Is 5/16" BBB Large Enough?

[Fortress]

Scoobert,

I think that sharpness is an important component as to how well an anchor penetrates a sea bottom and in how deeply it buries. An analogy might be a sharp razor cutting into something vs. a dull knife.

As you will note from the below images, the flukes are sharpened on the Fortress and the shank is tapered, which should help the anchor slice it's way quickly and deeply into most common sea bottoms.

Brian

[scoobert]

so then your going to be sharping it every dozen times you use it?

[Steve Bean]

Before deciding to rely on a weight on the rode to improve holding, I would try to find the results of testing I read about not too long ago. (Sorry, I don't remember where I read it.) The gist of it was that in severe conditions when most needed, the kellett did not help much.

[Fortress]

Originally Posted by scoobert

so then your going to be sharping it every dozen times you use it?

Well, its sharp but not that sharp!

[Celestialsailor]

Definitely 60+ Rocna or knock off. 300 ft. of 3/8" BBB or G4.

[Steve Bean]

I found something on kellets:
Sinking a Myth – The Anchor Kellet

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by skipmac

I think I saw a comment about a Simpson Lawrence Sea Wolf? If that's what you have look along the rim of the gypsy and you will see a number molded into the steel near the edge. Will be something like 160 or 172 or 170. If you tell me that number I can tell you what size chain fits the gypsy.

i will look when i get to the yacht, but here are two photos.
question 1, does this look like a 3/8" or 5/16?
question 2, does the gypsy look large enough to fit a larger chain?
it looks like there is room left in there.

[colemj]

It only takes a tape measure to know if your chain is 3/8" or 5/16". To be sure, a cheap pair of calipers will tell you. Don't count on people on the internet guessing from a picture. In addition to wire size, you also need to know the type of chain.

Gypsies of the type on your windlass do take different sized chains, but not in the way you think. For example, a 5/16" G4 gypsy may also take 3/8" BBB. Or a 3/8" gypsy may also take 5/16" stainless proof coil. The wedge shape of the link depression is mostly to accommodate slight differences between metric and imperial sizes.

Whatever chain you have, I can tell you that you cannot go a size larger in that same type with that gypsy.

Pull off your gypsy and look at the number deeply stamped in its side. Then call Lewmar (they bought Simpson Lawrence) and talk to them about a replacement for the size and type of chain you want.

Mark

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by colemj

Pull off your gypsy and look at the number deeply stamped in its side. Then call Lewmar (they bought Simpson Lawrence) and talk to them about a replacement for the size and type of chain you want.

Mark

is that who made seawolf?

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by colemj

It only takes a tape measure to know if your chain is 3/8" or 5/16". To be sure, a cheap pair of calipers will tell you. Don't count on people on the internet guessing from a picture. In addition to wire size, you also need to know the type of chain.

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case a measurement is worth a thousand pictures. No way to tell for certain from a photo.

Originally Posted by colemj

Gypsies of the type on your windlass do take different sized chains, but not in the way you think. For example, a 5/16" G4 gypsy may also take 3/8" BBB. Or a 3/8" gypsy may also take 5/16" stainless proof coil. The wedge shape of the link depression is mostly to accommodate slight differences between metric and imperial sizes.

Yep. I have two gypsies for my Sea Wolf. The original will take 3/8" BBB and some type of 5/16". Not sure what since it's unmarked.

Originally Posted by colemj

Pull off your gypsy and look at the number deeply stamped in its side. Then call Lewmar (they bought Simpson Lawrence) and talk to them about a replacement for the size and type of chain you want.

Mark

Lewmar might be able to give you some information but parts and repairs on all the old Simpson Lawrence windlasses are now handled by a very nice gentleman named John McMaster in Edinborough (yes the one in Scotland) at SL Spares Homepage | Simpson Lawrence Yacht Parts & Spares. He bought all the old parts and spares for the Seawolf so he's the sole source as far as I know.

Spoke with him a few times when I rebuilt my Seawolf and he revealed the code to the numbers on the side of the gypsy. The secrets are carefully inscribed in my Seawolf manual.

For a fee Mr McMaster will take your old Seawolf and make it like new.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by skipmac

:

Lewmar might be able to give you some information but parts and repairs on all the old Simpson Lawrence windlasses are now handled by a very nice gentleman named John McMaster in Edinborough (yes the one in Scotland) at SL Spares Homepage | Simpson Lawrence Yacht Parts & Spares. He bought all the old parts and spares for the Seawolf so he's the sole source as far as I know.

Since I currently have my SL windlass apart I can tell you that Lewmar does have some parts.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Since I currently have my SL windlass apart I can tell you that Lewmar does have some parts.

What model S-L? If the Seawolf 520 I want to get spares for some of the little bits. Costs too much to ship from Scotland.

[noelex 77]

As others have said measure it. Calipers are useful tools on a boat.

It is a bit hard to tell from photos, but the chain does not look to laying on the gypsy very well.
Has it been jumping out?

Possibly the chain is not correct for the gypsy anyway.
Its worth checking before you order new chain.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by skipmac

What model S-L? If the Seawolf 520 I want to get spares for some of the little bits. Costs too much to ship from Scotland.

Not the Seawolf. But I can say that the cost of a new motor is about 1/2 the price of a windlass so I/m waiting to hear back from the motor shop.

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

As others have said measure it. Calipers are useful tools on a boat.

It is a bit hard to tell from photos, but the chain does not look to laying on the gypsy very well.
Has it been jumping out?

Possibly the chain is not correct for the gypsy anyway.
Its worth checking before you order new chain.

honestly i just finished the repair, i have not had time to test it. the foot switch is broken, so i need to have two people to test it.