Chain Anchor flow in Navarre

Tom Wright · Post by **Tom Wright** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 8:24 am

I have recently installed an electric wynch on my Hunstman 28 and am having all sorts of problems ensuring a smooth run of the chain both out but mostly in. My old manual chain was heavier and its link weight was enough to ensure it homed easily.

The present chain is lighter and although I have made as smooth a chute as possible into the chain locker, it only takes a small build up to shorten the hang and resultant weight, whereupon it concertinas itself in the pipe and ceases to operate. I have used the original rubber pipe and also a nylon pipe with the same effect. I have also pulled the end aft as far as I dare without causing a buckle but it is insufficient to direct it to the deeper part of the chain locker so that the pile up is lower. The buckling is caused because the pipe passes through a hole in the forepeak lower deck on which upholstery sits. It is possible to create another hole aft of the present one but this creates all sorts of problems with upholstery and storage fittings. I have yet to try out a larger diameter pipe so that the chain cannot use its 'elbows' in the sides to build up. This may work but I wonder whether anyone could please let me know whether there is a recognised way of solving this problem. It is quite screwy to necessitate crew on the fore deck and also in the forepeak to ensure chain flow when you down and up anchor.

Many thanks

Spectrum Too · Post by **Spectrum Too** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 12:29 pm

I have a similar problem with a Lofrans winch and our solution is to send the crew down below to pull the chain through - hardly ideal and not possible when single handed! It was suggested I needed to change the chain to one GUARANTEED to work with Lofrans (i.e. specifically calibrated for their gypsy). Having plenty of other things to spend the bank's money on I have put this off.
Would be grateful, too, for any views on whether it is worth the investment.
Mike

Tom Wright · Post by **Tom Wright** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:23 am

MIKE,

I think your problem is different to mine. Yours seems to be one of the chain compatiblity with the winch whereas mine is one of the chain weight albeit suited to the winch is too light to flow through the configuration below.