Anchor rope getting stuck

JimmyDubai

JimmyDubai

Member
Oct 13, 2015
351
Dubai, UAE
Boat Info
Sundancer 290 1996, one big block Mercruiser 7.4 LT
Simrad Go9 XSE + 3G radar
Engines
One, Mercruiser 7.4 V8, 310 HP
Hi,

I have 10 ft of chain (works great on the windlass) and about 50 ft of rope which gets stuck when pulling up the anchor. I have to pull it from underneath. How can I solve this issue?

Anch1.jpg
 

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Jimmy, what do you mean by "stuck"? Slipping on the gypsy? Is the gypsy slipping (clutch)? Do you ONLY have 50' of rope (should have more), or do you mean ONLY the first 50' will get stuck (again, please explain)? Are you using the windlass to pull the boat forward as you retrieve the anchor (should use engine power for that)?
 
Rope is most likely twisted up. Try feeding it all the way out, then pull back in. That will help it straighten up.
 
dvx216 said:
I think he is having a problem with the rope getting stuck in the spurling pipe down to the locker
Click to expand...
OK, if that's the case... the rope is likely just stiff and twisted up. There's multiple ways to do this, but I like to untie the line from the boat (inside the locker) and then go for a ride in an open area. Pay the line out behind you (making sure to avoid the props) for a few minutes. The line will un-twist itself very quickly. You also may need to wash the rope real well (can be done in the locker) and then soak with fabric softener to get the salt out. Last resort is to get yourself some new line and splice it into the chain.
 
The whole thing has been working fine for the past two years but in the past couple of trips that I've done I've had to pull the rope from the locker with one hand while the other is pressing the UP switch momentarily; the rope gets stuck in the gypsy. I actually want to replace the rope with a full length chain but I've been told that Lewmar's chain is not readily available in my area; i tried a few and I couldn't find the dimensions I wanted. If I don't pull the rope, it will tangle in the teeth of the gypsy.
 
Yup, sounds like it's just twisted up. Untwisting anchor line is just one of those things that has to be done every so often.
 
Will give it a try!!
 
Good luck. I'm assuming your water is pretty salty where you are - so you're fighting that, too (making the rope stiff).
 
Will it help if I flush it with fresh water while untwisting it?
 
JimmyDubai said:
Will it help if I flush it with fresh water while untwisting it?
Click to expand...

Not if you're doing it the way I mentioned (dragging it behind the boat)! You'd be fighting an awful large pot of salt water :)

I've found a convenient way to clean the rode is to simply do it right there in the locker, or in a pail on deck.
 
And be sure you have a swivel on the anchor end and that it is free to twist.

You should also file and smooth out those teeth/jaws on the gypsy so it doesn't tare up the rode with the burrs
 
Yep, thanks!
 
I also have this issue from time to time, but mine is also slipping on the gypsy as well. I usually cut of the offending length where this happens so I'm using a fresh section of line every year. It seems to happen at the first 10 feet of payout, so I am shortening my line every year. 100' of line will last me about 5 years, then I replace it.
 
Do you have a chain section? If you do, you must be an expert is splicing?. I really need to solve this issue; my arm is suffering from the pulling inside the locker !!
 
If I don't have enough tension on the rode it sometimes gets jammed... I keep an allen wrench on board to remove the capstan head to untangle the rode. I you continue to try to raise you anchor you may blow the fuse... The simple answer is keep tension on the rode and watch to see if it binds up...
 
Had a very similar problem. Had to reach into the locker and keep a light tension on the anchor line so that it wouldn't knot up or jam in the gypsy wheel. Tried switching the rope end for end and resplicing to chain, tried soaking rope in fabric softener and even installed a nice swivel.

But in the end the solution was to add 50' of chain to the existing 25'. Now I rarely see the rope come out of the locker.
 
I'm glad I purchased a new anchor set up this year for my new to me 290 DA to replace the POS pieced together anchor rope and chain the previous owner had. No more jams. It's worth the few $$$ to not have to walk around the windscreen and screw around pulling the rope down into the locker.

Maybe it's time to bit the bullet and purchase a new set up
 
I went with eight plait braded line when I installed my windlass this spring. It is very flexible and can't kink, lays nicely in the anchor locker. Three strand can be difficult to get to lay evenly in the locker.
 
Yea, if only I could find the chain size that I need I would be over and done with it; I will give it another try over the weekend.
 
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