4A2: Anchor Chain Handling & Anchor Chain Jams
The anchor is forward on the bow pulpit. It is raised and lowered by the electric
windlass. The chain goes from the windlass into the chain lockers through the chain pipe
behind the chain wheel (“wildcat”). From here, the chain goes into a compartment just forward
of the bow locker.
Use the foredeck foot switches, not the helm switch, so you can see
where the chain is going and be sure it is clear of the boat properly
when raising or lowering the anchor!
Lowering anchor:
Use the “down” footswitch.
If the chain jams while lowering anchor, it is because one loop of the chain on top of the
pile has fallen inside another loop of chain when the chain pile may have fallen over or shifted.
There is no way the chain can be tangled so that you will ever need to disconnect it! One easy
way to disentangle the chain is, while wearing gloves, grasp the chain on the forward side of
the windlass, and, while lifting it above the wildcat manually, rapidly yank it up and down. This
will usually free it.
If, on the other hand, this “yanking” technique fails, look into the chain locker to un-
overlap the layers of chain in the pile. Access is to right of windlass through the hatch and floor
to right of the windlass.
Be careful when dealing with the chain! If a crew member is operating
the windlass while a person is accessing the chain locker, be especially
careful to keep that person’s fingers, hands, arms, etc. away from the
chain! Use a windlass handle or broomstick to deal with the chain.
Hauling anchor:
Use the “up” footswitch. (See section 4A4 below if windlass does not operate.)
4A3: Anchor Chain Measurement
The chain is measured by marks on the chain. The markings are as follows:
10'
Red-Yellow-Red Stripe
50'
Yellow Stripe
100'
Red Stripe
150'
Yellow Stripe
200'
Red Stripe
240'
Red-Yellow-Red Stripe
4A4: Anchor Windlass
The anchor on Change of Latitude is raised and lowered by a Lofrans Tigres Windlass
on the bow pulpit. The windlass is controlled by foot switches at the bow. The control circuit
breaker for the windlass is on the windlass breaker panel on the starboard side of the salon
helm console. The windlass raises/lowers the anchor.
Be sure to leave the breaker “Off” when the windlass is not in use.
This prevents damage in the event that a footswitch fails due to salt
Section 4A: Anchor & Ground Tackle 4.2