2011 21ec drum anchor winch

The grouch

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2018
Messages
24
Fluid Motion Model
R-21 EC
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2121K011
Vessel Name
Equinox
I'm installing the lonestar gx3 drum anchor winch on the deck of my tug.
For those interested : its a lot of work .
My wiring is complete. Here's how I did it:

1. Fab bracket and instal winch up-down switch / circuit breaker panel on vertical surface forward face of starboard cabinet forward of throttle assy. This bracket also ties in to behind dash. Brackets are .100 thick 5052 aluminum then painted. Allow clearance so hands do not hit switch panel at full forward throttle position .

2. Fab and instal relay mounting bracket inside anchor locker on forward face of accessible bulkhead.

3. Remove anchor line u bolt in bottom of anchor locker . Then use existing bolt hole as a pilot hole for holesaw to drill down thru.
This is a real p.i.a. this allows access to run power cables from near thruster up into anchor locker and connect to relay. You will need to cut additional access hole to remove u bolt. This hole to be covered with plate later.

4. Remove ground cable from batteries to thruster and replace with larger cable. Size depending on your length of cable run
and power requirements of the winch you choose. Add ground cable extension from thruster ground post up into anchor locker and attach to winch relay.

5. Remove existing thruster positive on/off switch and replace with a dual battery switch. I mounted mine on deck of helm cabinet near existing fuse blocks.

6. Remove positive thruster cable from batteries to thruster switch / fuse.

7. Add new upsized positive cable from batteries from batteries to new dual battery switch in helm cabinet.

8, Add new upsized positive cable from post 1 of dual battery switch to thruster fuse block.

9. Add new upside positive cable from post 2 of dual battery switch to winch switch / c/b panel assy, located between dash and forward of throttle assy.

10. Run relay switch wires from switch panel below dash forward to thruster area then up thru hole and connect to relay.

NOTE: The purpose of the dual battery switch is to allow power selection from off to either the thruster or winch or both.



11. Remove existing flip top anchor rode access panel on deck and replace with flat 316 ss panel using existing holes. The winch power cables are to be routed thru this plate using thru bulkhead cable fittings and into anchor locker and connect to relay.

12. Cable sizes to be determined by installer for winch and length of run requirements.

13. Winch mounting to deck support structure to determined as required for your installation.

My wiring is complete and all that is left is to Fab winch support structure and instal winch.

Grouch
 
Did you add another battery to your house bank? The single house battery on the R-21’s don’t last long when on the hook and at 1500 W to operate the Lonestar GX3, this might be your next upgrade!
I am impressed with your installation and would like to see pictures. Bob
 
I previously installed 2 Trojan scs225 batteries, (130 ah each ) including anl fuses and dual battery selector switch, replacing the factory one as house batteries and moved them to the back, just forward of the fuel tank.

For mounting the winch on deck I've had 2 laser cut ,250 316 s.s. brackets cut that will bolt to the winch housing frame sides , using an attached fabricated key that will slip fit in the winch axel assy slots , this should lock in brkt and transfer rotational loads fwd. Then will fab 2 flat ss bars to attach from those brkts and run forward to tie in with my previously upgraded bow roller.

I haven't decided how much im going to reinforce the deck bottom side yet.

I've had health issues that have slowed down the process but will continue.

Pictures will be posted if I can figure out how

Grouch
 
Back
Top