Muir VC850, VC2500 & VC3500 Vertical Capstan — Owner's Manual

Standard Base Version

1. Pick a spot with a clear lead for the rope, as close to perpendicular to the rope source as possible, and room below deck for the cables or hydraulic lines.
2. On an angled or curved deck, fit a shaped mounting block so the base sits level; a spacer below deck may be needed depending on deck thickness.
3. Mark the mounting centres with the template and drill. Disassemble the capstan for installation.
4. Bed the base plate (and block) in sealant. On aluminium or steel hulls insulate with a non-conductive gasket, also below deck under bolts, nuts and washers. On light or foam-sandwich decks fit a plywood stiffener of at least 16mm (5/8") under the deck.
5. Fit the base mounting screws and check there is enough thread through the spacer below deck.
6. With the shaft in place for alignment, slide the motor/gearbox on, fit washer and nut on each bolt and tighten. Check the shaft turns freely and is not jammed on the gearbox key. Remove excess sealant.
7. Fit a spacer on the shaft below the gearbox, then the two washers and the fixing bolt.
8. Grease shaft and key, slide the capstan on with the key aligned and screw it to the shaft. The shaft should have approximately 0.5mm up/down movement and the capstan must not bind on the base.

Fixed Base Adaptor Version

1. Position, mounting block, template, sealant, insulation and plywood stiffener as for the standard base.
2. Fit the base mounting screws into the base holes with large diameter washers.
3. Put the gearbox mounting bolts into the adaptor, fit the deck adaptor from below and secure it with the socket head cap screws. Remove excess sealant.
4. Grease the shaft and top key, tighten the capstan to the shaft with the top screw, and slide shaft and capstan onto the base plate.
5. Fit the gearbox key into the shaft, slide the motor/gearbox onto the shaft and tighten the bolts to the adaptor.
6. Check the shaft turns freely, then fit the two washers and bolt to the end of the shaft.

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.