10.2 ANCHOR WINCH

The yacht is equipped with an electric anchor windlass to drive the anchor housed in the bow.

The anchor chain enters the yacht and reaches the windlass, rides over the barbotin and enters the chain locker in the bow.

To power the winch it is necessary to activate the circuit breaker on the main electrical panel.

The windlass is equipped with a control for movement of the chain in both directions and a safety cable to lock the position of the chain when under way.

CAUTION

RIVA is exempted from any liability for any accidents or damage to persons or property caused by incorrect use of the device.

Anchor winch activation controls
It is possible to operate the winch positioned at the bow using the control button on the helm position or using the control panel located inside the bow locker.

CAUTION

If you intend to use the anchor, remove the chain lock safety cable.

CAUTION

Do not bring body parts or objects near the area where the chain, the line and the barbotin run.
Make sure the electric motor is not powered when acting manually on the anchor winch (also when you use the lever to loosen the clutch): people having the remote controls of the anchor winch might accidentally activate it.

CAUTION

Lock the chain with its safety cable before setting up for navigation.

CAUTION

Do not operate the anchor winch electrically with the lever in the drum housing or in the barbotin cover.

Clutch use
The barbotin is connected to the main shaft by means of the clutch.
The clutch opens (disengages) when the lever inserted in the bushing is rotated counterclockwise. When rotating clockwise, the clutch will close (engage).

Anchoring
The wind and the sea conditions highly affect an anchored yacht. Make sure the anchor is set in any situation. It is necessary to understand the principles of the chain length and its effect on the anchor performance.
The radius is technically defined as the ratio between the chain length and the vertical distance from the bow to the sea bottom.

The chain length depends on the type of anchor, on the sea bottom, on the tide, on the wind and on the sea conditions.
The chain length is 5 times the depth of calm sea; it is 7:1 in normal conditions and up to 10:1 in critical conditions.

Radius = Chain length) / (Bow height + water depth)

as it is necessary to know the length of the chain to be used for mooring.

Chain length = (bow height + water depth) x radius

Anchor weighing
Start the yacht’s engines. Make sure the clutch is engaged and pull out the lever. Press the control button available and start to weigh the anchor.

If the anchor winch stops without any reason, the anchor might be stuck and therefore the anchor winch thermal switch trips, due to the effect of the effort. In this case, if after several attempts the anchor winch remains stuck, we suggest to manoeuvre the yacht to release the anchor.

Check the raise of the last metres/feet in order to avoid bow damage.

Anchor lowering
Lower the anchor by means of the electric controls or manually. To carry out this operation manually, open the clutch and let the barbotin rotate freely on its shaft and the chain fall into the water. To brake the anchor chain fall, turn the lever clockwise.
To lower the anchor electrically, press the control button at your disposal.
In this case the anchor lowering is perfectly controllable and the unrolling of the chain or of the line is regular.
Once the yacht is anchored, lock the chain with the safety cable.
The anchor and the chain may damage the yacht bow if the anchor winch is not operated carefully.
We suggest to carry out the operation by means of the remote control located near the anchor winch; this will allow checking the lifting and lowering speed of the chain and the entry and exit of the anchor shaft into the anchor roller.
Namely during those operations, an excessive gliding of the chain or a wrong entry or exit of the anchor shaft from the roller may cause damages to the yacht’s bow.

DANGER

Do not use the on board auxiliary equipment for aims or ways other than those indicated in the manual delivered by the Manufacturer.
Always deactivate the capstan winch when not in use to prevent accidental activation.

DANGER

Never get too close to moving parts to avoid danger and injury.

CAUTION

The anchoring area is a circle with the centre at the anchoring point and a radius equal to the chain length plus the yacht length.
The entire anchoring area must be free, in case of sudden variations of wind and/or current direction, especially in case of night anchoring.
At night, before dropping the anchor, check that the white anchor light works.
Before dropping the anchor, check the nautical charts: anchoring is prohibited in certain areas, in weeds covered sea bottom, anchoring is unsafe and harmful to the environment, on rocky sea bottom, the anchor may get stranded or lost.
Anchor the yacht with the engines running, both for safety reasons and to compensate the electrical consumption of the winch.
Check the anchoring point frequently.
The distance from obstacles or other yachts must be, at 360°, greater than the length of chain dropped.
During anchor riding it is advisable to leave the winch powered.
Do not reverse the winch rotation suddenly.

CAUTION

The anchor chain is fastened to the yacht by means of a line and an hook system. If it is impossible to remove the anchor from the sea bottom, this system will ease up to resume navigation.

DANGER

When the winch is operating, be extremely cautious of rotating parts; keep your feet, hands and the remote control cable at safe distance.

Anchoring operations

• Make sure that the engines battery breaker is ON;
• Start the main engines;
• Turn the anchor winch switch ON, on the main electrical panel;
• When the key-pad is not used, disconnect it to prevent contact oxidation;
• Before operating the windlass with the electrical control, ensure that the barbotin clutch is tight and remove the chain lock hook;
• Let the yacht move backward slowly; if necessary, use the engines;
• Lower the anchor until just below the waterline, and hold;
• Lower the anchor until it reaches the sea bottom;
• Once the anchor holds, leave the lock and the brake engaged.
  

CAUTION

Operate the anchor winch with the engines running, in order to provide the high current required and reduce the stress by slowly moving the yacht toward the anchor.

Lower and raise the anchor always by using the electrical control, after engaging barbotin and barrel. The latter can be released to drop anchor if necessary.

CAUTION

The chain lock must be correctly inserted when under way.

Weighing the anchor

To weigh the anchor, perform the same operations previously described above, in reverse order.

In case of wind or current, we recommend using the engines as an aid in maintaining the heading towards the anchor position to avoid damaging the bow.

Once the anchor is on board, fasten the chain stopper before resuming navigation.

CAUTION

Prior to departing, check that the chain stopper is properly fastened.