windlass question

[dicor]

I have a simple question about using a windlass. The manual recommends you to tie the anchor line off on a cleat and not use the windlass to hold the line. How many people actually do this? I'm not talking about choppy water or high winds I'm talking about 4 to 5 ft of calm water, low to no current and very light breeze. I'm thinking this would not strain the windlass if I do not tie off, am I thinking right?


PS: Sunday I raised my anchor and was too tired/lazy to throw and eyeball on it after it was up and in place. After getting back to the marina I found that I pulled up a water logged slimy rope that wrapped around my anchor. It was a long rope and I hooked it in the middle. It must have ran under my boat all the way back tickling the out drive but never got tangled in it. VERY LUCKY this time. From now on I check.

 

[skibum]

I'll be the first one to admit that I rarely tie mine off. I don't generally anchor in rough conditions and usually in 12' of water or less. I have a simple test. After the anchor has been set for a few minutes and the boat has time to put its normal load on it, I hop up on the bow and pull on the rode. If I can pull the boat towards the anchor without too much effort, I let the windlass hold it. If I have a hard time pulling the boat towards the anchor, I tie it off.

 

[rcknecht]

Never tie my rode off, but probably should...

 

[Bucit]

Never tie my rode off, but probably should...

+1.

 

[SloBurn]

I have never tied mine either, but only anchor in relatively calm water-under 2 footers-and haven't in high winds yet. I test holding power when in reverse with anchor set, this probably puts more strain on it than just sitting. So far, so good! And, I can see my anchor quite clearly when it's raised, and where I anchor I usually have to climb up front to get all the seaweed off of it, otherwise it STINKS when under way. BTW, to avoid large swings when anchored with one anchor, tie off to spring line cleats on sides of boat. This works great to hold position when anchored, and on my boat, makes it easier to untie.

 

[Adefelice]

First year using a windlass and had the very same question. Also yesterday while testing my new anchor I was getting into position and started to pay out the road when I noticed this yahoo taking off and coming pretty close to us. This caused an obliviously large wake that I wasn't ready for so I tried to let out as much line as possible before the first roller hit us. I guess I didn't let enough out in time because while the waves were passing us I noticed that the windlass was spinning on its own. It held fine after that but didn't know if there was some sort of safety mechanism or load point that allows this to happen or if mine is just tired?

 

[ttmott]

Daytime, good conditions and we are staying with the boat - no bridle
Overnight, challenging conditions or away from the boat - always a bridle.
Also the bridle keeps the anchor chain from banging away all night long.

Bridle is a "Y" setup with a snap hook for the chain and two lines to tie off on the bow forward cleats.

 

[Gofirstclass]

I don't usually secure mine even though it's easy to do. I have a wire rope that's secured through the bow and has a carabiner clip on the end. All I have to do it clip it through a link. Laziness keeps me from doing it.

I ALWAYS have my Galley Wench check the anchor when it comes up because it's usually carrying a large load of salad (sea weed) and/or muck in the flukes. When that happens I leave the anchor just barely in the water and go forward until it's clean. Then I pull the anchor up the rest of the way.

 

[Dani-Lu]

Most of the time, I do not tie it off (i.e. anchored in a protected cove). If i am in rough conditions, I tie it off.

 

[dicor]

Thanks for all the input

 

[Kurt]

I always use a quick loop on the stern end of the cleat to secure.

 

[wyrman]

I always tie the rode off but I mounted a cleat next to it that the rope goes into and the more it pulls the tighter it gets. Then when I want to pull up it automatically pulls out.
http://www.go2marine.com/product/25025F/clamcleat-jam-cleat-racing-midi-5-16.html

 

[JVM225]

I tie mine off. In fact, because the factory cleats are a little off center on either side of the bow, the boat would swing a lot on the hook. I installed a cleat directly in front of the windlass and now when I tie off there isn't a swinging problem.
I replaced my original rope only windlass when it died with a Powerwinch rope/chain free fall model. It's a real piece of crap and I make sure to tie off because the thing probably couldn't stand up to the rode tugging on it.

 

[Lisa Beth]

I have a 1989 Sea Ray Express cruiser. I have a Maxwell Nilsson VO 700SR windlass that I am looking to replace. I would like to know what would bolt up without retrofitting the boat?

 

[Molson]

I always tie it off. I don't want to break a $1000 part. And it will only break when I need it the most.