Quick Genius windlass problem
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:38 am
In Stray Cat, MV34-12 we recently had the stripper plate dissintigrate on our windlass. This plate serves to strip the chain and the line out of the gypsey when launching or recovering the anchor, and with the plate gone both continue to wind around the gypsey and instantly bind up the windlass and thus disable the anchoring operation. The problem is caused by the manufacturer selecting aluminum alloy for the stripper plate, in an application with great forces and lots of friction involved; with zinc and steel from the chain, stainless from the gypsey and plate mounting screws, and aluminum alloys from the stripper plate and the housing of the windlass, all immersed in abrasive sand, etc. and liberally sloshed in salt water. Abrasion of the alloy part insures failures in the coatings and stress cracking around the mounting screws, with ensuing electrolytic damage to the stripper plate, which in my case failed around the mounting bolt holes first, leading to a catastrphic crunch and a bound up and disabled anchoring system.
Thankfully when our system failed we were in a quiet anchorage with lots of time to work out alternative means of recovering the anchor and no safety issues at hand. It could have been scarey/expensive/dangerous instead of just frustrating and messy.
The problem could be postponed by keeping the two allen screws securing the plate tight, probably with Locktite blue or such. The word should go out to the fleet, (I think some of the sailboats also are fitted with this windlass) that the two screws securing the stripper plate, easilly seen from the right side of the unit, just below and slightly forward of the gypsey; should be periodically checked for tightness and the stripper plate inspected for signs of damage.
Some sort of spare on board seems highly advisable! The replacement is easilly done without disassembling anything. I will keep matching stainless allen bolts and the required allen wrench in the baggie with the spare plate.
The windlass is imported from Italy by Plastimo USA Inc., 7455 16th Street East, Suite #107, Sarasota, FL, 34243, voice phone: 941.360.1888 and fax: 941.360.1648. They drop-shipped their part 303650966, called "stripper, Genius 600/1000," for about twenty bucks. As indicated it seems to fit all the available Genius models. I special ordered mine through West Marine, who researched the source for me and set up the drop ship delivery for a small fee, but I expect that you could as easilly contact Plastimo directly.
I am investigating having a local shop knock off a stainless plate -- it has no particularly critical dimensions other than placing the two counterbored mounting screw holes.
I suggest that every boat keep either a spare stainless plate aboard or a factory alloy plate in order to assure that the anchor is never disabled.
Email me through the forum if you have any questions.
Gary Bell
Thankfully when our system failed we were in a quiet anchorage with lots of time to work out alternative means of recovering the anchor and no safety issues at hand. It could have been scarey/expensive/dangerous instead of just frustrating and messy.
The problem could be postponed by keeping the two allen screws securing the plate tight, probably with Locktite blue or such. The word should go out to the fleet, (I think some of the sailboats also are fitted with this windlass) that the two screws securing the stripper plate, easilly seen from the right side of the unit, just below and slightly forward of the gypsey; should be periodically checked for tightness and the stripper plate inspected for signs of damage.
Some sort of spare on board seems highly advisable! The replacement is easilly done without disassembling anything. I will keep matching stainless allen bolts and the required allen wrench in the baggie with the spare plate.
The windlass is imported from Italy by Plastimo USA Inc., 7455 16th Street East, Suite #107, Sarasota, FL, 34243, voice phone: 941.360.1888 and fax: 941.360.1648. They drop-shipped their part 303650966, called "stripper, Genius 600/1000," for about twenty bucks. As indicated it seems to fit all the available Genius models. I special ordered mine through West Marine, who researched the source for me and set up the drop ship delivery for a small fee, but I expect that you could as easilly contact Plastimo directly.
I am investigating having a local shop knock off a stainless plate -- it has no particularly critical dimensions other than placing the two counterbored mounting screw holes.
I suggest that every boat keep either a spare stainless plate aboard or a factory alloy plate in order to assure that the anchor is never disabled.
Email me through the forum if you have any questions.
Gary Bell