Maxwell Winches
Winches, Capstans and Windlasses for
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Glossary of Terms

Bollard
An upright round post with projecting arms, for belaying and snubbing dock or anchor lines.

Capstan
Often referred to as a drum, rope drum, or warping drum used for hauling rope whilst being tailed by the operator.

Chain locker
The compartment in which the chain is stored.

Chain pipe
Mounted on deck, it is the conduit that guides the chain from deck level to below deck. Can be separate item or integral part of a windlass.

Chain Stopper
Located between the winch and bow roller. Secures chain and anchor and takes the load off the windlass. Must be used for systems utilising all chain and for semi-automatic rope and chain systems.

Chainwheel
Often referred to as gypsy, cable lifter or wildcat. A special wheel with pockets, to accommodate a specified chain size, for hauling up the chain and anchor.

Contactor(s)
A heavy duty relay(s) for opening and closing a power circuit, typically to a motor.

Displacement
Weight of water displaced by hull/s of vessel while stationary.

Draught (Draft)
The depth of water which a vessel requires to float her.

Flying bridge
A control station on top of the deckhouse that provides high visibility for deep sea fishing and navigation.

Free Fall
Release of the winch clutch mechanism allowing the anchor and rode to run out freely with no engagement of winch gearbox or motor.

Gypsy
See Chainwheel .

Hauling
Often referred to as weighing or lifting. The operation of lifting the anchor and rode.

Hawse pipe
Mounted between the deck and the hull it is the conduit that guides the chain from deck to the hull where the anchor is stowed. It can accommodate the anchor shank when stowed.

Horizontal
Pertaining to the winch or windlass. Drive shaft, capstan and chainwheel axis is positioned horizontally to the deck.

Line
A rope used for a specific purpose aboard a vessel.

Maximum Pull
Sometimes referred to as rated lift, stall load, or simply lift/pull. The maximum pull or lift load of the winch.

Rode
Anchor line.

Rope
Generally speaking when a piece of rope is put to use on a vessel it becomes a line.

Snub
To check the movement of a line by taking a turn around a snubbing capstan, a cleat or a post. To make fast.

Spurling pipe
Mounted below deck it is the conduit that guides the chain within or to the chain locker.

Tailing
Controlling the exit or entry of a line at the top of a capstan. The tailing force is a reduction of the hauling load due to the grip of the line wraps around the capstan.

Tensioner
The device used to hold the anchor tight to avoid the anchor flogging against the yacht due to the yacht

Topworks
The parts of the windlass that are above the deck.

Vertical
Pertaining to the windlass or capstan. The drive shaft, capstan and gypsy axis are positioned vertically.

VFD
Variable Frequency Drive. An electronic device used to control AC motors by varying the alternating frequency of the voltage supplied to the motor from a consistent source.

Warping - warp
To move a vessel from one place to another by means of a rope made fast to some fixed object. A warp is a piece of rope used for warping.

Weigh
To lift, as to weigh anchor

Windlass
A machine designed to raise or lower an anchor.

Working load
Often referred to as the normal working load or the typical lift of the winch. The working load should approximately correspond to the total weight of the anchor and rode aboard the boat.

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