If you look at the first picture I attached, it is shown there. It is on
the slanted surface. It is easy to push with your foot, or certainly my
wife and daughter find they can do it. The one issue I have with it is that
the jib sheet snags the lip of the cover sometime, and pulls it open. I
guess someday that it might break it.
Ideally I would like a flip up cover on the switch near the steering
station. If you accidentally hit that, it either will let out or raise the
chain. If the chain is already tight, I think something might eventually
get bent. Note that the standard install has no breaker on the panel to
turn this on and off, but has a 100 amp (I think) breaker mounted in the top
of the starboard-side battery compartment. I wonder if the breaker would
flip before ripping the windlass out of the deck.
(A friend of mine - who is a powerboat guy - had a few couples that
chartered two Beneteaus in the BVI a few years ago. One of them ran the
boat hard aground. He dingy'd out the anchor, and set it - possible
snagging a coral head. Then proceeded to kedge the boat over using the
windlass. It ripped the windlass out of the deck!)
FYI, I paid $1250 from my demo model VR1250 in Dec 2006. I think there were
cheaper windlasses, but the Muir was highly recommended and I knew it fit
all of the holes in the boat. Imtra is the US-based representative for
Muir, and sells the damage-returned units on e-bay. So check there.
Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: scoaa-members-bounces@xxxxxxxxx
[mailto:scoaa-members-bounces@xxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steve Ellsworth
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2008 5:58 PM
To: scoaa-members@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Scoaa-members] Mail from website
Makes sense to me.Where is the foot switch up front? I have seen one
Seawind with it located on the slanted surface between the two lockers
up front so it would be hard to depress with the foot. And I already
have the wash down set up to rinse the chain. I saw where they have a
cabled remote control that you could use but it would require two hands
and it's hard to hold the hose with your feet!
Steve
From: scoaa-members-bounces@xxxxxxxxx
[mailto:scoaa-members-bounces@xxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Michael Zotzky
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2008 3:44 PM
To: scoaa-members@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Scoaa-members] Mail from website
Yep, you can see the factory location in this picture. But while I
thought it would be really cool to be able to pull the anchor
singlehanded using this switch and the motor controls at the same time,
reality is that you cannot see the anchor from that position. What
usually happens instead is one foot goes on the "up" button, the hands
on the wash down pump nozzle, and everything is done from the front
nets. If there are two of us, I usually have the motors slowly turning
us forward, while my wife does the rest. She used to wash everything
down with a bucket, dunked on the end of a rope. She likes the washdown
pump better!
Mike
________________________________
From: scoaa-members-bounces@xxxxxxxxx
[mailto:scoaa-members-bounces@xxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steve Ellsworth
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2008 5:43 PM
To: scoaa-members@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Scoaa-members] Mail from website
Mike thanks, that seems to be the general consensus. Do you have
secondary controls back at the helm??
Steve
From: scoaa-members-bounces@xxxxxxxxx
[mailto:scoaa-members-bounces@xxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Michael Zotzky
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2008 3:34 PM
To: scoaa-members@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Scoaa-members] Mail from website
Steve,
I checked mine, and it is a VR1250. I thought it was the model that
Seawind had spec'd as an option. The hole pattern for the 850 and the
1250 is the same though. The VR1250 hasn't ever stalled on me, but for
the same reason, we operate it with a lot of caution.
Mike
________________________________
From: scoaa-members-bounces@xxxxxxxxx
[mailto:scoaa-members-bounces@xxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Gary Oelze
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2008 3:43 PM
To: scoaa-members@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Scoaa-members] Mail from website
Steve,
I believe I have the VR850 and it has lasted through a lot of use.
Our experience:
1. It is strong enough ( I'll confirm size if you want more info) and
we use it with 150 ft of 8mm and 150 ft rode. We've anchored in 70 feet
and did wonder if it would get it up and it did. It has stalled when
we've grabbed too hard and I see this as more a good thing since it acts
like a clutch to prevent overloading rollers and keeping from boat from
being pulled to the bottom. J
2. It will take in the rope ok but it can be a challenge and it is a
bit rough on the rope too. When the rope gets going with some tension
it pulls pretty well. I keep the rope load light by pulling it in hand
if seas are rough and wind is up (We use engines for this).
3. I think a superior arrangement is to have a separate rope gypsy on
the same unit to pull rope in and then hand the chain into the chain
gypsy. Then rope could be pulled firmly and without the wear with this
unit. I don't believe I would alter Sol Surfin to accommodate this
large of a change, but that is just me.
4. There is the handle for the clutch operation but there it does not
serve to crank the gypsy. But, I would guess you wouldn't be able to
pull much load given the small moment arm. Other units have this
feature.
5. Another issue is the motor drive under the deck corrodes a lot.
Now, this is the only winless I've owned, and this may be a common issue
for other mfgs. Plus my fresh water wash down cycle is scanty.
That's it,
Gary
________________________________
From: scoaa-members-bounces@xxxxxxxxx
[mailto:scoaa-members-bounces@xxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steve Ellsworth
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2008 09:19
To: scoaa-members@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Scoaa-members] Mail from website
Hi all.We have a Seawind 1000, Barramundi, hull # 93, and we looking to
upgrade our Muir manual windless to a power one. I am assuming upgrading
to a Muir power model is the best course as the holes and contour of the
deck should match to the power unit. The question is.Is this the best
approach and what model should I get? On the Muir web site they show tow
models that I think might work, the VR850 and the VR1250. Any Thoughts.
Thanks
Steve & Pam Ellsworth
Barramundi
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