What Is a Windlass?
The deck winch that lowers and raises the anchor and chain - the heart of anchoring comfort, and a real test for high current and salt.
A windlass is the deck winch that lowers and raises the anchor by passing the chain through its special gypsy (barbotin). It is the hardest-working piece of kit on the boat and, like a starter motor, it is powered by short bursts of high current.
The table below sets out the most common faults and their causes.
Windlass faults
Symptom | Possible cause |
|---|---|
Slow running, struggling | Voltage drop (weak battery, loose connections) or gearbox wear |
Chain slipping | Worn gypsy or the wrong chain size |
Fuse/relay trips | Jammed pile of chain or overload |
Critical rule: a windlass is a lifting machine, not a mooring bollard. At anchor, the load should be taken on the chain stopper or a bollard; if the windlass carries the chain load all night, it wears out its mechanical life. The gypsy and chain are a matched pair and should not be treated separately.
If lifting or hauling power has dropped off, have the battery connections tested first; in many cases, a diagnosis of 'the windlass has had it' is really just a loose terminal or a thin supply cable. Annual routine: release the chain lock and check the motor connections, gearbox oil, and gypsy wear.