anchor windlass

[Paddingtonbear]

I an in the process of trying to organise an anchor windlass for my 33' wooden boat, which is currently without one. I have received advice from the gurus on here who suggested, in the main, that I would need a fairly powerful electric windlass. This is a no no on two accounts - electric windlasses are mental money and I can't afford one and two I neither have nor can afford upgrading the electrics to suit. Swmbo has just said "Can't we have a Hydraulic one run off the engine" Well can I?

 

[PCUK]

Yes you can but it will cost at least as much as an electric one, probably more.

 

[Tranona]

Although the advice to have electric is sound, at 33ft you are at a size where it is a luxury rather than a necessity. As already suggested hydraulic is even more expensive as you need a pump as well as the windlass and it is rarely used on yachts.

Once you learn how to do it manual retrieval is perfectly possible - the two bits that require effort are breaking out and lifting the anchor. A manual windlass will certainly help here, their drawback is slow retrieval. You can still get the Lofrans Royal new - about half the price of an electric or older Simpson Lawrence are regularly available second hand as people upgrade to electric.

 

[vyv_cox]

There is a manual one on Ebay £52 at present with a couple of days to go.

 

[pvb]

If you don't fancy the unknown delights of a used windlass, a new Lofrans Royal for £450 will do everything you need. The hydraulic option is completely impractical.

 

[Paddingtonbear]

Thanks all for prompt replies. It is extremely lucky that there is two votes for a SL windlass! as I have just bought one on fleabay t/w a suitable anchor. Now I really must get the boat finished!!!

 

[pvb]

Thanks all for prompt replies. It is extremely lucky that there is two votes for a SL windlass! as I have just bought one on fleabay t/w a suitable anchor. Now I really must get the boat finished!!!

Good! If you have problems ever with the SL windlass, you'll find that the workings inside are standard bicycle parts, cheap and easy to obtain.