Operating Your Windlass; Safety Fi Rst; Use Of Clutch On Pro-Series; Use Of Clutch On Pro-Fish - Lewmar Pro Series Owners Installation, Operation & Basic Servicing Manual

3. Operating your windlass

As a prudent act of seamanship, anchor recovery operations
require the undivided attention of skipper and crew to prevent
personal injury or damage to the vessel.
In a typical anchor recovery situation, the windlass will pass
through a number of operational phases.
3.1 Safety fi rst
To avoid personal injuries ensure that limbs, fi ngers and clothing
are kept clear of the anchor rode and windlass during operation.
Always ensure that there are no swimmers or divers nearby when
dropping your anchor.

3.2 Use of clutch on Pro-Series

To tighten the clutch - using the Installation Tool & Clutch Lever
supplied, rotate the clutch nut (1) clockwise, this will grip the
gypsy, effectively locking it to the windlass gear train.
To slacken the clutch - turn the nut anticlockwise, this will free
the gypsy allowing it to turn independently of the windlass gear
train. Always remove the handle after use.
3.3 Use of clutch on Pro-Fish freefall
Press DOWN button for 2 seconds until the anchor is under
freefall. (Note: Pressing the DOWN button for 5+ seconds will
result in a longer clutch re-engagement time during the next UP
command). If using a rope/chain rode, motor astern to create
the desired scope.
Once scope has been created press the UP button continuously
until freefall stops. It normally takes several seconds to fully
re-engage the internal clutch mechanism, locking the windlass.
Failure to do this could result in rope/chain creeping out. Press
the UP button continuously to recover the anchor.
To ensure continuous freefall operation using rope/chain rode, it
is important that the rope is FREE from knots or hockles. To avoid
this problem we recommend periodically paying out the rode whilst
motoring astern (in deep water) to unwind and knots or hockles
that may be present.

3.4 Letting go under gravity

Insert the clutch lever into the clutch nut (1) and turn it clockwise
to ensure that the clutch is tight. Release any independent anchor
locks. If it is safe to do so, pull back on the clutch lever until the
anchor and rode begin to pay out. Control the rate of descent of
the anchor by pushing the clutch lever forwards. When suffi cient
rode has been paid out, fully tighten the clutch nut once again.

3.5 Letting go under power

Release any independent anchor locks. If it is safe to do so, let
go under power by operating a down control. Release the control
when suffi cient rode has been paid out.
Isolate the windlass electrically and tie rode off to a secure fi xing
point prior to carrying out operation 3.6.

3.6 Change Pro-Fish to power down mode

Lock the Pro-Fish Plunger (38) in, using the Stopper (41). The unit will
now function as a standard Pro-Series.

3.7 Lying to anchor safely

Vessels at anchor will snub on the rode and this can cause slippage or
apply excessive loads to the windlass.
For maximum safety and to prevent damage, the windlass must not be
left to take the entire force from the anchor rode while at anchor. The
rode should be made fast directly to a bollard, sampson post or cleat.
10 Pro-Series & Pro-Fish Windlass

3.8 Hauling in

Untie the bridle or replace the rode in the gypsy. If it is safe to do
so, operate an 'Up' control. Having retrieved the anchor, ensure it
is independently secured to prevent its accidental release.

3.9 Manual recovery

Insert a standard 12 mm ( 1 /
2
on the end of the Driveshaft (30). Using the ratchet, turn the
driveshaft clockwise.

3.10 Operating tips

When anchoring, it is best to power the rode out, allowing the
vessel to take up stern way before full scope is let out. This helps
prevent the rode from becoming tangled on top of your anchor
on the seabed.
To aid anchor recovery, we recommend that the vessel's engine
be used to assist by moving the vessel towards the anchor. We
do not recommend that the vessel be motored over and beyond
the anchor, as this can cause the rode to damage your topsides.
As the anchor approaches the stemhead, the last few feet of
rode should be inched in by judicious use of controls to avoid
damage to the vessel. Having retrieved the anchor, ensure it is
independently secured to prevent accidental release. It is strongly
advised to use an anchor safety strap (Part No. 66840011), or a
chain stopper (Part No. 2417301).
When mooring stern to, at a suitable distance from the jetty,
deploy the anchor to prevent the bow from swinging. Gently pay
out the rode under the infl uence of the stern way of the vessel
as it approaches the jetty. Make fast your vessel with warps from
the stern.

3.11 Joining rope to chain

When splicing rope to chain, select a length of chain that will
avoid having the splice positioned in the gypsy when the anchor
comes over the stemhead. Furthermore, ensure that the splice
is no tighter than the rope. A hard splice is not desired.
With whipping twine or similar, seize your rope 200 mm (8") from
the rope's end and unlay the strands.
Pass one strand through the chain link from one side and the other
two strands from the opposite side. Remove seizing and complete
a back splice in the normal manner for four full tucks.
With a hot knife pare down the three strands by one half of their
diameter and continue with two further tucks.
With a hot knife, carefully melt the ends back into the line.
Because of wide variations in rope type and construction some
experimentation may be required.
Whip the line with permanent whipping at the beginning of the
taper.
The above method of joining is designed to minimize chafe
between the rope and chain but as a matter of prudent seamanship
the splice should be checked regularly and remade if there is
any evidence of wear.
") drive ratchet into the socket
Fig. 3.11.1