TECHNICAL SUPPORT

At Tienda Del Barco, we thrive on offering the best technical advice for our clients. As engineers, we have a more pragmatic approach when it comes down to recommend equipment to our customers. Choosing the right windlass, the perfect bowthruster or simply finding the right part for your gangway isn't easy. That is why we here to help ! You can chat with us through Whatsapp at the bottom right of the screen, email us with your questions or simply give us a call.

As an official Lofran's and Max Power service station, we carry periodic manufacturer's recommended maintenance, particularly on the "R" range of retractable bowthrusters which need a complete factory specified overhaul every 5 years. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us for more information regarding the RFQ revision program.

Besides our live technical support, we have also compiled a list of guidelines to help you choose which equipment is best suited for your boat. Choose a category first, then click a question below to view the answer.

Windlass

• • • • • Should I get a manual or electrical windlass?

          The main two reasons to choose a manual anchor windlass are the easiness of the installation, as it doesn't involve electrical work, and the price.

          The power needed by the electric anchor windlass is not a real issue since modern boats have proper batteries and the windlass only runs for few minutes. On the contrary, safety, practicability and fast operations are the advantages of the electric anchor windlass. Today 95 out 100 anchor windlasses are electrics.
          
          

        • Vertical or horizontal windlass ?

          There are two different types of anchor windlass: vertical and horizontal. The best way to decide is to weigh up which option meets your requirements.

          Vertical Windlass  

          The main advantage of this type of anchor windlass is that the profile deck is very compact as the electric motor and the gearbox are under the deck. They are lighter than the horizontal anchor windlasses and their price is more competitive. Their attractive design make them suitable for every kind of boat, sailboat or motorboat. With most of the mechanical components are under deck, the maintenance operations are less simple than the horizontal anchor windlasses.

          Horizontal Windlass  

          These are the classic anchor windlass design, practical and useful. Normally they are entirely installed above deck. All mechanical components and the gearbox are protected by the body and the electric motor by the cover. This makes maintenance operations easy. The installation is very simple and it take less time than the verticals. They can be mounted into the anchor locker to further reduce the above deck profile.

        • Which windlass model ? How much power ?

          The choice of model and power should be done considering length, windage and displacement of the boat. Below, you can see a couple of helpful selection tables to help you choose the best model for your boat. They are the result of thirty years of experience and must be considered as an important reference.

          However, it is not possible generalise with formulas, calculations or different charts, as there are plenty of situations : the type of boat, the skill of the skipper who is making the anchoring operation, the wind force and sea condition.

          From our point of view, to get a correct evalutation, the windlasses should be compared for sizes, weight, mechanical strength, power and other visible features. Therefore, please do not compare windlasses having different features just because both the manufacturers recommend them for the specific length of boat.

          Most of our anchor windlasses are available in two different electric motors, a powerful electric motor which is faster and has more pulling power, and a smaller one with a lower current draw so it is possible to use smaller cross section electric cables.
          

        • Which power supply ? AC, DC or hydraulic ?

          We’re able to provide anchor windlasses with three motorization types: Direct current, Alternate current and Hydraulic.

          DC motorization is the most popular for reliability. Their maintenance is very limited and this kind of motorization is used for boats up to 27m.

          AC motorization is suitable for boats that their length is between 27m and 36m and have a generator on board. This type of motorization offers a good torque, their installation is simple and require limited maintenance.

          Hydraulic motorization gives the advantage of a constant torgue while the load changes. They are very popular on boats over 36m and they need a specific installation.
          
          

        • Do I need a circuit breaker ?

          Yes ! The circuit breaker protects the electric motor and the wiring of the windlass from high current draw and/or a short circuit. It’s installed on the power line and it can be tripped automatically.

          A circuit breaker for anchor windlasses is essential for safety reasons. Please choose wisely the proper circuit breaker according to the manufacturer specifications in order to avoid any unpleasant installation mistakes.
          
