Muir VC500 & VC650 Vertical Capstan — Owner's Manual

Capstan Location

• Generally near the aft quarter, close to bollards or cleats and suitable fairleads.
• Align it so the mooring line leads from the fairlead onto the bottom of the drum, for 3 or 4 wraps.
• Once the line is in, unwrap it from the drum and cleat it off nearby: full wind loads on the mooring lines must not go onto the capstan. Leaving the line loaded on the drum voids the warranty.
• Use stretchy mooring rope (nylon or polyester), not non-stretch rope such as Dyneema: the give reduces peak loads, and Dyneema slips easily on the drum. Size the rope so it is flexible enough to grip the drum.

Electrical

• Circuit breaker: must be fitted to keep the warranty. It cuts power if the capstan is overloaded or stalled; do not use it as an isolating switch.
• Isolating switch: accessible, ideally close to the battery or switches. It is not a circuit breaker.
• Deck switches: to port, starboard or directly behind the unit, where you can reach them with foot or knee.
• Battery as close to the motor as possible; larger cables cut voltage drop and heat.
• Solenoid (required for deck switches): mount it upright, out of sea water and close to the motor. Single or dual direction wiring; toggle switch, hand pendant or auto-anchor control packages are available.
• Incorrect wiring can cause failure and a fire hazard: follow the wiring diagrams in the PDF.

Operating

• Wrap the rope round the drum 3 or 4 times and run the switch while keeping load on the tail. Light loads (small anchors, sails) need three or four turns; heavier loads need more turns.
• To ease the line out, reduce the tail load and let it slip round the drum; for faster pay-out, unwrap it.
• Manage the load by varying the pull on the tail; if the capstan labours, ease the tail and let the rope slip a little.
• Never run the capstan stalled or overloaded, and never use it as a mooring bollard.
• Do not press the UP and DOWN switches at the same time: reversing a running motor can damage it.
• If the capstan recovers an anchor on a small boat, do not let the anchor chain wrap round the drum.
• In high wind or heavy seas use engine or thrusters to move the boat towards the load instead of relying on the capstan alone.

Servicing

• The gear drive is filled and sealed at the factory with long-life synthetic oil; no regular oil change is needed.
• Rinse all deck gear with fresh water after every trip.
• Pleasure boats: strip yearly, clean all moving parts and grease with a marine, Teflon or lithium based grease (e.g. Shell Gadus S220). Work and charter boats: more often.

Electrical

1. Check the circuit breaker and that the isolating switch is on.
2. Check the battery is charged (12 or 24 volts).
3. Check the foot switch plunger is contacting.
4. Check the solenoid is contacting; if it only clicks, suspect low voltage, a faulty solenoid or a loose wire.
5. Check the wiring between controls, solenoid and motor.
6. If the motor still will not turn, check the motor brushes are not worn or sticking.

Mechanical

1. Check the drive key between gearbox and motor input.
2. Check the drive key on the main shaft to the capstan.
3. Check the drive key on the main shaft to the gearbox output.
4. Hydraulic motor problems: refer to a Muir service agent.