Stern windlass on Sundancer 290, 1996

A

Andreas-Asander

New Member
Jul 27, 2010
11
Sweden
Boat Info
290 Sundancer 1996
Engines
454 Mercrusier 7.4l w/Bravo II Drive
Hi,

I am thinking about getting a windlass for my 1996, Sea Ray Sundancer 290, DA. Since all ports where we live are made for anchoring with the bow towards the port I am trying to figure out if it is possible to mount a windlass in the stern or not.

I have a single engine and no generator so there is some room in the engine space where the generator normally would have been. However, I am not sure its possible to "route" the rope or chain slightly upwards in a diagonal direction, coming out on the swim platform.

Has anyone here mounted a windlass in the stern of a SD 290?

BR
Andreas
 
Haven't seen one myself... but where there's a will there's a way. Aside from the actual cutting of holes and fiberglassing/gelcoating, there's a structural element to think of. Where will the windlass be mounted? Amidships? In the locker? I'll say that it's an interesting venture, at the least! I'm certainly not saying it can't be done - will just take some very careful planning.

You could make a chain fall out of a piece of PVC pipe, but you'd have to experiment with the angle to be sure the rope would fall through (chain will be less of a problem). The greater distance that the rope is allowed to fall from the end of the pipe, the better. Depending on how much rode (and type) you're carrying, you'll need somewhere between 2'-3' of fall space.

But, can you explain the situation a little further? I'm unfamiliar with the anchoring setup you're talking about. If you're in a slip, wouldn't you just use the cleats? If you're "on the hook" somewhere, I don't understand the need for "must" anchor off the stern?
 
With the bow in, is it like a reverse Med Mooring to get your bow line taught?

Would you be using all chain?

I would hesitate to mount the windlass in the ER, but I can picture how it could be done under a transom seat given the room. Unfortunately, in my brain, I also see your swim platform being unusable if you want a free fall operation.
 
Andreas,

I seem to recall reading a thread about the install of a rear windlass by one of our other European members a while back. It was quite a while and I can't remember who posted it. In that case the windlass was installed on the swim platform itself in a sort of box affair and the line was stored in the transom locker.

I'm familiar with the kind of anchoring you are talking about. We anchor in tidal channels where it can be either too crowded to have a lot of boats swinging with the tide change, or the channel is too narrow to accommodate the amount of scope needed. We often use a stern anchor. I have an aluminum Fortress (danforth style) and deploy by hand. We just set the bow anchor and let out more scope than needed and the chuck the stern anchor off the swim platform and pull ahead retrieving the excess bow scope.

Henry
 
Henry Boyd said:
I'm familiar with the kind of anchoring you are talking about. We anchor in tidal channels where it can be either too crowded to have a lot of boats swinging with the tide change, or the channel is too narrow to accommodate the amount of scope needed. We often use a stern anchor.
Click to expand...

Ah. That would make more sense. I took it to mean anchoring off the stern ONLY.
 
We use 2 anchors all the time around here. Bascially we do what Henry stated above but I have a plow type anchor (like your main anchor) and I keep it and the line in the transom locker.
 
Not sure why on a 26 foot boat you would need a windless? If you need something, just put a manual wench in.
 
mistercomputerman said:
You don't have to worry about this with whatever you are trying to do?

http://www.tampabay.com/news/public...yers-boat-in-gulf-accident-that-killed/987524
Click to expand...

Those guys were not smart from the get go. 4 large men in a 21' boat that has maybe 14" of freeboard and head out offshore with a looming storm in the near future. A stuck anchor (let's see, 2 of the guys played in the NFL and had money) but instead of just cutting the line and buying a new anchor they decode to try and pull it free by hooking it to the rear cleats.
 
Agreed. My only concern is whatever the original poster was planning on doing, that he did not replicate that outcome.
 
Hi,

Well, I wouldn't worry to much about making decisions like that. Especially since sweden has some alcohol rules that are as strict on the sea as on the road :)

I would probably not be mounting the actual windlass inside the engine room for the reasons mentioned. Its probably a better idea to have the windlass on the swim platform and the rope in the ER.. But still.. how will this be done in a good way, rope needs to take an odd route to get inteo the ER.

The reason why I would need to anchor from the stern is that we always go with the bow first. There is no tide water and the port is simply to high to climb up on from the stern / swim platform. When anchoring in strong wind, either alone or the wife making sure that the kids aren't getting in the way, its really helpful if able to drop the anchor by the press of a button and then get enough time to get to the bow and make sure not crashing into some other boat or the port.. All in all, its pretty much the same as why you have a windlass on the bow as well.. and, its a 29" boat that takes a lot of wind as we often go with the full camper enclosure up due to weather and temperatur in sweden not always give reason for cabbing down and putting on the swim trunks :)

BR
Andreas
 
Bucit,
Since you have a 2005 model you have a locker in the transom which makes this a lot more convenient.
However, on the 290, 1996 there is no transom locker to put the anchor in.
So, storing the anchor is one part of the "stern anchoring solution" I am looking for.
That part is probably pretty easy, just get rid of the original swim platform ladder and install a pivoting anchor roller that extends over the swim platform.


The part of the solution that I am looking for advice on is how the windlass would be mounted (outside or inside the transom, where to store the line, if storing the line in the ER, how to setup the "routing" of the line and also how to avoid flooding the engine room in case of waves pounding up the swim platform.

If setting up the storage of the line on the inside of the transom and below the bench, how to do this in a way where it is still possible to take out the engine room "covers".
 
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