Electric and hydraulic anchor windlasses undeniably make life easier for the crew. They are not without their potential for installation faults, however. In this case, the installer appears to have substituted the manufacturer supplied chain stripper, the device that separates the chain from the windlass as the anchor is raised, for one whose dimensions are not quite right. As a result, it's loose and is in danger of becoming jammed. A jammed anchor rode is a serious problem indeed, the anchor can neither be raised or lowered, which may place the vessel in extremis. This stripper's problems could be corrected either by replacement or the addition of shims. The chain stripper should be tight, they should be centered on the wildcat's groove and they should be very close to but not touching that groove in order to work reliably. They also benefit from routine inspections.
