A horizontal electro-mechanical anchor windlass is equipped with two warping heads, two wildcats, two manual brake hand wheels, two clutch control levers, and a multipoint lever-operated, pedestal-mounted controller. What statement is true as it pertains to the operation of the warping heads and wildcats?

Correct Answer: Option B — The warping heads can be rotated in either direction of rotation without rotating the wildcats by disengaging the wildcat clutches. As long as electric power is applied to the electric drive motor, the warping heads will rotate.

Mechanical clutches on a windlass allow the wildcats to be disengaged from the drive train. When disengaged, the electric motor continues to drive the shaft, which rotates the warping heads independently. This design permits the use of warping heads for line handling without rotating the anchor chain wildcats.