Hydraulics

[18rabbit]

I have no experience with hydraulics motors or systems and we have the need to install both. The boat does not have an anchor windlass. We kicked around the idea of installing an electrical vs. hydraulic anchor system. Thinking ahead, we will be adding a diving platform to the stern next year and that needs hydraulics so I figure I’d go with the same on the bow. Besides, a hydraulic anchor winch will keep the water/gunk out of the boat by storing the line on deck.<br /><br />All we have is the optional drive extension with dual pullies for the boat motor. We are totally open to ideas, suggestions, web links, and what to put in a Google search query.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Hydraulics

A hydraulic windlass? How much anchor are you hauling up?<br /><br />I would'nt even fool with a hydraulic windlass on anything less the say a 50-60+ footer, hauling up some serious anchor...<br /><br />Why do you need hydraulics for a dive platform?

 

[scamper]

Re: Hydraulics

Ditto on what snapperbait said. Unless you’re using a couple of shots of chain, the electric windless is the way to go. If you store your anchor line on desk the next place it will be is around your shaft. The anchor and chain is the only part that will get muddy and for that use a garden hose on your salt water wash down.

 

[airman]

Re: Hydraulics

A friend of mine has a 35' cruiser with a hyraulic windlass. It runs off of a power steering pump and coils the rode on a small drum on the deck. Works well and was probably built very cheaply.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Hydraulics

Snapperbait – if things go well, I will pull up only as much anchor as I tossed over the side. Size of the anchor (probably about 35-40lb) and chain is not the issue. There is nothing there that cannot be done with an electric windlass. That is where I was originally headed. The boat is a heavy 36-ft’r, 10-ton dry. The Navy pulled all their hydraulics and associated sonar. Here’s a photo of the actual boat with the masts down:<br /> http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/09105201.jpg <br />She would be the little critter at the bottom of the smokestack, sitting on deck. Each mother ship carried two Hydrographic Survey Launches, one on each side of the stack.<br /><br />The dive platform will be in the neighborhood of 9-ft wide, 3 to 4-feet out, aluminum grating. It is not designed yet. It was suggested I should consider hydraulics to raise and lower, since the engine is already set up to run a pump, and that would also allow for a lifting winch. The only other thing I have to lift is a 75-lbs t/t motor and 130-lbs tender. Maybe pull a occasional stern anchor.<br /><br />There is an anchor locker inside the bow. It is accessible from a bow hatch. There is no access to pass line thru the deck. I would have to cut it. If I stow the anchor and line on deck, the locker space below will allow the fore-cabin head to be enclosed (something not important to the USN) and enough room for a nice double birth. And I don’t have to open the deck.<br /><br />Scamper – closer to ½-shot of 5/16 or 3/8 chain. There was already a thru-hull for the head. We’re T’ing off that for the raw water wash pump. Regardless of what system we end up with to lift the anchor, everything pulled off the bottom of the delta needs to be washed down. I prefer to convert the anchor locker space into births.<br /><br />Airman – you nailed it exactly! The anchor winch is 1/2 to 2/3 the price of a quality electric windless. They are not cheaply made, just cheaper to buy. They are small, scaled down versions of the aluminum winches used on fishing boats. About 100-lbs. See them here:<br /> http://www.kinematicsmarine.com/ <br /><br />Here are my anchoring choices as I see them:<br />1) Buy a windlass, run 25-ft of battery cable, open the deck, and use the fore-cabin for head and storage.<br />2) Buy a winch + hydraulic pump, run 15-ft of hydraulic line, and divide the fore-cabin for head and a double birth.<br /><br />The dive platform isn’t going to happen until next year but if there is a hydraulic pump onboard, this isn’t going to be a hard decision. I can toss in a pump with multiple outputs.<br /><br />I won’t start the anchor project until after the holidays. Dive platform later in the year. What do you think???

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Hydraulics

Either way, it's all good... Whatever weighs yer anchor.. <br /><br />The link won't let me see the picture.. Sounds neat-o..<br /><br /> Couple things.. Check your local hydraulic supply house and price hydraulic lines/hoses and the cost of having the hose crimped onto the fittings... You may be in for a bit of a shock from the cost... All said and done, the cost may be the more expensive than an electric windlass... It's the little things that eat ya up..<br /><br />My gripe about hydraulics... Typically, hydraulic fittings; couplers, elbows, adaptors, ect., are made of cad plated steel... That cad plated stuff don't do too well in an exposed saltwater enviornment... I crawled around in too many bilges filled with hydraulic oil from rusted out fittings that have give way on hydraulic stabilizers, steering systems, bow thrusters, ect.. yuck...