tophatyachts.com

I have just been reading an article by Alan Lucas on the pros and cons of vertical and horizontal anchor winches, particularly focussing on the fitting to the deck and the capture of the rode (both chain and rope).
I would like to know what types other Top Hatters have fitted and the location of these winches and hawse pipes. Have you fitted electric or manually operated ones? Some photos would be great to see.
Thanks,
Kevin
Wayward Lady, a Mk111
Williamstown, Vic

Here you go Kevin,
This is Seaka's bow with a Muir hand winch-only used it twice- with the hawse pipe reversed so a sea will not enter while underway.

Thanks Phillip, I presume that the anchor locker is different in the Mark 1 to the Mark 3 - this will impact on the positioning of the winch.
The vertical windlass certainly takes up a lot less room than some of the horizontal ones that I have been looking at. Given the lack of room with hanked on Jibs, this will be an important consideration.
Kevin
Wayward Lady, a Mark 1111
Williamstown, Vic

Kevin,

Mark 1s do not have an anchor locker that you can get to from the deck.
It only has the hawser as access for rope or chain, but you can get to it through the forward bulkhead.

I have recently done a heap of work on my anchor system. Still testing it. I bought a 2nd hand Southpacific winch and installed it.

Long story, but in short, I fabricated a removable bottom section for the anchor well giving an added drop of 30 cm. Removable because I would not otherwise have access to the forward bowsprit nuts. Anchor well lid bolts closed. Have hand-held controller with enough length to reach the bow but can also use in cockpit.

I will be putting up a thread giving more details sometime down the track.

troppo

Louis,

What have you got to hold the anchor on the bow or do you still have to go forward and get it out of the locker?

My current practice is to have the anchor sitting on the roller ready to drop when needed. I don't think I would sail with it like that as it could bump the hull since it curves around a fair bit. My time is spent on the river at the moment so the anchor is ok sitting there. I'll take some more pics and post them up.

Crikey, the hinges and latch on your anchor well cover must be pretty beefy to take the windlass thrust.

Cheers, Graeme

I replaced the hinge bolts with bigger ones (in fact replaced the hinges), there is a through-bolt at the back of the hatch which means it is bolted down (and I will probably put in another one or two). I assume the direction of most of the force would be shear tension on the hatch and there would be a little lifting pressure at the back of the hatch given the angles of pull. So, when the winch is operating, the force will be basically trying to slide the hatch forward but it can't go anywhere because the rim is holding it in place and so are the hinge bolts and the threaded rod. When anchored, the rode goes around to the old main cleat so no actual anchoring forces on the winch.

Well, I hope it holds. Perhaps I should install a cam so I can catch the moment the hatch rips out. : )

troppo

Might be a good idea Troppo and then you can see what failed first