Anchor davit assemblies

Abstract

An anchor davit assembly preferably includes an anchor support bracket and a winch. The bracket is provided with a releasable locking system to positionally lock the anchor to the anchor support bracket, the locking system including a lever which is pivotally connected at one end to the anchor support bracket, and a tension spring (or other suitable biasing structure) which connects the anchor to the lever. The tension spring thus urges the anchor rearwardly against the anchor support bracket while also urging the lever to pivot in a direction towards its locked position. The winch of the invention includes a spool freely rotatable about an axle and a handle pivotally connected to one of the axle's ends. The axle is, in turn, mounted for rotation relative to a base support. Clutch structure is provided which, in essence, establishes a substantially rigid union between the spool and the axle when the handle is in an engaged position so that the spool and axle are capable of rotation as a unit relative to the base support thereby allowing the anchor to be hoisted. The substantially rigid union between the spool and axle is terminated when the handle is moved to its released position thus allowing free rotation of the former about the latter and thereby allowing line to be payed out from the spool. Control over the rate of line pay out is effected by moving the handle to a position intermediate its released and engaged positions.