Anchor Windlass - Which one?

[dovekie]

In case it's relevant, have you thought of stowing the chain further aft? We have an Ohslon 38, 8.5 tons, with a Simpson Lawrence Hispeed. The chain runs right back over the foredecK, to a hawse pipe in the coach roof above a vertical locker (which was "wardrobe"). The tall locker means the chain never jams, and it stows 60m of three eighths easily, the locker is lined with a big butyl rubber bag with a (pumped) drain point at the bottom. Keeps a lot of weight out of the bows, and using the windlass is easier because it's 9 inches higher on the coachroof. We have a home made extra long handle too.

 

[wotayottie]

Dont forget the basic physics - whther you use a manual windlass or heave up the anchor by hand, you will still be doing the same amount of work and still be just as knackered. OK the individual strokes on the manual windlass will be less heavy than the individual pulls on the chain, but there will be far more of them.

The only way to save your energy is to go electric. I reckon its a safety issue as well as a physical one. If (like me) you occasionally cock up your choice of anchoring spot, how willing would you be to re-anchor 3 or 4 times if you had to handle it manually?

And in a 33 ft cat, I several times managed to stall a 1000 watt windlass. Wouldnt dream of using less power on a 35 footer.

 

[ccscott49]

Have a look at the Quick range, cheaper than the lofrans and very, very well made.
I have just purchased a regal 2300w 1/2" chain model, OK, much bigger than you would need, but extrememely well made and very robust. Would reccomend one, as long as it's reliable. No question for me, with 120lb anchor and 90 meters of 1/2" chain! But I can recover it without the winch, I also have a seperate elctric capstan!

 

[GMac]

DON'T pick an anchor winch on wattage alone if you go electric. It's more about the gearbox.

Using the gear you suggest don't go below 1000W's anyway, you will find it will be bloody slow and you'll just kill it.

Whoever said 'help it by motoring up to your anchor' above is trying to kill their winch as well. Anchor winches are designed to lift your gear from the seabed to the boat, not drag the boat around.

If your wanting a manual only find a Seatiger (maybe branded Lewmar now), it's about the only one out there. If looking at electric horizontal suss Lofrans or Quick. Both have great track records in that formation.

The difference between a good winch that will last a while and one that won't is only a few quid, don't be a cheapskate. If you are the chances are high you will regret it, we see it often.

 

[Jonny_H]

Thanks for all the input guys. Been looking at a few windlasses to get an idea of what I would need. The ones I've come up with are:

Lofrans Cayman 88 (1000W) - 900kg max pull / ??kg max working load
Quick Hector (1000W) - 1300kg max pull / 400kg max working load
Quick Heron (1000W) - 870kg max pull / 370kg max working load

Any suggestions on preferances in the above (all simalar prices)

Jonny

Any thoughts on the above

 

[Salty John]

I'm intrigued to hear how this statement:
'The Lofrans Royal is not the most powerful windlass but would do the job if you are prepared to help it by motoring up to the anchor and hauling the slack in by hand' could possibly provoke the response: "Whoever said 'help it by motoring up to your anchor' above is trying to kill their winch as well. Anchor winches are designed to lift your gear from the seabed to the boat, not drag the boat around'"?
This post was in response to an enquiry regading manual windlasses and their capability. Motoring up to the anchor whilst hauling in the rode by hand and then using the manual windlass to lift the anchor and remaining rode seems to me to be a means of very specifically avoiding what you seem to suggest it does - put an unfair load on the windlass.
Either I'm losing my power to communicate in English or you are reading posts with a preconceived notion of what they say.

 

[AlanPound]

For what it is worth (and I think referring to powered windlass rather than manual), I stashed this comment from an earlier thread (but I don't know who posted it).

[ QUOTE ]

Most problems - Simpson Lawrance
Most reliable - Lofrans and Maxwell equal.
Easiest to fit gear to - Lofrans, Maxwell, Quick and Lewmar is finally getting it togeather.
Most grizzles - S/L and Muir
Happiest users - Maxwell closely followed by Lofrans
Hardest Auto R2C to get working well - S/L, older Lewmar and Muir.


[/ QUOTE ]

(Offered as an entirely second-hand opinion, although I have a Maxwell, and it is the donkey's danglies...)

 

[Billjratt]

Having just fitted a lofrans electric, I have an SL Hispeed in the garage, any offers?
Thought #1 all boats weigh sod all when they're afloat?
2 windage and wave "chug" are important
3 Depth is the killer, vertical chain + anchor
are horrendous. just take your time.
4 Electric MUST have manual backup (quick?)

 

[Billjratt]

Oh, and I forgot : we use the electric windlass to put me up the mast when required, the Soup-Dragon couldn't do it by herself otherwise.

 

[GMac]

JS - not having a go but it is one common grizzle we hear from the winch guys often when punters bring busted winches in. Busted as in bent shafts and smashed gearboxes. Overloaded due to winching boats around not being used as an 'anchor' winch. The main shaft on most now are only 12-15mm and any loads go direct onto that and into the gearbox. It applies to all winches from my understanding. Maybe it doesn't apply to the manuals but I can't see why.

AlanPound - That was me also and now a tad dated. Simpson Lawrance has now gone into the Lewmar brand. Lewmar have done some good changes of late which has mostly got rid of the issues they had.

Changes to that list.
Most problems - no one stands out currently. All have about the same and usually the same issues as well. What I mentioned to JS being way too common.

Pretty much all are similar. The older Lewmars and Muirs Auto Rope to chains still are tricky to deal with but the new Lewmars are fine.

Each manufacturer seems to have a spot where they have a slight edge over the others.

The only thing of interesting note is that Maxwell have, again, recently been confirmed as having the most accurate numbers in their publications and will out pull any of the others equivalent. Must be noted that they use the most power (Amp sucking) doing it though.

Jonny_H - Hector or Caymen. I see it as a 50/50 call personally.