          

        • Do I need a chain stopper ?

          A windlass is designed to lift a specific amount of load and not the load of the whole boat. For this reason we strongly recommend to use a chain stopper in order to take some of the tension of the load that is applied on the windlass and avoid damaging the windlass components through overload
          
          

        • What is manual override ?

          Most of Lofrans’ windlasses come with the manual override function in order for the chain to be recovered manually in case of an electrical system failure. The manual override is inserted inside the gearbox and it is made by spring load ratchet which has the secondary function to make a sort of mechanical fuse in order to prevent the chain from jamming in the chain locker and subsequently damaging the deck.

        • What does the clutch do ?

          In a Lofrans’ anchor windlass, the main shaft and the gipsy are connected by a couple of conical discs called clutch. They are normally engaged by screwing the top star shaped nut. To engage or disengage the clutch you have to insert the supllied handle in this nut. Disengaging the clutch frees the gispy and the anchor's weight pulls down the chain faster.

          This is usefull for anchoring quicker and/or in deep waters that require a lot of chain to be dropped.
          
          

        • What is automatic free fall ?

          Some horizontal anchor windlasses come optionally with a device called "Automatic Free Fall" which allows the clutch to be disengaged automatically by simply pushing on the "Down" button on the remote control.
          
          

        • Can the windlass pull a line too ?

          Most Lofrans’ anchor windlasses are able to manage the line and the chain thanks to a special spring load tension arm called finger which pushes the line deeply inside the gipsy’s teeth..
          
          

        • What kind of oil my windlass uses ? How much shoud I put in ?

          Simply take a look at the table below to find your windlass model specifications:
          

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          Thruster

          Should I get a tunnel or a retractable thruster ?

          Positioning thrusters is often as important as choosing the right thrust output when seeking maximum manoeuvring performance for your boat. Thruster turbines need to be placed one full propeller diameter under the water line to achieve optimum thrust. The thruster must also be positioned as far forward in the bow or as far back in the stern as possible. A thruster stepped back from the bow (or stern) would need to be more powerful than one mounted further forward (or back), to achieve the same turning effect on the boat.
          
          

          

          Most motor boat designs are well suited for fixed tunnel thruster installations. However, the above-described constraints (depth and positioning) often contradict each other, especially in modern sailing yachts. Although some sailing yachts can achieve good results with tunnel thrusters, most modern designs would work better using a retractable solution.

          

        • Which tunnel thruster model for my boat ?

          The selection chart below will help you match which tunnel thruster is best suited for your boat, given its size and its type of hull
          
          

          

        • Which retractable thruster model for my boat ?

          The selection chart below will help you match which retractable thruster is best suited for your boat, given its size and its type of hull
          
          

          

        • Bow and Stern thrusters, why have both ?

          The combined use of a bow and stern thruster adds a whole new level of control when maneuvering in difficult conditions or tight corners.

          Turning on the spot or even stepping the entire boat sideways becomes possible at the flick of a switch.

          Max Power offers stern thruster adapters for the entire tunnel thruster range. A range of Ignition Protected thrusters is also available thus enabling the use of a stern thruster in habitually damp zones or petrol-powered boats.

          On boats where conventional tunnel stern adapters cannot be used due to lack of immersion depth or the positioning of steering and propulsion systems, retractable stern thrusters offer an attractive & powerful solution.
          
          

        • Electric or hydraulic power supply ?

          Bow and stern thrusters, being retractable or tunnel, require a power source. On a boat, this can either be a 12/24V DC (electric) motor or an hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor will need to draw power from a combustion engine (main or generator) through an hydraulic pump or a remote mounted DC motor (also via a hydraulic pump). The DC motor will draw power directly from a battery bank.

          The choice of power will depend on factors such as frequency of use, runtime required, and thruster size needed. Nevertheless, an hydraulic thruster installation will involve more work, having to route hydraulic hoses throughout the boat, as opposed to electrical wires
          
          

        • How can I supply my hydraulic thrusters ?

