Stessfree NG Midi (freefall) install
Just thought I'd share a few pics of my recent anchor winch install. Have used it a few times now and it has been working a treat, and has led to an increase of fish being taken home. It's fitted to a 2008 Cruise Craft 625 Explorer so if your thinking of fitting this winch to this type of vessel or similar these pics may assist or alternatively you can contact me via PM and I'm happy to share my knowledge on some of the pitfalls I encountered etc....
As with anything like this there were a few hiccups along the way and I have added a few comments to the pics to show what they were. I spent a fair amount of time tossing up which winch to go with but in the end decided on this one and am happy with my decision. Though I did opt for the Micks winch roller as the video on youtube was rather convincing and so far it also has been a good choice. Probably one of the deciding factors was a local agent in the event of any warranty issues so it was purchased from JPW Marine in Welshpool and they (Ted I think) happily matched the best price I could find (ebay $2249) so that was a bonus.
I also installed the #3 Sarca & W3-4A bowsprit roller. I'd originally bought a W3-4A bowsprit second hand from ebay for $220 posted but then had issues with the new SARCA #3 not fitting it correctly. I rang anchorright and sent pics via email to ask what that was about and found out there had been a design change so the old bowsprit no longer fitted the new designed #3 anchor. (Spewing) But how stoked was I when Rex & Joy (owners) whom I was dealing with organized (while they were traveling thru NT) to send me a new bowsprit at the same price i.e. $220 posted (approx $200 off retail) could not have been happier with their customer service. The anchor & bowsprit have been fantastic with both it's holding ability and that it houses correctly each time it's raised.
I ran the new #3 anchor on the original cruise craft fitted roller over the waiting period of the new one arriving and had no end of trouble having it align correctly (housing upside down) - no issues now. A couple of other points to note are that winch came with 110m of 8mm nylon & 8m x 8mm short link chain. Now I know the website states only 90m of rope + chain will fit on the drum etc.. but of course I (as it turned out foolishly) hoped to use the whole 110m which didn't work as the chain kept jamming against the back plate. So I took 10m off (approx 1 layer of rope) and that now gives me 100m of rope on the winch (important as I dive in 35m occasionally). On a couple of occasions it has jammed but I have just run it out a couple of times and she has housed each time. Worth considering this before you think like I did that 110m will fit as it was bit of a bugger doing the splice insitu only to find I had to run it off cut 10m then redo it. The rope was factory spliced with a rubber protective sleeve to the chain so I didn't want to cut that end. For the infill for the bowsprit I used an old 10mm cutting board (doubled up) which I rasp filed to fill the gap that was to be under the new bowsprit & sealed it with sikaflex. Re the rust the was under the now removed crucifix and old bowsprit I used Ranex to clean that up and it did a good job.
If your wondering what it cost here's the breakdown to help you consider if your contemplating something similar Winch $2249 JPW Marine (rope & chain included) Wiring loom $354 JPW Marine Backing plate $108 JPW Marine (you could use 5mm checker plate to save on this cost) Mick's Winch roller $85 Ebay Sarca anchor #3 $329 Bias Boating Swivel $25 Bias Boating Bowsprit W3-4A $440 Anchorright usually $399 though it could have been worse i.e.$620, thanks anchorright see above) Additional 316 s/s bolts $40 Boating Hardware Cleats x 2 $30 Boating hardware (needed to replace the removed crucifix) Sundries $40 (sikaflex, electrical conduit etc...) Boating hardware / Autopro Fitting $free (Thanks Robbo for the electrical help and the wiring/fittings for freefall) Total $3700
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southcity104
Posts: 1659
Date Joined: 27/01/09
tidy work!
step by step process will deffinately be valuable for others to do. great post.
"Its a life style job"
chris raff
Posts: 3257
Date Joined: 09/02/10
Excellent informative Diy
Excellent informative Diy Duges and doesn't it work a treat .. no major decisions on dropping the pick in 30 -40 m , too easy just press the button .
“Intelligence is like a four-wheel drive. It only allows you to get stuck in more remote places.”
stevebw23
Posts: 155
Date Joined: 12/11/11
great write up, thanks for
great write up, thanks for sharing
Symes Plumbing & Gas. No job too small, servicing all northern suburbs
tiimmbo
Posts: 695
Date Joined: 16/08/09
Did you cut the opening out
Did you cut the opening out from the anchor locker lid or was that already that way? I did a similar install on my boat with a lonestar winch a few months ago - best thing I have bought for my boat. After a dive it is so much easier to lift the anchor with the press of a button.
Jason P
Posts: 521
Date Joined: 16/02/13
cheaper option
Lonestar marine has compareble products for a considerable saving, at about $1500 when i added one to my Quintrex.
