Muir VM/VMC 500/650 & VR/VRC 1000/1200 Vertical Windlass — Owner's Manual

Mounting

1. Locate the windlass centrally fore and aft with an unhindered lead to the anchor roller. The chain runs onto the starboard side of the gypsy, wraps around 180° and falls below deck through the chain pipe. Leave room for the manual/clutch handle.
2. The gypsy centre height must be in the same plane as the chain lead; fit a shaped mounting block on an angled or curved deck.
3. Mark and drill from the template. Fit the supplied nylon insulation gasket between deck (or block) and base, bedded in sealant; on aluminium or steel hulls also insulate bolts, nuts and washers.
4. Light or foam-sandwich deck: plywood stiffener of at least 16mm (5/8") thickness with large washers.
5. Mount from above; from below apply Loctite 222 or equivalent and fit washers and nuts on each stud.
6. Locate the adaptor, align the holes and fasten with the cap screws (Loctite 222).
7. Grease shaft, key and gearbox hub, slide the geardrive on with the key aligned, rotate the gearbox to the preferred position (one of 8) and bolt through the adaptor; fit washers and bolt in the shaft end (Loctite 222).
8. Grease all moving parts; protect motor/gear drive with anti-corrosion film or grease tape. If the motor sits below the chain access hole, a chain pipe extension is required.

Deck Template & Fall

• Round SS deck template (VM500, VR/VRC 850–2200): drill only one set of holes – 4 holes ø10 on 100 PCD if using deck bolts, or 3 holes ø8.5 on 124 PCD if using deck studs.
• Cut-out hole ø71mm, plus a 20 hole for the Auto Anchor sensor (when fitted).
• Print with page scaling set to "none" or 100%, check the printed 200 mm scale bar, and check the holes with the winch in position before drilling.
• Minimum fall: VM/C 500 / 650 300 mm; VR/C 1000 / 1200 450 mm. Lead the chain to the centre of the locker; a redirecting tube should be at least 2 times the chain diameter and as vertical as possible.

Operating

• Manual release: handle in the clutch drive bi-square, turn anti-clockwise; control the chain by tightening clockwise. Fully tighten before retrieving under power.
• Retrieve with the clutch tightened and the handle removed. If the anchor is buried or conditions are heavy, motor slowly forward with a chain stopper in place so the engine breaks the anchor out.
• At anchor use a chain stopper, bridle or snubber; never use the windlass as a mooring bollard.
• Capstan (VRC models only): secure the rode, release the clutch, then run the capstan by hand or motor.
• Mark the chain at 2 and 5 metre (6.5' & 16.5') intervals and slow down for the last few metres.

Manual Override (MORS)

• Optional on the VR/VRC 1000-1200. Engage the ratchet drive pawl, tighten the clutch nut clockwise (anti-clockwise on a left-hand winch), put the handle in the offset bi-square and work it: the MOR pawls drive the gypsy, the ratchet pawls hold the load.
• The ratchet pawls are supplied disengaged. To engage: remove clutch nut (and D washer on VR), capstan and key if fitted, loosen the nylon peeler arm, remove chain cover, gypsy with peeler/stripper, shoulder bolt, ratchet cone and washer; move the pawls to the adjacent slots (keep the springs) and reassemble.

Strip & Grease

1. VR: remove the clutch nut with the handle and slide off the D washer. VRC: remove the clutch nut and slide off the capstan, keeping the shaft key.
2. Undo the thumb screw and socket head screw and remove the chain cover.
3. Remove the stripper screws and stripper, then the peeler screw and peeler.
4. Slide the gypsy off the main shaft; grease shaft/cone and gypsy bore before reassembly.

• Rinse after every trip; strip and grease yearly with marine grade grease (no soap-based grease), more often on work and charter boats. The geardrive oil is for life.
• Protect motor, gearbox and adaptor with Tectyl underbody film and Denso grease tape.

Troubleshooting

1. Breaker on, isolating switch on; battery charged to 12 or 24 volts.
2. Foot switch contacting; solenoid contacting (clicking = low voltage, faulty solenoid or loose wire); wiring intact; motor brushes.
3. Clutch tightened with the handle; finger spring tension if the line slips.
4. Drive keys between gearbox output and main shaft, and between gearbox and motor.
5. Hydraulic motor: contact a Muir service agent.