The vertical shaft is rotated by a portion of the capstan above

An anchor windlass is a machine that restrains and manipulates the anchor chain, allowing the anchor to be raised and lowered. A notched wheel engages the links of the chain or the rope. A brake is provided for control and the windlass is usually powered by an electric or hydraulic motor operating via a gear train.

Technically speaking, the term "windlass" refers only to horizontal winches. Horizontal windlasses make use of an integral gearbox and motor assembly, all typically located above-deck, with a horizontal shaft through the unit and wheels for chain on either side.

Horizontal windlasses offer several advantages. The unit tends to be more self contained, protecting the machinery from the corrosive environment found on boats. The dual wheels also allow two anchors on double rollers to be serviced. It tends to be the case that smaller boats use capstans, and larger boats have windlasses, although this is by no means a hard and fast rule.

The anchor is shackled to the Anchor Cable, the cable passes up through the Hawse pipe, through the pawl, over the windlass gypsy down through the "Spurling pipe" to the chain/cable Locker under the forecastle (or poop if at the stern) - the anchor bitts are on a bulkhead in the cable locker and the bitter end of the cable is connected to the bitts using the bitter pin, which should be able to be released from outside the locker to "slip" the anchor. This would occur if the windlass brake has slipped in a storm for example and you have reached "the bitter end".

III. Answer the following questions:

1. What is an anchor windlass?

2. What does the term “windlass” refer to?

3. What advantages do horizontal windlasses offer?

4. Do horizontal windlasses make use of an integral gearbox and motor assembly?

5. What do the dual wheels allow?

6. Where is anchor shackled to?

7. Where does the cable pass up?

8. What may occur if the windlass brake has slipped in a storm?

IV. Ask as many questions as possible to the following sentences:

1. The hydraulically operated brake and pawl allows the anchor to be dropped from the ship’s bridge.

2. The wheels on either a vertical or horizontal windlass provide for either chain or line to be engaged.

3. While most windlasses require power, many are manually driven in the same manner as most sailing boats’ winches for sheets.

4. A devil’s claw is often used on merchant ships.

5. Windlasses and their power system should be capable of lifting the anchor and all its rode.

V. Translate the text “Devil’s claw.”

Fig 8. Securing a devil's claw on a large anchor chain.

The devil's claw is a device that is used as a chain stopper to grab and hold an anchor chain. It consists of a turnbuckle, usually attached at the base of the anchor windlass, and a metal hook with two curved fingers that grab one link of a chain.

A devil's claw is often used on merchant ships because it is lighter and easier to manage than other types of chain stoppers, such as a pelican hook.

After hoisting the anchor and setting the windlass brake, the claw is placed on a chain link and the turnbuckle is tightened to take up the tension on the chain. If more than one stopper is used, the turnbuckles can be adjusted to evenly distribute the load.

A devil's claw cannot be released while it is under tension. To release it, the tension must first be taken up by the windlass brake. Then the turnbuckle can be loosened and removed.

VI. Translate the following sentences from Russian into English:

1. Якорный брашпиль – это механизм, который управляет и удерживает якорную цепь.

2. Обычно брашпиль управляется электрическим или гидравлическим мотором, действующий при помощи зубчатой передачи.

3. Брашпиль относится только к горизонтальным лебедкам.

4. Брашпили и их энергосистема должны поднять якорь и его цепь.

5. Якорь приковывается к якорному тросу, который проходит через якорный клюз.

VII. Use the following word combinations in sentences of your own:

     To restrain and manipulate the anchor chain, to provide for control, make use of             an integral gearbox, to have advantages, to be more self contained, to protect from the corrosive environment, to be serviced, to be shackled to smth, to pass up, to be connected to smth.

VIII. Complete the following sentences:

1. An anchor windlass is a machine …

2. The term “windlass” refers …

3. Horizontal windlasses make use of …

4. The dual wheels …

5. The anchor is shackled to the …