in a plurality of layers in each groove as seen in fig2 when the predetermined number of turns or layers of wire have been wound in a selected groove the trolleys or carriages will be stopped and the end of the wire will be appropriately anchored for example by means of anchor plates in the groove whereafter the apparatus may then be properly positioned in relation to another trough or channel in readiness for a further winding operation the payout sheave 39 performs two functions firstly it provides for the turning of the wire through 180 u00b0 as seen in fig4 and secondly it serves to adjust the pay off height of the wire so that the strands will be correctly positioned in the trough or channel on the vessel it is to allow for performance of the second function that provision is made for the before mentioned adjustment of the axis of rotation of sheave 39 the arrangement is such that as one complete passage of wire around the vessel is achieved the sheave 39 will be tilted by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the wire so that while the point of entry of the wire onto the sheave 39 from the tensioning unit will remain at a constant level the point of departure of said wire from the sheave will be either raised or lowered by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the wire so that on the next passage around the vessel the resulting winding will be laid in side by side relationship with the preceding winding with no overlapping of said windings by arranging for such adjustment of the payout sheave 39 any necessity for adjusting the height of the.