Anchor windlass system

Abstract

There is disclosed an anchor windlass system for installation on a boat, the boat including at least two hulls and a deck structure supported by the hulls, the deck structure having a top side and a bottom side. The anchor windlass system is configured to be attached to the bottom side of the deck structure. The anchor windlass system comprises a base mount configured to be permanently attached to the bottom side of the deck structure, and a windlass mount configured to be slidably received onto the base mount and to be removably attached to the base mount.The windlass mount has a windlass attached to the windlass mount and a bow roller assembly attached to the windlass mount. Also disclosed is a related method of installing the anchor windlass system on a boat, and a boat equipped with an anchor windlass system.

1 . An anchor windlass system for installation on a boat, the boat including at least two hulls and a deck structure supported by the hulls, the deck structure having a top side and a bottom side; wherein the anchor windlass system is configured to be attached to the bottom side of the deck structure, and the anchor windlass system comprises:
 a base mount configured to be permanently attached to the bottom side of the deck structure;   a windlass mount configured to be slidably received onto the base mount and to be removably attached to the base mount; and wherein   the windlass mount has a windlass assembly attached to the windlass mount and a bow roller assembly attached to the windlass mount.   
     
     
         2 . The anchor windlass system of  claim 1 , suitable for installation on a pontoon boat, the pontoon boat including at least two pontoons and a said base deck structure supported by the pontoons. 
     
     
         3 . The anchor windlass system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the base mount and the windlass mount comprises an elongate channel, and the other of the base mount and the windlass mount comprises an elongate rail, said rail being configured for sliding engagement with said channel. 
     
     
         4 . The anchor windlass system of  claim 3  comprising a pair of said elongate channels in spaced-apart relation to one another, and a pair of said elongate rails, each said elongate rail being configured for sliding engagement with a respective said channel. 
     
     
         5 . The anchor windlass system of  claim 3 , wherein said base mount comprises said elongate channel and said windlass mount comprises said elongate rail. 
     
     
         6 . The anchor windlass system of  claim 5 , wherein the base mount is configured to be permanently attached to the bottom side of the deck structure such that said elongate channel extends in a longitudinal fore-aft direction of the boat. 
     
     
         7 . The anchor windlass system of  claim 5 , wherein the elongate channel comprises a channel base and a channel flange, and is configured such that said channel flange is spaced below said channel base when the base mount is attached to the bottom side of the deck structure to define a gap between the channel base and the channel flange. 
     
     
         8 . The anchor windlass system of  claim 7 , wherein the elongate rail comprises a rail flange configured for slidable engagement within said gap between the channel base and the channel flange. 
     
     
         9 . The anchor windlass system of  claim 1  further comprising a threaded fastener threadedly engaged within an aperture formed through the windlass mount, the threaded fastener being operable to bear against or otherwise engage the base mount to removably secure the windlass mount to the base mount. 
     
     
         10 . The anchor windlass system of  claim 9 , wherein said threaded fastener is provided proximate the bow roller assembly and distal to the windlass assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The anchor windlass system of  claim 9 , wherein the threaded fastener is provided in the form of a thumbscrew. 
     
     
         12 . The anchor windlass system of  claim 1 , wherein the windlass mount comprises an end stop configured to abut the base mount when the windlass mount is substantially fully slidably received onto the base mount. 
     
     
         13 . The anchor windlass system of  claim 1 , further comprising an anchor rode and an anchor attached to a distal end of the anchor rode, the anchor rode being constrained to move over the bow roller, and the windlass assembly being configured for paying out and hauling in the anchor rode. 
     
     
         14 . A method of installing an anchor windlass system on a boat of a type including at least two hulls and a deck structure supported by the hulls, the deck structure having a top side and a bottom side, wherein the method comprises:
 providing an anchor windlass system having a base mount, and a windlass mount configured to be slidably received onto the base mount and to be removably attached to the base mount, the windlass mount having a windlass assembly attached to the windlass mount and a bow roller assembly attached to the windlass mount;   permanently attaching the base mount to the bottom side of the deck structure; and   slidably engaging the windlass mount onto the base mount to position the windlass assembly and bow roller beneath the deck structure.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of permanently attaching the base mount to the bottom side of the deck structure involves attaching the base mount in a position between one of said hulls and another of said hulls. 
     
     
         16 . A boat having an anchor windlass system, the boat including at least two hulls and a deck structure supported by the hulls, the deck structure having a top side and a bottom side and the anchoring apparatus being attached to the bottom side, wherein the anchor windlass system comprises:
 a base mount permanently attached to the bottom side of the deck structure;   a windlass mount slidably received onto the base mount and removably attached to the base mount; and wherein   the windlass mount has a windlass assembly attached to the windlass mount and a bow roller assembly attached to the windlass mount.   
     
     
         17 . The boat of  claim 16 , wherein the base mount is attached to the deck structure in a position between one of said hulls and another of said hulls. 
     
     
         18 . The boat of  claim 16 , wherein the anchor windlass system further comprises an anchor rode and an anchor attached to a distal end of the anchor rode, the anchor rode being constrained to move over the bow roller, and the windlass assembly being configured for paying out and hauling in the anchor rode.