Windless system

[miked910]

ok, so i know we want a windless anchor system on our boat and I'm going to use a winch system that i have. Im not all knowing about searays so thats why I'm on here. On the front of most boats(just not mine) i see something like a metal slide and a catch that holds the anchors. I need to know the name of these parts. The set up of the winch will be inside my anchor hatch out of sight.

Good idea or bad?

 

[Lazy Daze]

This might be easier if you post a few pictures (just to make sure we know exactly what is on there as opposed to some contraption that a PO put on there). It would also be good to know more about this "winch system".

Start googling things like "windlass", "anchor roller", "bow roller". The 245 (are you sure you have a Sundancer and not a Weekender?) may only have a very small bow roller, which isn't designed for storing the anchor. What year is your boat?

 

[miked910]

its a 1981 245 sun dancer. there isn't anything on it right now, just the hatch to store the anchor. but i hate going back and forth to drop or pull the anchor back up.

 

[miked910]

well i was told it was a sun dancer, how do i know for sure if its a weekender

 

[Lazy Daze]

OK, the year clears up some things, that helps. You can put that in your signature info to help in the future.

Installing a windlass isn't rocket science (I did it on my boat). But it does take some planning and a considerable amount of labor/time to do it properly. How much room is up in the bow? Do you have enough room to mount the anchor roller, a center cleat, a hawse pipe and the windlass? You might have to permanently bolt down your hatch depending on where it is and then install a new hatch (can you get to your locker via the cabin?). You might actually need to install a bow pulpit to support the anchor roller if the anchor roller will be extending too far off the bow, unsupported.

 

[Lazy Daze]

well i was told it was a sun dancer, how do i know for sure if its a weekender

Well, this was when I was thinking it was a somewhat newer boat. But, below your HIN #, there should be a model designation (I think this was in use by 1981, but not positive). You can also look at the old brochures on Sea Ray's website to match it up.

 

[miked910]

its a sun dancer from sea rays older pictures, id like to attach one of the teak wood platforms to the from along with an anchor system

 

[KC_Sundancer]

Here's a few pictures of how I added our windlass and what was used (copied from our restoration thread).
Same thing only having the anchor locker door originally.
This is on our 270DA but the same concept will work on yours.

Just finished installing a Lewmar ProFish 700 freefall windlass with 300 feet of 8 plait line, 20 feet of chain and a 25 lb. Manson anchor on a Lewmar Bow Roller. I chose to remove the old pulpit and anchor locker hatch replacing it with a single piece. The new teak pulpit was made by Ship Shop Marine Carpentry in Fort Pierce Florida (772-215-9925). They did an excellent job for about half the price I found anywhere else in the country. I finished it with 5 coats of Epifanes Wood Finish Gloss. To securely attach and spread the windlass load; I used (3) bolts through the deck and (2) angles across the hatch opening. The angles "clamp" the aft end to the deck using the threaded rods from the windlass. I also wired the windlass with a reversing breaker so I can add controls on the deck at a later date.

 

[miked910]

thanks KC thats what i was looking for..