We spend everyweek aboard our boat here on the Gold Coast and we have been working on various modifications over the past 6 months. Our latest and most expensive modification was an electric winch and a new plough anchor to fit.
It was quite a job and we had it done professionally with a modfication required to our anchor hatch and a new stainless steel bracket to fit our furling chain. Our new winch sits on top of the old hatch which has now been fully adapted. They had to cut down into the hatch to allow for the anchor chain to drop properly and we now have a small hatch just behind the winch so we can get into the hatch if needed and also keep our spare mooring ropes etc.
It works a treat and now us girls can also take out the boat and lift the anchor at the flick of a switch. The cost was around $4,600 Aust dollars and a major investment but we can now move around and lift anchor whenever we want to move and it is a Godsend in high winds and bad weather. Just fantastic.
I have been considering a simple power capstan to assist, ocean anchoring is exhausting and if you miss your mark or want to move (I like fishing) you have 100+ feet of rope and a 25lb Anchor to work out with and I mean work out you can shred a rigging glove. So this mod makes me a bit excited please post more Pics so we have a better Idea of all that's needed Thank you for the Post!
Mind you an insane amount of money for an anchor winch but a elegant solution...ie on top of the hatch.I had wondered how to go about it....went down the drumwinch route ...not fitted yet but ready to go.Figured no space for rope and chain so drum the solution
Hi sorry for the delay in replies we were out sailing all weekend in perfect weather. Covered Horizon Shores all the way down to the spit in just over 3 hours ... just perfect wind.
We won't be back on the boat now until Boxing Day but will take a heap of close up photos for you.
Just to quickly answer a few questions:
Trailer: No we don't use it to come up on the trailer. The boys at Horizon Shores usually do this for us using their nice big tractor and hand winch. The only problem is that now the new plough anchor doesn't fit nose right into trailer when fitted nice and neat into cradle so Ken and boys just let it out a bit and hook and tie it up to bow rail to bring it up on to trailer. Image the winch would be strong enough to do this but would rather not take the risk.
Sea Anchor: Sounds like a godsend and we also like fishing but problem would be the length of chain you would need to drop down into your hatch. Ours is a perfect length and we only have enough chain for Moreton Bay type of anchorage not deep sea. They had to cut down into the bottom of the hatch well and it drains perfectly. At one stage they thought they might have to make a chain drop inside just in front of the bow where the foot of our bed goes into the bow. We were going to get an aluminium cover made and powder coated white so you wouldn't notice it from inside but amazingly they didn't need to do this and the space fits our chain length perfectly. Next time I talk to John our Marine electrician I will ask him what length of chain he cut us as I can't remember. I was more focused on them having to cut in to the anchor well. The winch John installed is a MUIR ANCHI and it is nice and small but strong. John said its a matter of getting the right winch to suit our boat. He didn't want the winch to rip out the front end of our boat. He also has made sure it is perfectlly secured to our front end covered hatch. John (KLM Marine) has done an amazing job and had the guys from Shipshape help him of this part of the job. They even added a nice white anti slip strip over the old join and left us a nice smaller hatch at the back of the winch. It has already proved really handy to store winch handle if we need it and additional rope to attached to anchor chain if it's jumping around. But so far haven't needed to use it. We also can get under the winch to get to the chain if we need to.
It was fantastic the other week while Ken was away and I had to sail off from Slipping Sands (while motor was out of action) into a NE with a strong northerly current running with the furling front sail and the electric winch and the duckie on the beach it was a perfect take of straight into the wind and we didn't drift with the current towards the boats next to us at all. Wouldn't have been able to do it without it.
Outhaul:
Not sure what you mean by this one? Do you mean when we drop anchor? The winch has up and down button and the winch actually drops the anchor down perfectly. Great over the weekend during the king tide we just pressed the button to let out more chain when we needed it. Before we got the new plough anchor we had a normal sand anchor that came with the boat and lost it a week before the winch install in big winds and currents. We had some chain on it but a part of the chain had a pin through it and it snapped. We have found the plough anchor so much better and stronger to hold us down without any drift on it.
