Question 4037 Deck General

The correct answer is A) wildcat. The sprocket wheel in a windlass, used for heaving in the anchor, is called a wildcat. This term is commonly used in the maritime industry and is the accepted standard terminology for this specific component of a windlass. The wildcat is the large toothed wheel that the anchor chain or rope wraps around, allowing the windlass to pull in the anchor. The other answer choices are incorrect because they refer to different components of a ship's anchor system. A dog wheel is not the correct term for the sprocket wheel, a fairlead is a device used to guide the anchor chain or rope, and a capstan is a vertical-axis winch used for hauling in lines, not the windlass mechanism.