What sort of RL/Bimini mods are you after? Do you want to replace a bimini with a targa/RL? I can recommend someone that is very good, but they are down in Mandurah if you are prepared to travel that far?  

Colin Molloy

(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)

I am looking to instal an anchor winch.  Any advice/recommendations.  My boat is a Southwind 655.

So far Im leaning toward a drum type winch, maybe a 'stressfree MIDI' if it will fit in the anchor well mounted on the bulk head and if i can work out a way to arrange the anchor rollers to feed the line through the existing hatch.

Any comments?  The drum winches seem to be more expensive than tha gypsy type (all the winched seem to be pretty pricey) - are the comments on the net about Gypsy's slipping and tangling really true?

I have the Leemar Profish 700 windlass and love it. I anchor & move around alot with cray diving and pinky fishing so its great. I got mine done by a boat builder but not that hard to do by the looks. Each boat is different and mine was an easy one to fit by the looks. I quickly looked at the Lewmar site to get the model i had and found they have some web vids on prep & instal.....that may be of some help.....i didnt watch it!

http://en.lewmar.com/products/index.aspx?lang=1&page_id=10

As for gypsy tangling & slipping, if they're done up tight no issues and they only tangle if the "drop" isnt high enough for the 8 plait rope so more of the short link 6mm chain should be used as the weight helps the "drop" feed! 

* Oceanside- Advice, Knowledge, Experience....that's our difference *

Owner of "Oceanside Tackle & Marine"
364 South St, O'Connor, Perth Ph 9337 5682

Thanks Ryan.  I'll have a good look at this one. 

I think I am OK with drop - at the moment I've got maybe 100 metres of 12mm nylon and 5m of 7mm chain and when its dropped in by hand Ive still got 40mm to the cover.  On the site you pointed me to Lewmar recommend 300mm min so sounds OK.  Thanks for pointing that out.

I had a look at a horizontal gypsy fitted to a boat at the boat shop in Balcatta road.  They had it mounted on the anchor hatch cover which is what I would have to do.  It looked like the well cover had been reinforced and it was glued (and I presume bolted) down.  You couldn't get into the anchor well.  Is that ever likely to be an issue?

Is that how your's is mounted?  I guess it would have to be very well secured as all the load while breaking the anchor is going to be trying to pull the anchor well cover off.

 Thanks for the advice.

Brad

Brad, the drop they suggest and what i was told locally was alot more ie min 500-700mm. I've used more chain and no probs now. My issue was getting 100m of combined stuff so I can anchor in say 40m for crays etc. I've gone for 50m of 12mm 8 plait and 50m of 6mm short link that works. YOu need to have an area where you can get to the chain to space out & grab when required!

The a/winches are water proof so they can be mounted anywhere (mine is inside anchor well-horizontal model) and mine has a rubber seal where it mounts (vibration) and it has 3 bolts and he (installer) used a thick ali backing plate. When on anchor you have to take the chain out of the gypsy and place that into a "T" staghorn (need to instal if you dont have). That way there's no "forward & aft" chain wear and slippage!

HTH, feel free to call me at the shop for more details if required! 

* Oceanside- Advice, Knowledge, Experience....that's our difference *

Owner of "Oceanside Tackle & Marine"
364 South St, O'Connor, Perth Ph 9337 5682

Thanks for the info Ryan.

One of the reasons I am inclined toward a reel winch rather than a gypsy is the issue you mentioned of tying off at anchor.

When you are moving about fishing do you still tie off on the staghorn?   My main reason for buying the winch is to avoid the crawl through the cabin every time I want to shift spots fishing.

Sounds like I am going to have insufficient drop for the gypsy anyway.

Brad

No probs Brad, i tie off the chain to the staghorn only on anchor in "ruff" conditions so not all the time. The only other time is on the road. I agree re the crawling through the cab....not an issue as its seldom imo!

* Oceanside- Advice, Knowledge, Experience....that's our difference *

Owner of "Oceanside Tackle & Marine"
364 South St, O'Connor, Perth Ph 9337 5682

is the only way to go.

If you have not had one it is impossible to compare to other electric winches.

I have used a few electric winches over the years and 12mths ago I purchased  the StressFree product ,even though they cost an arm and a leg, I have never regreted the purchase.

If you set it up properly and use a SARCA Anchor they are absolutly Brilliant and I would recomend it 100%

OZZY

you have  to get yours to work first mate lol

Working sweet mate, just had to get the right chain versus new 12mm 8 plait configuration sorted for the deep stuff. The Lewmar & sarca combo is great, it gets plenty of use every week and got some new stuff in the pipeline to try u/w

* Oceanside- Advice, Knowledge, Experience....that's our difference *

Owner of "Oceanside Tackle & Marine"
364 South St, O'Connor, Perth Ph 9337 5682

Synthos,

Come in and have a chat about winches at our Men On Boats shop in Charles Street North Perth, 9242 5599, this is the exact thing I can help you with and also get it supplied at a real good price and also advice on instillation and capacities.

Regards

Andrew 

Factory Direct - Australia Wide

08 9417 7200, 24 Tichborne Street, Jandakot, WA 6164

www.commodoremarine.com

Andrew,

 Thanks I will come in and have a chat.  I rang on Saturday at 1 O'clock cause I needed a steering wheel as well, but the shop was about to be closed and I was told you weren't really set up for accessories yet.

I've been meaning to drop by just to see what your shop is about (after seeing the sponsor ads on here).  Any idea when you will be fully set up?  I do enjoy spending time drooling over shiny chandellry I'll never afford!  More fun than a hardware store.

Brad