Breaker placement for starboard windlass

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tallcuss
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Breaker placement for starboard windlass

Post by tallcuss »

I'm trying to add a Lewmar V700 windlass to Varekai (3251). The chain locker is in the starboard bow so that's where the windlass is going. I've run the wires from the starboard bow locker behind the medicine chest, below the starboard setee, below the electric panel, under the starboard stairs and into the starboard cabin electrical cabinet. I think the windlass circuit breaker should go in this cabinet because it's very close to the batteries. However, the breaker provided by Lewmar is a panel mount and everything in the electrical cabinet is surface mounted.

Where did the factory place the windlass circuit breaker for a starboard windlass? Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
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thinwater
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Re: Breaker placement for starboard windlass

Post by thinwater »

Mine was on port and the breaker was mounted on the aft end of the port settee, ~ 8" above the floor. The same location would work with your routing.

Do make sure that the back sides of the terminals are protected from anything that can short them (there needs to be a cover on the backside).
Writing full time since 2014.
"Rigging Modern Anchors,"Seaworthy Press, https://www.amazon.com/Rigging-Modern-A ... 1948494078
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tallcuss
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Re: Breaker placement for starboard windlass

Post by tallcuss »

Thanks Drew. I ended up mounting the breaker just inside the starboard cabin door, between the door and the electrical cabinet. The back of breaker is in the electrical cabinet where it's easy to connect and close to the batteries.

Another question: Was there any reinforcement of the deck in the area where the windlass was mounted? If I remember correctly you replaced the original factory windlass with a V700, so any reinforcement would have been done at the factory. The area appears to be about 1/2" thick which I would say is good enough?, but it's difficult to measure until I start drilling holes.
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thinwater
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Re: Breaker placement for starboard windlass

Post by thinwater »

There was no special factory reinforcement. The windlass did come with a small backing plate. I have a pic from when I was replacing it (no easy way to post) and there clearly was no backing plate or special reinforcement. I did remove some core and fill with epoxy past to prevent water damage.

I did have a chain lock in front of it, which did have a backing plate. But remember, the load is on the bridle. Never back down against the winch! People do, but it's a bad idea.

Remember also that the load on a windlass is far less than, say, a cleat. It should NOT exceed the line pull of the winch, which I recall was something like 500 pounds, and is also very low angle. A winch or stopper can see tons in a much smaller area.
Writing full time since 2014.
"Rigging Modern Anchors,"Seaworthy Press, https://www.amazon.com/Rigging-Modern-A ... 1948494078
Book Store. http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2017/ ... store.html
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