Catalac 8m chain locker options

Hi Folks,

We've purchased 275 ft of 5/16 G4 chain and a nearly new Seatiger 555.

I'd like to eventually make it to the Bahamas but our weekend cruising grounds are SW Florida Gulf Coast.

I've seen photos of 8m with a windlass mounted center line both horizontally and vertically. I'm not convinced the chain will flake or pay out without manual intervention.

What are the groups thoughts on windlass on an 8m?

Thoughts on the sixe and depth of the anchor locker

Comments

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    edited May 2016
    We have ScubaCat's excellent 800 South Pacific windlass mounted off centre so the chain can fall into the much deeper side lockers. We then use a bridle to centre the forces. The electrical drain from this unit is very low, unless you try to stall it by pulling the bows underwater.. in which case it will trip the current limit!. 

    The chain first falls onto a ledge about 8 inches below the windlass (we have a horizontal deck mount), where it forms a small pile, but then falls off the ledge into the main port chain locker of about 3ft depth. We have around 40M of 8mm chain, before we go to rope. Which is sufficient for UK, but probably a bit short for your cruising...
    I discovered we rarely seem to take pictures of the foredeck, but hopefully this helps a little.. The windlass is white and just visible but you can clearly see the new offset bow roller we added for the anchor. 

    windlass
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    I like the idea of where you mounted. I'm just concerned about 325lbs of chain plus 35 lbs of primary anchor and another 35 in windlass to port means I would need another 400 lbs to starboard.

    Do you find the chain weight port adds to any excessive off axis pitching or rolling?
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    Catalacs tend to hobby horse a bit, like all cats of their generation.
    Ideally one would have all weight in the middle, rather than at the ends, but that is easier said than done. We have roughly equal weight in the starboard locker, spare chain, anchor etc, but nothing like the weight you are proposing.. You might try having a large conduit from the locker, through the heads to the starboard hull to store stuff ther, but I would then worry more about water ingress. At least the chain lockers are self draining..
    I suppose 325 lb is a bit like having two large guys standing on the port bow, not desirable, but you could sail for but like that, although I think we would all eventually ask them to sit in the middle!
    A question... Do you really need all that chain, or could you work with a shorter length plus rope? Perhaps halve the chain, keep half starboard as spare, use half to port with a long rope addition?
    D
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    Hoping to show a photo of our windlass
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    Trying to add a photo of my windlass !
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    Lets try again !IMG_0019
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    Apart from us having a horizontal windlass, that is exactly where we have ours,
     

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