T&T: One bow windlass or two ?

[Bob Austin]

On the boat we took to Europe we had two windlasses--one was a 2500 lb 24 volt
S/L two speed--with chain wildcat on the stb side and Capstan on the port
side.  Lever clutch for working the chain wheel, capstan turning all of the
time the windlass was on.  The second was a Mortiz manual--with two 48" SS
handles, and direct ratchet drive.  The chain cascading off the chain wheel
would self stow on the one of three divided chain/rope areas in the forepeak.
The primary rode--a CQR 60 was 200 feet of 3/8 HT chain, backed by 400 feet of
3/4" nylon three strand.  The two secondary rodes --one roller on each side
and (port a 70 lb Danforth) a second roller all of the way foreward on the
pulpit was for a 75 lb fisherman.  Each of these anchors had 50 feet of 3/8HT
chain and 400 feet of 3/4 inch megabraid 12 pleate rode.  The first part was
handled by the power windlass,but when we came to the chain, it was dropped
back onto the manual windlass.  We did use both windlasses at once--kedging,
docking and thru locks (Panama and in Europe)--it was handy to have a manual
backup--and worked very well.  This was not at all a self tending setup--but
it was very rugged and never failed.  (there was a 150 lb anchor with 50 feet
of 1/2" HT chain and 400 feet of rode--plus a second 60 lb plow on the
foredeck in case of emergency--22 lb HT and 12 Lb HT danforths were mounted on
the stern,with manual winches to handle these.

I think that every serious cruising boat needs at least two anchors available
to rapid deployment--and a way of easily handling them.  There are windlasses
which have both chainwheels and capstans on each side, with separate clutches.
I don't like putting chain on a capstan--and don't like running rope on a
chain wheel, not designed for line.

Bob Austin