remove the gypsy (clutch), check the number on the back and compare that number to the listing in the owners manual for your windless.  It will tell you what size rode and chain is the correct size for your gypsy...(or as some say the clutch).  You also need to know what size rode you have...i.e. 1/2" or 5/8" or whatever for your boat.  This is also good knowledge if you need to order a replacement.  You can also purchase replacement gypsy's at most marine supply shops, but they are more expensive than a new rode/chain!

When installing a new rode there will be a lot of 'twisting' as Merwin10 was describing, and a lot of strecth.  I laid it all out in the street and Pam and I took as much out as we could before intalling in the boat.

Also.....the new ancor line will have its own 15' of chain spliced into the rode.  I would suggest that you remove the chain from your old one and add it (using a link you need to buy) to the new one to give you more chain...which is always a good thing.  Most will come with 15', so now you will have 30' of chain and will find that setting the anchor is now easier.

Bob