Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture

Locker space plays an important role in deciding whether to install a vertical or horizontal windlass. Estimating or measuring the depth of fall of the rode into the anchor locker may dictate which type of windlass is most suitable for your vessel. Fall is the distance between the bottom of your windlass (horizontal) or windlass motor (vertical) and the top of the rode when the anchor is stowed. The length of chain and/or rope, along with the type of rope (8-plait or 3-strand), must also be taken into account. 8-plait line is better suited for small lockers and the design of the line helps prevent hockling. The depth of fall is the same for chain only rodes and rope/chain rodes. The minimum recommended fall for anchor rodes is 12 inches. The windlass does not stow the rode in the locker, gravity does.

Nowadays, different types of windlasses are used according to the weight of the anchor and various other vessel requirements. The driving unit can be electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic, which also depends on the ship's system requirement. Electrically operated windlass The   windlass   including   mooring   winch machinery   is   common   for   both   hydraulically   operated    or   electrically   operated equipment .   In   the   case   of   the    electrically   operated   windlass cum   mooring   winch the   driving   motor   is   a   two   speed   motor   controlled   by   a   suitable   pole   changing   device.   The   lower   speed   gives   higher   torque   suitable   for   the   initial   breaking   of   t...