The
tapered windlass barrel, 4 or 6 sided, had heavy whelp chocks on each
face and possibly a small warping barrel on each end. This type of
windlass could be standing on the open deck or, as was common with
clipper ships in mid 19th century, placed beneath an anchor deck or
forecastle in which case both the CARRICK BITTS and the CENTRE PAWL
BITT were carried up above the deck. The ship's bell was usually hung
on the center bitt.
CAPSTANS were fitted on merchant ships' forecastles
for mooring lines as in Fig. 41C. This type, basically metal, had no
spindle below decks, but a supporting pillar. Another similar type.
Fig. 41ID, was a patent geared windlass. It has 2 drumheads which
worked at different gear ratios.
Apart from the forecastle head capstan the latter day sailing ships had
them placed about the deck in various positions including aft to work
the heavier running rigging and also for mooring. These were somewhat
smaller and more slender than the forecastle one and often had domed
tops like Fig. 41E. In Fig. 41G is a simple deck winch on bitts, common
on late 18th and 19th century ships. Small vessels often fitted them on
the bowsprit bitts and sometimes used them for the anchor cable. This
also evolved into the all-metal crab winch (hand) still found ashore
with little difference and used afloat for running rigging or working
derricks.
Don't forget, when you fit a capstan the capstan
bars should be stowed handy nearby. Stow them horizontally or
vertically in racks against rails or a bulkhead, or if you have a spar
deck gangway like 40F they look good in circular stands around the
pillars.
