Installing Lofrans Anchor Windlass on a 225 Weekender

[Welsh Wizard]

For anyone thinking of adding an electric winch to a 215 or 225WE

Nice little project installing a windlass

500W Lofrans Project 1 Winch 8mm Chain

25mm Marine ply base board decking bonded to the Chain Locker Lid.

10 mm holding bolt for the lid and 8mm tapered screws for the bow roller and 8mm screws for the chain latch.

 

[Mark.60]

Are you concerned about the winch pulling the hatch off its hinges ?

 

[bobeast]

Nice! May I suggest (if you haven't already) dressing the wires to avoid the possibility of snags with the rode?

 

[boatman37]

I would really be concerned about that hatch door being ripped right off. Aside from that love the idea

 

[Welsh Wizard]

Are you concerned about the winch pulling the hatch off its hinges ?

I have fitted a 10mm bolt on the opposite corner of the hatch and upgrade the 6 screws that hold the hatch hinge to the hull, to 6mm nut and bolts. I have load tested the setup until the 35Amp breaker trips, then tried tugging against the chain stopper, all looks pretty solid.

 

[Welsh Wizard]

Nice! May I suggest (if you haven't already) dressing the wires to avoid the possibility of snags with the rode?

Good point, these were intended as “in progress” shots and now I have finally dressed up all cabling and I will share more behind the Panel contractor shots and switches.
It’s something I have intended to do for years now and never quite found the right arrangement for me. I have scanned the bow photo shots of many 215 / 225WE “For Sale “ boats and come up with this.
I will look at supporting the bow roller from underneath by fabricating a stainless bracket shaped around the tip of the bow and welded to the underside of the bow roller channel. There’s is not much ‘meat’ on the top deck bow tip area, maybe about 1/2” of GRP-fibreglass so have backing plates of 1/8” st steel plates.

 

[Creekwood]

Is that wood sealed with epoxy or polyester resin and fibreglass at all? It looks water stained where the chain hoes through. Is there a way to secure the anchor rode to a cleat when anchored? I don’t think you want the force to be on that hatch if the boat is tugging at the anchor in wind and waves. It could easily rip that hatch open and then pull it off.

 

[Christo]

I like the look and concept of it, I mean who doesn’t want windlass, but I too would be worried about that locker door being pulled off, or even loosened.