Cost:
We were lucky at time of purchase when PO took $8,000 less on asking price. This has allowed us to put this money back into modifications to suit us. Unfortunately PO modified the galley with hand build cupboards.... not good so we will get Shipshape to quote us to do a refit on the galley. Want to add pressure pump for sink and bathroom sink taps and proper cupboards that will hold a lot more. Mel on MacGregor Sailboat Owners on FaceBook page has a photo of a great table idea that attaches to the lift up table behind the helm. We only have a block of timber that has broken off and Mel advised that this drop down table was part of the factory fitout for the MX. Wondering if other MX owners have this on their boat and if so can you add some photos please as we would like to get this built properly when we do galley refit.
Last edited by KookaSnook on Sun Dec 16, 2012 4:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.
KookaSnook wrote:
Outhaul:
Not sure what you mean by this one? Do you mean when we drop anchor? The winch has up and down button and the winch actually drops the anchor down perfectly. Great over the weekend during the king tide we just pressed the button to let out more chain when we needed it. Before we got the new plough anchor we had a normal sand anchor that came with the boat and lost it a week before the winch install in big winds and currents. We had some chain on it but a part of the chain had a pin through it and it snapped. We have found the plough anchor so much better and stronger to hold us down without any drift on it.
No, you answered it when you talked about the chain locker modification! Couldn't quite visualize how the scope would feed into the stock shallow chain locker, under winch power. It's a very nice mod that gives you a push button option of shortening or lengthening your scope, from the cockpit. I'd think though, at some point somebody is going up there to make sure the flukes aren't bashing around on the foc'sl. Still, it's a good safety option!
There's very many semi-derelict old powercruisers, around these parts, that are equipped with various models of these. So many mod's - so little moolah!
If you have any doubts about your anchor ie length of chain (because of storage limitations) etc you could use an "anchor buddy"(google )....a weight which slides down your anchor rope and increases the holding power of your current setup...I purchased one only because the current stockist in Australia was selling out cheap....but good insurance especially at night asleep dreaming of floating away
bartmac wrote:If you have any doubts about your anchor ie length of chain (because of storage limitations) etc you could use an "anchor buddy"(google )....a weight which slides down your anchor rope and increases the holding power of your current setup...I purchased one only because the current stockist in Australia was selling out cheap....but good insurance especially at night asleep dreaming of floating away
Another great idea thanks "bartmac" already printed out and given to husband. I went out and bought a new rope and a nice SS buckle for the anchor chain but didn't realise it should be a bungee cord to absorb any jerking... so simple but I bet real affective.
bartmac wrote:If you have any doubts about your anchor ie length of chain (because of storage limitations) etc you could use an "anchor buddy"(google )....a weight which slides down your anchor rope and increases the holding power of your current setup...I purchased one only because the current stockist in Australia was selling out cheap....but good insurance especially at night asleep dreaming of floating away
Another great idea thanks "bartmac" already printed out and given to husband. I went out and bought a new rope and a nice SS buckle for the anchor chain but didn't realise it should be a bungee cord to absorb any jerking... so simple but I bet real affective.
Just purchased about 10 metres of bungee cord on way home from office. Showed my husband the anchor rope made of bungee cord with one of the anchor buddy links you recommended and he immediately made a nice bungee chain style rope (using his old sailors skills) and he attached the nice strong SS clips on either end of his new rope. He reckons it will work really well to absorb any jerking through the anchor chain. Looking forward to trying it out now and thanks Bartmac for the idea.
bartmac wrote:Whilst that is one idea and name for "anchor buddy" i was actually refering to the other anchor buddy....the weight sliding down the rode type
Yes checked that one out as well. Looks a good idea and image this anchor buddy would be great for anchoring out in the ocean.
Hi Kookasnook, I have a 2002model X that I have just purchased recently . It came with a danforth style sand anchor and I have my doubts as to its holding power when the going gets rough. Would like to do the conversion to electric anchor like yours. How much chain and rode do you have and do you have to help it into the locker so it doesnt jam. Could you post some close up pictures of the locker hatch.
already printed out and given to husband. I went out and bought a new rope and a nice SS buckle for the anchor chain but didn't realise it should be a bungee cord to absorb any jerking... so simple but I bet real affective.