          Hydraulic thrusters need a carefully designed hydraulic system to run them reliably and efficiently. Often this system may only be required for the boat’s thruster(s). The most common form of thruster only system uses an engine as its power source. These can offer unlimited run times and do not need batteries or high power cables. Two types of hydraulic pumps can be used for these dedicated systems.
          

          Variable displacement pumps

          A variable displacement pump can be used when a fixed flow is needed but the engine RPM is likely to vary. This would typically be a main engine or gearbox mounted pump. Often used on large powerboats, these systems offer a powerful solution for larger thrusters.

          Fixed displacement pumps

          Used when a generator with a PTO (power take off) is available, fixed displacement pumps give a single (fixed) flow at a given engine RPM. Highly robust, these systems are simple to install and cost effective.

        • What if my engine cannot accomodate an hydraulic pump ?

          Sometimes an engine driven pump may not be feasible, if this is the case Max Power manufactures a range of dedicated DC power packs specifically designed to run our range of hydraulic thrusters both retractable and tunnel. These have been designed to supply a fixed flow of oil at a specific pressure
          
          

          

          Although still fundamentally a DC thruster, a hydraulic unit run from a DC power pack offers a host of advantages over conventional DC thrusters.

          - Better weight distribution in the boat

          - The ability to fit the thruster unit in habitually damp and even wet areas such as sail lockers

          - Allows the DC motor to be placed close to the batteries that supply it, whilst still enabling the installation of the thruster(s) in the boat’s extremities

          Whether run from a DC motor or an engine, Max Power can supply a full range of components including all necessary accessories such as a variety of oil tanks and control valves. In both cases Max Power can advise and assist in the design of an efficient system suited to your needs.

        • What is the RFQ revision program ?

          Designed for the R-Range Hydraulic Thruster, the Max Power Thruster Revision Program is carried out at our Tecnocean Balear workshop. The revision consists off
          
          

          - Initial inspection and complete disassembly of your Retractable Hydraulic Thruster.

          - Inspection and full report on the condition of all components, with photos of all parts requiring replacement.

          - Replacement of all seals and bearings.

          - Repair cost analysis through a comprehensive and detailed quotation.

          - Rebuild of your unit following your approval to proceed.

          - Extra option of grit-blasting of all casted parts and re-painting

          - Delivery of your thruster in as “As-good-as-new“ condition, with a warranty period of one year.

          

          

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          Gangways

          How do I program my Besenzoni gangway remote control?

          Gangway power pack reference	Programming sequence
          CT6A4 PRO-LINE P.I. 384 PRO-LINE P.I. 372 PRO-LINE P.I.376 PRO-LINE 1M P.I. 367	1. Turn the key located on the cover three consecutive times from the NORMAL position to the EMERGENCY position, keeping it turned after the third time: the transmitter will emit a prolonged beep (2 sec.) 2. Press one of the transmitter buttons taking care to direct it towards the receiving LOAD point located on the cover 3. Wait until the power pack emits three BEEPS (signalling that the code has been recognized) before releasing the button
          CT6E PRO-LINE CT6EM PRO-LINE CT6E-3S PRO-LINE CT8-M PRO-LINE CT8-SM PRO-LINE CT377 PRO-LINE	1. Press the red micro button located on the card inside the power pack three consecutive times, keeping it pressed after the third time: the red LED diode will light up 2. Press one of the transmitter buttons taking care to direct it towards the card 3. Wait until the LED diode starts to flash (signalling that the code has been recognized) before releasing the buttons
          P.I. 379 PRO-LINE	1. Press the green button located on the cover three consecutive times, keeping it pressed after the third time: the power pack emits a prolonged BEEP (2 sec.) 2. Press one of the transmitter buttons taking care to direct it towards the receiving LOAD point located on the cover 3. Wait until the power pack emits three BEEPS (signalling that the code has been recognized) before releasing the buttons