runaway windless

[ziggity]

My windless went crazy yesterday-
I get to my R-29 (2010),switch all my batteries on and the windless instantly starts up trying to pull in the anchor which is already up and stored of course! No switches were on at the bow or the helm. I thought maybe a switch was stuck in the on position so we toggled them on and off with no luck. I finally had to flip the breaker behind the helm instrument panel to get it to stop. After it was stopped I flipped the breaker back on and it started up again. Is the breaker faulty? switch? I've used the windless only two times but it worked fine until yesterday.
Anyone have an idea?
Thanks

Lewis Huffman

 

[JamesTXSD]

Since you are able to turn power on and off with the breaker, it sounds like that is doing its job. I would suspect a ground connection, possibly at the switch. Second place to consider would be at the windlass motor, with a possible short.

 

[Jmangiameli]

My just did that last month. I was just minding my own business and the boat decided it was time for me to drop anchor. I traced it to a shorted out "down" switch on the deck. I "fixed" it by disconnecting the wires coming from the bad switch from the solenoid, which on my 2009 R-25 is located behind the helm. I have not yet taken the time to replace the switch yet. In the meantime I can still drop and raise the anchor from the helm or raise it from the deck.