Washing the Anchor Chain

[Angela]

Someone once posted a photo and detailed description of a anchor chain washdown gizmo he made to wash the chain as it came up without having to stand there with a hose. As I recall, it was made out of PVC. I have tried to search for it, and I cannot find it. Can someone point me to that? I should have copied that for my future reference file when the thread was fresh, but I didn't do it.

I'm tapping into my fresh water line to feed water to the water outlet at the bow/pulpit, and I'd like to see if I can rig up something like a "car wash" to run the chain through. My windlass doesn't let go of the chain, so I have to stand there and knock it off with a stick which is why I want to have something automatic for the chain washing so I don't have to stand there with a stick in one hand and a hose in the other trying to watch what I'm doing in both places.

Thanks.

 

[bobk]

Hi Ang. That was my post. Here is a link to it.

http://www.samsmarine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11365

Bob
Chateau De Mer
1981 48MY
waiting for liners @ BYC

 

[GJH]

Just curious Ang, do you have the wrong gypsy for your chain? That's an odd sounding issue.

Bob, so how'd that thing work?

 

[scottwvyc]

Have a look at these pictures, might give you some ideas, but this is a salt/raw water washdown.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gliderking/4295850200/in/photostream/

 

[bobk]

It works fairly well. I'm using a wimpy 'washdown pump' and if the chain is loaded with sticky mud, I need to retrieve it slowly. If sand, it's really good. I think a well pump would be ideal. More pressure and volume would be an improvement. The PVC does a good job of containing the spray. But my real reason for building it was to allow me to anchor and retrieve it when single handing from the bridge.

Bob

 

[habanero]

Have a look at these pictures, might give you some ideas, but this is a salt/raw water washdown.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gliderking/4295850200/in/photostream/

You can barely see my 55 Hatteras bow next to Dickie Walker in the background. This pictures is in San Diego at the Kona Kai Marina.

Mike
55C "Habanero"

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Angela,
It sounds like your windlass is missing the chain stripper. It is a flat piece that is L shaped that is bolted to the deck plate and then curves up and into the gypsy to remove the chain. Call the manufacturer and get one. It really beats using a stick.

 

[Angela]

Thanks, Bob. That's the thread I was looking for.

Sky, yes it is missing that piece now. The chain ripped it in half when it didn't release -I'm not kidding - tore the thick bronze like a piece of cardboard. It happened very quickly. That's some serious power in that windlass. It's mostly the last 50' of chain that doesn't release. I probably need some new chain.

I got the fresh water run to the bow today.

 

[GJH]

Interesting. My old Ideal vertical doesn't require a chain stripper; the gypsy, or wild cat, is specifically designed for my chain size and type. Guess it's been awhile since I've noticed a windlass that uses one and hadn't thought of it.

 

[MikeP]

I had the same thing happen - Ideal windlass ate the chain stripper back when we first bought the boat. Turned out that the PO (never anchored out) had the wrong size chain/gypsy. I bought the correct gypsy (800 bucks as I recall!) and a new stripper and it's been fine ever since.

Occasionally chain will pile up because the fall is not clear, the chain falls onto the side of the hull and sometimes hangs there. But normally it will clear due to gravity before the chain jams up at the windlass. I found that waxing the section of the interior of the hull where the chain falls/lies in the locker pretty much eliminates the problem.

I suddenly have a windlass problem (blowing fuse) but that's a subject for a different thread...