PLEIADES is a lovely 1990 MK 1.5 with many "bells and whistles", but she does NOT have a windlass. I have been thinking about installing a windlass for some time, as I will soon be 83 and weighing anchor (25 lb. Mantus, 50 ft. of 5/16" chain, and 200 ft. of 5/8"nylon tri-braid) gets more "exciting" with each passing year. We recently were anchored in about 20 ft. of water in Mackerel Cove just off Conanicut Island. The Mantus had dug into the sand/mud bottom very deeply, and even using the engine it took much thrust to finally break the anchor free. By the time I hauled up the chain and anchor, and slowly powered through the water to wash the mud off the anchor, while holding it with one hand I was huffing and puffing quite a lot.
Have any members on this forum installed a windlass on their C-34? I have been looking at the Maxwell low profile vertical chain and rope model. I have five questions:
1. Can one fit the windlass in the anchor locker but BELOW deck so it is not a "toe-stubber"?
2. Does the motor also fit in the anchor locker, or must it go just aft?
3. How did you route the wiring, what gauge wire did you use, and where did you install a circuit breaker?
4. Did you install an "up / down" switch, and is it hand operated or foot operated?
5. Is this a DIY job, or if done by a yard, how much was the installation?
Dr. Paul F. Jacobs
Pleiades
1990 MK 1.5 #1068, TR/FK
Wickford, RI