Moody Eclipse 33 Moody Eclipse 33 - 1989 - windlass upgrade help?

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John Wragg

John Wragg
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Hello I'm new to your forum and new to forums too hoping someone may be able to help
I;m looking at a 1989 Moody Eclipse 33 and want to change the manual windlass to electric
has anyone out here have any recommendations or suggestions
regards
John
 
John,
Installing an electric windlass is possible.
We have an eclipse with a Simpson Lawrence windlass fitted, old but after refurb it works perfectly. Its powered from the house batteries using 10mm dia cable. If I was fitting it I would have taken power from the bowthruster battery that is the forward cabin. Looking at our installation then I would guess it could be completed in 1 to 3 days, assuming basic diy/ electrical skills. I don't think any structural work is required. Our windlass is mounted on the deck and appears to make use of original reinforcing
The cables back to the house batteries take a very strange and difficult route, a much simpler route is possible.
Happy to send images if they are any use. Would highly recommend that you join the Moody owners as the quantity and quality of information here has been invaluable to us while doing a total refurb on our eclipse.
If you're based anywhere near Ardrossan then happy to show you how ours is installed
 
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Hi John.

My Eclipse had an old Lofrans Cayman which has a cleat on top which I found very useful. A few years ago I replaced it with a Tigris which I chose as it also has a cleat and a 1500 watt horizontal windlass so it is all above the deck. I wanted the grunt as when you want to pull the anchor up, sometimes you have to just get it done. Having a rope capstan is also useful. I have foot buttons for up and down by the windlass which I tend to use for raising the anchor, and a remote control at the helm which I tend to use when anchoring.
As there is also a bow thruster it made sense to me to fit a battery in the bow. This does put extra weight in the bow, but has a few advantages. There are short runs for the heavy cables from the battery to the thruster and windlass so lighter cables can be used which are not only cheaper but easier to work with. The battery is charged by a 12 volt to 12 volt automatic charger, so when the house bank gets about a certain voltage it charges the bow battery, and when the voltage drops it cuts out. This only requires light weight cables to be run so that’s another advantage.
In practice the battery charger does the job and the bow battery is always charged enough. I often lower and raise the anchor without the engine running which is not a problem.
Running control cables from the windlass control relay to the helm was torturous but well worth it as I often sail singlehanded.
Running cables from the windlass to under the bunk really requires the side panels in the forward cabin to be removed which was a pain, but other than that it’s a fairly straightforward job.

I think the Eclipse 33 is a great boat, a good choice.

Regards,
Paul.
 
Guys this level of detail is not for this forum. Please continue on the Info Exchange. I have left it here for John Wragg who is not a member, so he can read it

Kindest

Neil
 
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