DM306
duges66
Posts: 140
Date Joined: 07/03/12
Locker lid cut out
Hi tiimmbo I cut it myself using a jigsaw then finger wiped sikaflex over the cut edge. Wanted to keep it as small as possible to try to reduce the amount of salt water ingress. Agree, it was money well spent and I don't hesitate to drop the pick now whereas before I was reluctant due to the usual hassles of retrieving - which was usually done by me deckie chris raff - considerate bastard aren't I. I had the misses egging me on to get it too as she whinged even when anchoring in 2-3m on our trips to Rotto, Herring Bay etc... God love her. I'm at work at the moment but I'll post the cut dimensions when I get back as that also can help anyone having a crack at this. Cheers
There's 3 kinds of people in this world, those who can count and those that can't.
tiimmbo
Posts: 695
Date Joined: 16/08/09
cheers for that, my deckie
cheers for that, my deckie started to feel a bit guilty watching me skipper and pull the anchor all the time so went halves in the cost of the winch - I was pretty happy with that arrangement. I need to cut out a window from my locker so thats my next job on the boat, looks like a nice neat finish on it that you have managed to get there as well.
duges66
Posts: 140
Date Joined: 07/03/12
Hi Jason P - I checked out
Hi Jason P - I checked out Lonestar (spoke to owner Malki - decent guy from what I could tell, by that I mean he didn't talk down other winches which a couple of other winch owner/sellers did) and what I know is that they are a permanent magnet motor (2 terminals) as opposed to a series wound motor (3 terminals). My instrument electrical mates at work all agreed that series wound were the preferred longest lasting option. The Lonestar winches are Chinese made albeit to Lonestar's specs as opposed to the European designed/manufactured winch I went for. Don't get me wrong depending on budget & intended usage they fill a place in the market. The main difference is that Lonestar do not offer freefall. Had I gone for a stressfree non freefall version it would have been from memory $1850. So that is a better cost comparative to use when comparing cost difference to Lonestars G3-1000 at $1499 (add approx $50 postage). Lonestar also did not have a WA agent, which for me was a major consideration in the event of a warranty issue arising.
I know now thru experience that trying to get anchored on the exact right spot more often is a hell of a lot easier with the increased drop speed of a freefall over a power down option especially in deeper depths. Which only further vindicates my decision to go with the freefall winch i.e to part with the extra $.
There's 3 kinds of people in this world, those who can count and those that can't.
daze out
Posts: 75
Date Joined: 07/09/11
great post!
Thanks for the post! step by step is awesome, it was great to have the prescence of mind to take photos during your install. (not like most of us, we are head down bum up getting the job finished)
great information here and it looks like a fantastic finish as well, looks better than most "professional" installs.
thanks again for the post
makai
Posts: 459
Date Joined: 28/10/08
Great post
Thanks for taking the time to step this out. Great job, and undoubtedly will save anyone else doing the job heaps of time and stress.
iana
Posts: 652
Date Joined: 21/09/09
Agreed great post.
Thanks for the info. More like this please.
Jason P
Posts: 521
Date Joined: 16/02/13
cheaper option
Yes you don't get the freefall, but with the cost saving for me i couldn't go past it and has been working great for about a year since i installed it. My version is Gen 1/600. Somehow i don't think my wife was to happy i spent what i did, and spending anymore would end in divorce. I find that quality doesn't always come with price. Nice install anyway.
DM306
Micks Winch
Posts: 2
Date Joined: 11/12/11
great install duges66
great installation pictures Duges66
i often wonder where my rollers and brackets end up..
re one of your pictures and the elongated holes,i use the same brand of flange it can be rotated by undoing the socket head cap screws or remove the gearbox and use a cutting disc to elongate the other two holes.
great job i could do with an extra hand installing here in south oz should ya give up ya day job...
tip for ya:when ya nylon rope feels a little stiff after a season reel it off and soak it in a tub of cuddly soft it will bring it back nice and soft again..
cheers mick
Justin Poole
Posts: 225
Date Joined: 24/08/08
Stabi craft
thanks, I am putting one in my stabicraft soon, this will help..
By Hook or Spear, its all good..
duges66
Posts: 140
Date Joined: 07/03/12
Cheers Mick for the tip re
Cheers Mick for the tip re softening the rope & valid point re rotating motor 90 deg by undoing the socket head screws. I didn't think of that at the time. I also intent to add boot covers to the terminals & fill with Korode Kure to prevent corrosion, will post a pic when done.
Justin heres a link for one installed to a stabi craft
http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthread.php?147736-Stress-Free-Winch-Install-onto-Stabicraft-589
There's 3 kinds of people in this world, those who can count and those that can't.
Northbank
Posts: 7
Date Joined: 02/03/13
I have almost exactly the
I have almost exactly the same set up whick came as an option when I bought the Northbank.
This is by far the best set up I have ever had on a boat and so easy to use.
Recently I was anchored up at West Lewis Island of Dampier when a massive thunderstorm came through.
The wind was absolutely howling and another boat ended up being beached, it was a dangerous situation that could have ended up much worse.
Anyway the stress free winch and sarca anchor held fast, I will probably never use anything else again.
How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?
duges66
Posts: 140
Date Joined: 07/03/12
Hatch lid cut out dimensions (last pic)
Just reread this post and realised i never did put the dimensions of the hatch lid cutout as I said I would - now done (last pic)
Probably a good time to update how I've found the winch given I've now been using it for a few months.
The only issue I have had is really my own fault 1) the website says 90m of rope but the coil supplied was 110m so I tried to fit that but it was causing the chain to jam against the backing plate once the drum was full. I took 10m off and that helped but I do still occasionally have to run it in out a couple of times to get the anchor home. If I had followed the recommended 90m length this wouldn't be an issue.
2) I once had too much slack on retrieving, the rope jumped the cheek plate and wound around the shaft it took about 6 turns and was well jammed. I had to cut the rope and bring the anchor on board then resplice it once home. It's advisable to ensure there is tension on the rope before retrieving.
All in all still very happy with the decision to spend the $ and install the winch.
There's 3 kinds of people in this world, those who can count and those that can't.