www.iFourWinns.com

My 268 has a windlass, but right now the only thing holding the anchor up to the boat is the windlass clutch. Shouldn't there be a short piece of chain, or a safety latch or something so if the clutch gives way, the anchor won't go falling down?

If you look in the picture below, you can see my windlass setup. Right in front of the windlass is what looks like it could be something used as a safety latch, but its to big to go through the chain. Any ideas?

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Isn't there a one way "door" inside that triangle? That's the chain stopper. The rode link passes a slot in the chain stopper and will close with the weight of the anchor.

Standard chain stopper on m 298

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-Tom
2003 298 Vista

I'm missing that piece. Makes perfect sense now.

I take it I remove that piece to drop the anchor, and put it back in place when I've raised it?

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

No...that "door" just flips up and out of the way when you want to drop anchor. No need to take it off at all.

Yep the direction of the stopper in the pic is how it faces on the deck. It can open toward aft but not toward the bow. You can either pull the pin and lift it out or swing it up aft depending on how tight your rode passes through.

Edit: Wetdoggg makes a good point. Now that I look closer it looks like the previous owners took the remove approach and lost the door. There should be a metal wire holding the pin to the door so that doesn't happen.

Could be tough just finding the door, you need to make sure it fits your rode size.

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-Tom
2003 298 Vista

I got it. Flip it up to drop anchor, then leave it. When you retrieve the anchor the chain will pass back through it on its own?

Now how can I get just that center section....

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

You should have the center section somewhere on the boat. I took mine off and stashed it. I don't use it. I just tighten the clutch once in a while, I live with the chance of the anchor dropping when I don't want it to. If that did happen, I would hear hear it and stop the boat. I guess there is some risk of the chain banging up the bow gel coat, if I accidently deploy at speed. But my chain stopper is a PITA, it would not stay out of the way. Had the same setup on the previous boat. I guess I'm living dangerously. BTW I also don't cleat the line when I anchor for a few hours, I just let the windlass take the load. Life's too short.

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2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

Do you also run with scissors?

With the ridiculous cost of a windlass I want as little stress on it as possible. I always use the stopper and cleat when I anchor.

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-Tom
2003 298 Vista

http://www.marinepartdepot.com/new316ststan.html

Great place for great prices on nicely finished stainless goodies...

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Brett DiMichele

+1 on all of the above, to me having the chain stopper was a PITA!!

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

And .........

We do not have a windlass so that stopper is our only way of securing the anchor when up. Here's a little story ....

July 4th of this year, we were out on Winni for the day and then over to Wolfeboro Harbor for the fireworks. Was a windy day and the lake was rather sloppy all day, especially at the south-east end as the wind was pretty much out of the north-west. Well, at about mid-night, we start back out of the harbor and up the lake (heading north-west), back to the launch. As soon as we get to the main lake, we run into very tight 4 to 6 footers (yes, the lake is big enough to get this way, under the right conditions). Every few waves, the bow (and the anchor) would splash into the trough of a wave set. Well, since that chain "lock" has nothing securing the flap except for the pull of the anchor and chain ...... push up on the anchor and the flap could flip up ....... and did.

We heard the chain start to run out and pulled the engine out of gear, but not before the anchor had been pushed into the hull by the next wave (we actually though the anchor had deployed past the chain and was running under the boat and down to the botom (80' in that area). However, it had only let out a few feet and the flap re-caught the chain, so the anchor was just hanging and banging on the hull.

The point?

I'll drill a hole in the side of the bracket, to install a clevis through that will prevent the flap from acidentally flipping up!

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Wow. How bad was the damage?

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Just a finger nail size poke through the gel-coat. Easy to repair.......

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Anchor really needs to be secured when underway. Get it fixed.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Keep in mind M3Eater doesn't have a windlass......

Parts have already been ordered.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225