fitting a windlass to a LM30

[baldrick1]

Hello I'm considering fitting an electric windlass to an LM30 and there is a stainless plate ( on deck and roof below of forepeak / cabin ) ,where I guess one went before behind the anchor hatch .
Any advice you could give and photos would be most helpful and for example how does the chain feedback if the windlass is mounted behind the hatch?
Paul
Dorset 07874 710013

[Sula]

Hi Baldrick, in case it is of any help to you in thinking out your options -

I don't have an LM30, but an LM27. It has a horizontal (axis) windlass mounted partly behind and partly overhanging the anchor chain, so that the chain coming off the bottom of the windlass falls directly into the chain locker. In that respect it works extremely well, but it has disadvantages.

There is not enough room (on the LM27) between the windlass and the bow roller for the shank of the anchor, when not deployed, to lie on the deck, so it has to sit resting on the windlass. (Sorry, the Forum won't accept pictures at the moment.)

There is also too little room between the windlass and bow roller to easily accommodate a chain hook and line to take the load of the deployed anchor and chain to a cleat (it should not be left held only by the windlass, though many do that). There are work arounds for that (e.g. take the line through a fairlead and attach it to the chain outboard iof the boat), but it is not always as convenient as it might be. The wooden mounting plate for the windlass covers one corner of the opening to the anchor locker, so the anchor chain lid has been cut down to suit.

I think a vertical (axis) windlass mounted immediately behind the anchor locker is one solution for an automatic drop. I know some people (with non-LM boats) have their windlass some distance behind the anchor locker, and just manhandle chain back into the locker (not an attractive solution in the muddy areas I currently sail in).

Another, more drastic, solution is to cut a hole in the deck to the rear of the bulkhead between the anchor locker and forecabin, and fabricate an angled pipe or trough/slide down into the anchor locker. It would need to slope down at quite a steep angle to be effective.

Good luck with your project.

[Brian & Glenda]

I once did offered some information regarding the anchor windlass for my LM32 on this site, that included some photos: lmowners.proboards.com/thread/642/electric-windlass

You might also try the 'Search' function of this forum (just under the lead banner right after the home and help function buttons) which will bring up lots of addition discussion on the topic.

Hope that helps, let me know if you wish further info on my installation.
Cheers,
Brian.

[baldrick1]

Thank you very much this gives me lots of food for thought but it's interesting there seems to be a few variants .
I wonder what's the manufacturer's did when it was an option on a new boat