Windlass Safety Tips | Boating Mag – Boating

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Some {15|fifteen} years  ago, I  {was|has been} {coming out of|appearing {out|away|out there} of|taken from} Key  {West|Western|Western world}, near  Smith Shoals, {when|whenever} my buddy’s 54 Carver came to a screeching halt from about {14|fourteen} knots. Luckily, {no one|nobody} was  injured.

Minor {damage|harm} occurred to the {boat|vessel|motorboat|ship|fishing boat|sail boat|watercraft} when 300-plus feet {of|associated with} all-chain rode was {unintentionally|accidentally|inadvertently} deployed. The windlass {had|experienced|got|acquired} {let go|release|let it go}!

My Silverton 42C’s {windlass|winch} lacked a safety {device|gadget}, so I added {a|the} short {piece of|bit of|part of} parachute cord looped {through the|with the} {anchor|point|core} shackle and {back to|returning to|to} a nearby cleat. {If your|In case your} boat has {a windlass|a winch}, {is there|can there be|will there be} {a safety|a security|a protection|a basic safety} device? Preferably, it {should|ought to|need to} have a cable {with a snap|with a take|with a click|with a breeze|with a break|with a bite|with a cause breaking|having a snap|having a take|having a click|having a breeze|having a break|having a bite|having a cause breaking|using a snap|using a take|using a click|using a breeze|using a break|using a bite|using a cause breaking}, a chain hook {or|or even} a chain stopper. {Our|Our own|The} present boat, a Silverton 45C, came equipped {from the|from your|through the|in the} factory with {a cable|a wire|a cable connection} and snap. If {your|your own} boat is fitted {with|along with} a windlass, {how is|how s} the anchor {secured|guaranteed}?

{Another point|Provided}: Do {you|a person} have all-chain rode? {If so|In that case|If {you|a person} are|If you do}, {do|perform} you have a hacksaw aboard?  

Capt. Ted Schindler II

Fort Myers {Beach|Seaside}, Florida

[ As Capt. Schindler points out, the windlass is not meant to carry the load of the anchor as the boat powers across the water, often in waves. When we test boats fitted with a windlass, this is why we make a point of checking to see that some provision for supporting the anchor is provided. If not, we add it to the low points in the review. —Ed. ]

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