You have a finger that will work in the photo, what you need is a new Spring which is available from P2 marine for about $24. Someone has swapped out the stud for an M8x40mm bolt which will also work just fine. I have found that sometimes adjusting the tension on that bolt will allow the spring to hold the finger tight against the chain, splice and rope as it passes around the gypsy. Check that before you buy more stuff...
Hello Cocktail Time. Quite coincidentally, we've named our vessel "Twilight Time." I concur with your analysis and have scouted the parts that are available. I shall take the thing apart on Saturday and see what lies under the improvised finger.
Thanks, Mitch, Good advice to which I shall adhere. I have studied all the parts diagrams and understand what you suggest.
Ron, Mike Dixon is a friend of mine and modeled his Progress 1 finger after the one on my boat. He is selling them through P2 marine but I think you can give him a try if he has any in his shop. But I wanted to clarify. Progress 1 models have an 8mm stud at least through 2001/2002 (that's why I suggested an M8 bolt) and there are newer model years of Progress 1 that have a 9mm stud that can also us an M9 bolt. The 9mm models use the "fat" finger.
I have the earlier model Progress 1 with the 8mm stud. When I bought the boat the bolt (not the stud, I think the prior owner already replaced the stud with a bolt) was bent and the spring was damaged. But I bought a new finger/spring kit (they were still available then) I just needed the spring, but the posts on CSR then said that the fingers were hard to find and not made any more. So I ordered one along with the spring. This was around 2010 I think.
Sure, you can email him at the email in your previous post or his phone number is 770-789-7411. I've helped a dozen or so people with this windlass over the last few years and I really think all you need is the spring which is still available from P2.
Walter,
