[holiday3900]

Just bought a 99 31 Open that I really like. 

When I was out the other day we anchored up and when we were ready to leave and I was pulling the anchor the windlass would just spin and not grab the line.  When I put a little pressure on the line with my hand it would start to go but when the pressure was off it would just spin again.  Once I got to the chain it was fine.

Any idea what this might be??? The windlass is a Maxwell

Hi, same thing happened to me on my 07 3900 Sovran.   A few weeks earlier I noticed a little plastic piece (like a "tab") with a yellow band (about 3" long) was laying beside the unit after an outing...I picked it up and kept it not knowing what it was.  Next time I used the windlass, same thing happened as you described.  I looked in the Maxwell manual, and low and behold,  in the packet was a new plastic tab.   I checked with the mechanic and they said our model had problems...the manual had instructions for replacement, but a little more time consuming than I wanted so i had it done...took them about 30 minutes because they knew what the were doing.   They ordered another for me for when/if it happens again.   Not sure what model you have, but that was our fix.  PM me and I'll email you a photo of the part...too big to attach.  Hope it helps.  tim