lofrans windlass slipping

[Bronik290]

My 2000 290 Sundancer with a lofrans windlass progress 1 will pull up the chain but is slipping on the line. I have seen other posts that mention a finger that keep tension??

Any helpful response will be appreciated.....

 

[The Bill Collector]

yesterday on the hook I found the same issue when it came to pull the anchor up. I found with a little tension (not too much where the windless is pulling the boat) the windlass does not slip near as much...

 

[HUMPH]

You need to replace the spring on the finger. Your windlass may have the finger post that is threaded which makes it harder. The late finger posts have a set screw and are much easier to remove. Do a search and you will find springs and finger kits. I would imagine you need a new spring but on my 2002 320DA, I had to replace the finger assembly as well as it was bent a little.

 

[scoflaw]

Age of the rode plays into it as well. Salt water will harden line. Keeping tension on the rode works well. I usually winch my boat in with the windlass. That is one tough little motor. Worked well on my last boat as well, and havn't killed one yet.

 

[HUMPH]

You can wash the rode and soak it in a large bucket with fabric softener and water. Let it dry on the dock and reel it back into the locker. Helps with dock lines, why not anchor rode?

 

[CliffA]

You can wash the rode and soak it in a large bucket with fabric softener and water. Let it dry on the dock and reel it back into the locker. Helps with dock lines, why not anchor rode?

i soaked my anchor rode in a 5 gallon bucket solution of water, fabric softner, and tide washing machine detergent for a few hours....then i straightened it out on my driveway and used my pressure washer to clean the rode....it was nasty when i started but came out looking like new when i finished...


cliff

 

[Bucit]

I had the same issue and thought the rode was getting worn so I had an old salty gal come out and re-do it. It helped but it still slips if there is no tension on the line. I need to repalce this year anyways since I only have 100' of line. I'm going with 8 plait so hopefully I don't have this problem in the future.

 

[Sadler]

I've posted this several times, but I gave up on my Lofrans with rope rode--see my earlier posts changed spring, capstan, line, etc--and went with all chain. I anchor a lot, and nothing would stop the slipping.

 

[scoflaw]

All chain may work if there are no waves. If you anchor in chop or larger, all chain will rip your boat apart

 

[doubletrouble]

You should have a black arm thing in your rope storage area on the front deck. Use this and tighten down the clutch, this may be also why it is slipping. I just replaced the tens finger on mine because the thread stub broke off, not an easy fix, but the new finger I ordered is thicker and much stronger.

 

[Sadler]

All chain may work if there are no waves. If you anchor in chop or larger, all chain will rip your boat apart

Not true. I've anchored with all chain for years in all types of weather with very good holding and no problems. All chain really shines when you are sleeping and the anchor must reset after tide change.

 

[scoflaw]

Not true. I've anchored with all chain for years in all types of weather with very good holding and no problems. All chain really shines when you are sleeping and the anchor must reset after tide change.

Somethings got to give if your boat is pitching and swinging when it changes direction, Either your anchor or your clutches are slipping, if it aint bangin like your hittin a cement wall. If all chain was the solution, everyone would be doing it

 

[Sadler]

Somethings got to give if your boat is pitching and swinging when it changes direction, Either your anchor or your clutches are slipping, if it aint bangin like your hittin a cement wall. If all chain was the solution, everyone would be doing it

With the correct scope, a section of chain lays on the bottom and as the boat pulls it lifts the section of chain that is on the bottom up and down. This is what "gives". My boat has never jerked or shuddered. If it did, I'd use a snubber, but it's never been a problem in roughly 3 years of all chain anchoring, and I've been in some pretty intense waves and wind at anchor. Last time I looked the windlass and chain stopper were still attached to the boat and nothing was ripped apart. There are two other boats in our group with all chain, and they too haven't had anything rip apart.

 

[MartellFlorida]

Back on topic...
I had the same issue with my lofrans marlin and it was an easy fix. Imtra is the north american dealer for Lofrans and they have a good support team. A replacement spring for the tension finger is $23 or so and fixed my slippage issue.

Imtra Corporation

30 Samuel Barnet Boulevard

New Bedford, Massachusetts

02745 USA

Tel. 1508995-7000

Fax 1508998-5359

jim@imtra.com

www.imtra.com

 

[Sadler]

A new spring may just be all the OP needs. In my case, I went through several and each time I changed it, the slipping would start again after awhile. The weak link in that windlass design is the spring in my opinion. Because they make it out of stainless, it has poor memory and looses its spring force. I looked for a similar spring made using spring steel planning to paint it to keep corrosion down, but couldn't find one.