Nirvana Posted October 24, 2015 Share #1 Posted October 24, 2015 I am scratching my head over this. Many of are building the longboat, and the plans shows a very low seated windlass. I have been thinking over this and the purpose of it, can anyone shed some light in this matter? mtaylor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiloh Posted October 25, 2015 Share #2 Posted October 25, 2015 (edited) A work boat with oars and sailing capabilities which means a mast. The mast and it's rig plus the sail were probably stepped, rigged and used with straight manpower without the aid of the windless. Being a work boat it would be necessary to load barrels, timbers, new and used rope coils and also have the ability to ship and carry out a Kedge Anchor. Probably many other uses where a windless in a boat would be useful. A windless, mast, boom and an assortment of blocks and rope could be great labor saving devices when used by experienced seamen. jud Edited October 25, 2015 by shiloh mtaylor and avsjerome2003 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allanyed Posted October 25, 2015 Share #3 Posted October 25, 2015 (edited) Per Pages 228-229 of Lavery's Arming and Fitting give a good synopsis of the windlass. As written by Lavery,launches, which pretty much replaced longboats on ships of 20 guns or more by 1780, had windlasses. In addition to the windlass would often be found a davit. Prior to the davit there would have been a lignum vitae sheave over which line would run out. The davit and windlass combination was necessary when lifting the buoy rope in order to lift the crown of a 3 ton anchor that had become embedded in the bottom. No boat crew could do this without the aid of the windlass. The davit rested on a pivot pin as shown on the photo. Hope this helps. Allan Edited October 25, 2015 by allanyed GuntherMT, Canute, mtaylor and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaager Posted October 25, 2015 Share #4 Posted October 25, 2015 BOATS OF MEN OF WAR MAY,W ENIP/Chatham 1999 describes an interesting addition: two tubular trunks, one on either side of the keel at the windlass, thru the bottom of the Launch. Ropes up thru the trunks to the windlass could lift and hold for transport - anchors and cannon. A solution to a potential tipping or stern dipping problem. Investigation of this was begun in1818. Canute, mtaylor and shiloh 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nirvana Posted October 25, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted October 25, 2015 Allan, that explanation and pictures along with Jaagers it all make sense. Thank you both of you. mtaylor and Canute 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik W Posted October 25, 2015 Share #6 Posted October 25, 2015 (edited) Per, It looks like others have answered your question. For reference though, here are a couple photos from the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England's website that show the detail of the windlass in longboats. Erik Edited October 25, 2015 by Erik W Canute, shiloh, GuntherMT and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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