11.2 ANCHOR WINCH

The yacht is equipped with one windlass that weigh and lower the bow anchor.
The anchor chain enters the yacht through the hawsehole and reaches the windlass, rides over the gypsy and enters the chain locker.

The anchor winch is equipped with control for chain displacement in both directions and with manual brake to lock the chain during mooring.
The winch is equipped with a clutch separating the drive shaft from the wildcat; this allows using it as a warping winch for pulling a line.

1. Bushing for lever engagement
   This device allows lever engagement.
2. Barrel
   This device allows pulling a line.
3. Wildcat
   This device allows weighing and lowering the anchor.
4. Wildcat locking wheel
   This device allows locking the wildcat rotation for the chain fastening.
5. Lever
   Adjusts manually the clutch opening and closing, and releases the wildcat.
6. Safety wire
   This device allows locking the anchor chain.

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
The winch at the bow can be operated via the remote control or by means of the buttons located on the main control panel.

CAUTION

If you wish to use the anchor, loose the wildcat lock and remove the safety wire.

CAUTION

Do not bring body parts or objects near the area where the chain, the line and the wildcat 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 (remote push-button panel) 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 wildcat cover.

Clutch use
The wildcat 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 engine. 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 wildcat 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 disconnect the warping winches 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;
• 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 anchor winch with the electric control, check that the wildcat clutch is properly engaged and remove the wildcat stopper and the safety wire;
• 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 wildcat and barrel. This latter can be disengaged both for casting off the anchor in case of need and to operate the barrel as a warping winch.

CAUTION

During navigation, make sure that both the chain stopper and the chain brake are securely locked.

Weighing the anchor

To weigh the anchor, perform the same operations previously described above, in reverse order.
In windy or strong current conditions, start the engines and keep the bow toward the anchor position to avoid the breakage of the chock.
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.