90s 270DA Windlass Retrofit II

MonacoMike

MonacoMike

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2009
14,721
Indiana lakes and Lake Michigan
Boat Info
2000 Cruisers 3870
8.2 Mercs
Engines
85 Sea Ray Monaco 197
260hp Alpha 1
MLauman shared his experience and photos of his windlass retrofit so I wanted to do the same. I could not find any other vertical windlass retrofits for the 90s 270DA. I was working with a rigger of 30 years experience on this install so technically I was the helper.

The process was not any different than others have previously detailed installing the horizontal windlass. The anchor locker door was reinforced with ¾ plywood, through screwed to the deck, and sealed with 5200 to the deck. We were able to use the latch opening for one of the foot switches. We also had to open the bulkhead behind the mirror in the cabin for access to the windlass motor and rode.

The Lewmar V700 install went as planned with few surprises. One surprise was the need for a controller to add the foot switches and then figuring out a wiring plan to use the heavy duty 4 pole helm switch with it in place of buying another 3 pole switch.

I was pleased with the looks and function once it was complete and would recommend this as a great project to others.

MM

bow1.jpg


Bowin1.jpg
 
Looks great, Mike! what is that white dome thingy near the top of the first pic? GPS antenna?
 
That is really nice! I don't think it could have turned out any better.
 
Thank you very much for this post with pictures. It looks great!
 
So do you no longer have access to the anchor locker except through he cabin bulkhead? It looks like you sealed the original locker hatch.

John
 
Loneranger said:
So do you no longer have access to the anchor locker except through he cabin bulkhead? It looks like you sealed the original locker hatch.

John
Click to expand...

Yes it is sealed. That is the way they came from Sea Ray from my research if they had the windlass option. My bulkhead was sealed before we cut it open to access the underside. This minimizes the risk of water intrusion from water coming over the bow. We did ponder the idea of installing a small access point but decided to take a wait and see approach. We have not had a need for one to date. MM
 
Hello Mike

I just purchased a 1996 Sea Ray 270 DA and couldn't be happier! I want to add a windlass and was confused as to which style I should buy. I see you used the Lewmar V700 and I thought the install was described as a horizontal style windlass. When I googled it I came up with a pdf and description saying this is a vertical style windlass:

http://www.lewmar.com/%5Cassets%5Cimg%5Cdataset%5CManual-V700_65001022iss2.pdf

from this site:

http://www.lewmar.com/products.asp?id=8335&type=111&channel=1

My question is this the windlass you used on your boat?


 
I used the V700 and it is a vertical windlass. After 3 years I have had great success with this windlass and it looks great. Here is a thread for a horizontal install for comparison.

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/32183-90s-270DA-Windlass-Retrofit

The thing you cannot skimp on Is the rode, it must be an 8 plait to fall into the locker and it will cost more than a 3 strand line. I have 200 feet of line and 50 feet of chain, when I put most of it out I have to have to have a mate distribute it in the locker so more can fall in.

This project was so worth doing, but is not cheap to do right. Do you have the anchor rollers?

MM
 
Thanks for the quick response Mike. Is the vertical Lewmar V700 a better fit than the horizontal? Forgive my ignorance but I just moved up from a 19 foot Seaswirl cuddy and not sure what the anchor rollers are. I know this though. When I dropped the anchor for the 1st time the chain spun out quickly between what looked like a roller assembly and it dropped like a rock.

I'm going out to the boat this weekend and will post a picture to verify if that does not adequatly describe what I think may be the anchor rollers. Not sure what a 8 plait rode is either but a quick search turned this up:

http://www.amazon.com/Lewmar-plait-Windlass-Rode-200/dp/B000SMYMTU

I see this is not going to be cheap but pulling that anchor in (even in the shallow Barnaget Bay) is a bear!
 
capemayrich said:
Here's a picture of my pulpit. Are these anchor rollers?
View attachment 32356
Click to expand...

Yes, the stainless steel rails are attached to the pulpit then they have a black roller between them above the deck and extend down in the front and have another roller there. Mine has 5 attachment points instead of 4 I see on yours. That roller is a Sea Ray only part and lists for near $800. That is why I asked, it can be the killer if you have to buy it too. The roller will align the correct anchor and hold in place. A swivel helps this as well. The roller holds a 22 lbs. Lewmar Delta Fastset well.

As for the 8 plait anchor line question:

Lets start at the beginning. Some boats have an anchor locker the size of a 55 gallon drum or even bigger so when the windlass pulls up the rode it also pushes it into the locker. The windlass requires a minimum amount of fall (depth in the locker) or the rode gathers right where the windlass is trying to push it, jams it, and will not let more in the locker. You and I do not have huge lockers, we have very small lockers that do not meet the fall requirements of many or any windlass instructions. We can make up for that by getting a type of line that is more flexible and will fall in a tighter pattern in the locker. Think about trying to put your garden hose in the locker, it wouldn't lay flat. Neither will a 3 strand, but the tighter woven 8 plait lays down as well as anything they make so more will lay in a smaller locker. I still have to have a mate knock the pile down in the locker if I have all of it out, but not often.

MM
 
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I realize this is an old post, but wondering, when reinforcing the hatch cover, is the ply bigger then the hatch cover? Or does it just cover the hatch? Thanks
 
Bob Q said:
I realize this is an old post, but wondering, when reinforcing the hatch cover, is the ply bigger then the hatch cover? Or does it just cover the hatch? Thanks
Click to expand...

It was bigger than the hatch opening so when the windlass was bolted through it clamped the hatch down to the deck to secure it in place. Like a sandwich. windlass in the hatch door, hatch door in the deck opening, under the deck opening the plywood support. The hatch was secured with 5200 and looks just the same today as when I took the install photos.

MM
 
Thanks! Doing the same on the same boat, thanks for taking the time to answer!

Bob
 
Bob Q said:
Thanks! Doing the same on the same boat, thanks for taking the time to answer!

Bob
Click to expand...

Have you begun buying the parts? The wire run is the hardest part to do neatly. You will have to remove a lot of things on the galley side.. We pulled the microwave etc. to get through there.

MM
 
I’m working on the wiring now, doing the same, it’s off season here so working on it slowly, it 10f out.
 
The boat is all shrink wrapped so I figured I would run all the inside wiring now, I have a heater so it’s not so bad inside, then in the spring install the windlass, so far a fun project!
 
One more question, how did mount your circuit breaker and contractor? The regular type breaker came with my windlass, but may get a round one that will easily fit in the box in the bilge?

Thanks
 
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