Windlasses with rotating handles....

[Guest]

Do they offer any significant advantages over 'plain' types????

 

I was going to order a couple off ebay for our forthcoming break on the L&L (we have a large crew but will probably only get 2 or 3 windlasses) and wondered if the ones with rotating handles are worth the little bit extra.

 

Cheers.

[Dutch]

Do they offer any significant advantages over 'plain' types????

 

I was going to order a couple off ebay for our forthcoming break on the L&L (we have a large crew but will probably only get 2 or 3 windlasses) and wondered if the ones with rotating handles are worth the little bit extra.

 

Cheers.

 

They do tend to be a little easier on the hands for those with delicate skin

Mick

[gazza]

They do tend to be a little easier on the hands for those with delicate skin

Mick

 

as well as being quicker and nicer to handle for those with tough skin

 

i have modified several windlasses, weld a M16 washer close to the bend, cut a bit of 3/4 pipe, weld a M16 washer to either end, slip on to handle, then weld another M16 washer to the end of the handle, leaving a bit of clearance so it doesnt nip up.

 

much better than a regular windlass

[NB Alnwick]

They do tend to be a little easier on the hands for those with delicate skin

Mick

 

Unless, of course, you are unlucky enough to pinch your delicate skin between the piece of rotating plastic tube and the end-stop - ouch!

[magpie patrick]

Unless, of course, you are unlucky enough to pinch your delicate skin between the piece of rotating plastic tube and the end-stop - ouch!

 

That's why I don't like them. We've only got one like that, Big Bertha, which also has four spindle holes, two at long throw and two half way up the shaft for short throw.

[gazza]

Unless, of course, you are unlucky enough to pinch your delicate skin between the piece of rotating plastic tube and the end-stop - ouch!

 

my way of modifying a windlass avoids this happening. the M16 washers stop your delicate skin getting trapped. imagine a motorcylce twist grip and you will get the idea.

[Tiny]

THe rotaters we had tended to break sooner or later. We just wrap loads of insulating tape round the metal to give a grip and identify whose is whose.

[gazza]

be hard pressed to break mine.......

 

like most things, the ready made varity are not up to much.

 

come at it from an engineers view point rather than an accountants view point - the result is a proper bit of kit. the fact i have access to materials and machinery and have been in the fitting and fabricating game since i left school 15 years ago is a bonus and means mine are rather good.

 

insulation tape is ok untill it starts flaking off, they then feel pants! solved with another few wraps i know....

[Guest]

be hard pressed to break mine.......

 

like most things, the ready made varity are not up to much.

 

come at it from an engineers view point rather than an accountants view point - the result is a proper bit of kit. the fact i have access to materials and machinery and have been in the fitting and fabricating game since i left school 15 years ago is a bonus and means mine are rather good.

 

insulation tape is ok untill it starts flaking off, they then feel pants! solved with another few wraps i know....

 

Gazza - you have a PM

[bottle]

Get some gloves: £0:50 a pair if you buy three pairs.

 

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/17241/Workwe...-Rigger-Gloves#

[mrsmelly]

Do they offer any significant advantages over 'plain' types????

 

I was going to order a couple off ebay for our forthcoming break on the L&L (we have a large crew but will probably only get 2 or 3 windlasses) and wondered if the ones with rotating handles are worth the little bit extra.

 

Cheers.

 

Sorry , wish I could help but being a male I have never used one, I will get the missus to post you advice when she has finished the washing up.........

[gazza]

Get some gloves: £0:50 a pair if you buy three pairs.

 

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/17241/Workwe...-Rigger-Gloves#

 

nice and hot in the summer

[Athy]

Do they offer any significant advantages over 'plain' types????

 

I was going to order a couple off ebay for our forthcoming break on the L&L (we have a large crew but will probably only get 2 or 3 windlasses) and wondered if the ones with rotating handles are worth the little bit extra.

 

Cheers.

Beware of ordering those. I ordered a pair of them from the eBay seller who offers them at £9.99 each if you buy them now, or auctions them starting at £7.99. I stipulated that they should arrive by last Thursday (and sent my cheque in ample time) as we were taking the boat out on Friday. They did not arrive, so as we had no BW windlass I had to buy a much more expensive (£14.95) and non-revolving one from a chandlery. We got back home last night. They still have not arrived.

[mayalld]

Get some gloves: £0:50 a pair if you buy three pairs.

 

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/17241/Workwe...-Rigger-Gloves#

 

Hey, this is "General Boating", not "Namby Pamby Boating"

[Guest]

Beware of ordering those. I ordered a pair of them from the eBay seller who offers them at £9.99 each if you buy them now, or auctions them starting at £7.99. I stipulated that they should arrive by last Thursday (and sent my cheque in ample time) as we were taking the boat out on Friday. They did not arrive, so as we had no BW windlass I had to buy a much more expensive (£14.95) and non-revolving one from a chandlery. We got back home last night. They still have not arrived.

