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Windlass
Capstan
Often referred to as a drum, rope drum, or warping
drum. The capstan is primarily used for hauling rope.
Free Fall
Release of the winch clutch mechanism allowing the anchor and rode (chain or
rope and chain) to run out freely with no engagement of winch gearbox or motor.
Gypsy
Often referred to as chainwheel or wildcat. A special wheel with pockets, to
accommodate a specified chain size, for hauling up the chain and anchor. With
automatic rope/chain systems the gypsy is designed to haul both rope and chain.
Horizontal
Pertaining to the winch or windlass. Drive shaft, capstan and gypsy are
positioned horizontally to the deck.
Vertical
Pertaining to the winch or windlass. The drive shaft, capstan and gypsy are
positioned vertically to the deck.
Winch
A windlass driven by a hand or power-operated crank or gearbox. Often
implies to pull or lift a weight by using a winch.
Windlass
A machine for raising a weight by winding a rope and/or chain around a drum
or chainwheel, driven by a crank, motor, etc.
Working load
Often referred to as the normal working load or the typical lift of the
winch. This is usually somewhere between 25% to 35% of the maximum pull or rated
lift. This workload should approximately correspond to the total weight of the
anchor and rode aboard the boat.
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Vertical vs Horizontal Windlass
Vertical systems have several advantages: They take up less space on deck and
are easier to maintain. They are less expensive than equivalent horizontal
models. Chain alignment for smooth chain retrieval, while important, is not as
critical as horizontal windlass alignment. With vertical systems more chain is
in contact with the chainwheel thus avoiding the possibility of chain jump.
Line-pull on the warping drum can be in any direction, as opposed to fore and
aft only on horizontal models.
Horizontal models have the advantage of being better suited to applications
where there is limited below deck space / accessibility, extreme deck thickness
(over 200mm - 8"), or where two anchors must be handled from one winch. |
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