 

Thanks for the tip Athy - I think I was looking at them from the same seller.

 

I always pay for eBay stuff by PayPal though which may quicken things up. Sellers often don't dispatch stuff paid for by cheque until it has fully cleared.

 

Yours still seems like a long delay though.

[Athy]

Thanks for the tip Athy - I think I was looking at them from the same seller.

 

I always pay for eBay stuff by PayPal though which may quicken things up. Sellers often don't dispatch stuff paid for by cheque until it has fully cleared.

 

Yours still seems like a long delay though.

He asked for a cheque, on the back of which I wrote my cheque card number so he should not have needed to wait. I mentioned the date deadline in e-mails before confirming my order, too. I will keep you posted (which is more than he has done so far!)

[bridgit]

Do they offer any significant advantages over 'plain' types????

 

I was going to order a couple off ebay for our forthcoming break on the L&L (we have a large crew but will probably only get 2 or 3 windlasses) and wondered if the ones with rotating handles are worth the little bit extra.

 

Cheers.

 

 

 

Was told by working boatman that the one I was using caused more acidents than the fixed handle type. He advised I throw mine away.

 

Bridgit.

[Water Rat.]

I always use them. I am not very strong and they seem to be easier to use - so far no accidents or difficulties.

[PeterG]

Was told by working boatman that the one I was using caused more acidents than the fixed handle type. He advised I throw mine away.

 

Bridgit.

 

Cannot agree more. The rotating handles just make you lose the control that you with the normal fixed type and then that gives the potential of an accident.

 

Lets not give the elf and safety people more ammunition.

 

Also do not forget standard fixed handle type is simpler and cheaper, just spend the money on a long throw for places like Hatton.

[RLWP]

Cannot agree more. The rotating handles just make you lose the control that you with the normal fixed type and then that gives the potential of an accident.

 

Lets not give the elf and safety people more ammunition.

 

Also do not forget standard fixed handle type is simpler and cheaper, just spend the money on a long throw for places like Hatton.

 

Why Hatton? 24 turns of a large radius windlass will knacker you in no time! I always use a normal throw one.

 

Richard

[PeterG]

Why Hatton? 24 turns of a large radius windlass will knacker you in no time! I always use a normal throw one.

 

Richard

 

Mechanical advantage of a long throw eases the effort over a flight.

 

It means that my 10 year old can work the flight with me without being accused of slave labour, which is something he cannot yet do with the normal one, non roller of course.

[Nine of Hearts]

I always use them. I am not very strong and they seem to be easier to use - so far no accidents or difficulties.

 

I can't see why a rotating handle would help with the effort? If you're turning something at a high rpm, or doing lots of revolutions, then a rotating handle will ease the friction. If you're turning against a lot of force, you're presumably not turning the handle very fast and so it won't matter if the handle rotates or not. In fact, it will be better if it doesn't as your grip will be more secure.

[RLWP]

Mechanical advantage of a long throw eases the effort over a flight.

 

It means that my 10 year old can work the flight with me without being accused of slave labour, which is something he cannot yet do with the normal one, non roller of course.

 

Can he reach the top of the windlass as he turns it?

 

Seriously though, yes you get the mechanical advantage, but the downside is that the handle is going in a bigger circle (work = force x distance) so I get tired of the increased bending and straightening with a long throw windlass. So I avoid using ours and let other people fight over it.

 

Richard

[PeterG]

Can he reach the top of the windlass as he turns it?

 

Seriously though, yes you get the mechanical advantage, but the downside is that the handle is going in a bigger circle (work = force x distance) so I get tired of the increased bending and straightening with a long throw windlass. So I avoid using ours and let other people fight over it.

 

Richard

 

 

Work does equal force x distance but with the extra length on the long throw the force is reduced also which reduces the work.

 

Work is also just energy which can be replaced whereas if he cannot shift the paddle due to not having enough force (ten year old don't forget) then I or some one else have to come round to help, which means much more energy consumed.

 

You can tell I am bored at work today and am looking forward to time out on the boat shortly (or should that be longly)

[RLWP]

Work does equal force x distance but with the extra length on the long throw the force is reduced also which reduces the work.

 

Does not!

 

The work to be done is lifting the paddle no matter what windlass you use. You either do it by putting a large force onto a short windlass turning a small circle, or a small force onto a long windlass turning a large circle. whichever way you do it it's the same amount of work.

 

But then you have to bend and straighten your body more on the large windlass, moving your upper body up and down about 24 times per paddle. That's an additional bit of work to be done. So you are doing more work.

 

But as you say, if your son needs the windlass to be able to do the job, then that's a highly appropriate use for one and to be thoroughly encouraged! I hand our long throw windlass to people who are struggling.

 

Richard

 

As long as I don't have to use it.