Cost to supply / fit an electric windlass

[beejay190]

I am looking to buy a 7.5 metre boat this year, ideally with an electric windlass already fitted. However, i may find the right boat but without an electric windlass . What will it cost to retrofit a quality product with controls at the helm and a remote at the bow please ? Which product do you recommend?
Thanks in advance for replies.

 

[Tranona]

There is a wide range of windlasses from manufacturers such as Lewmar, Quick and Lofrans. You will need one of 7-800 watts. Typical prices are £700-1000 plus installation. The actual type you choose will depend on how it is fitted in the boat. all the manufacturers have good information on their websites on how to choose your windlass, but the most useful thing to do is to look at a factory installed one on the same model boat and replicate that.

 

[petem]

I agree. And if you view one with a windlass, take lots of pictures!

 

[[165042]]

I installed a new Lewmar V700 vertical windlass myself on a 26ft boat for around £650 all in with chain, warp & anchor. Nothing particularly difficult about it to be honest if you're reasonably competent. The windlass kit included helm controls and main breaker etc just had to buy and run the main battery cables and added a pair of footswitches for £30.

 

[BruceK]

... with controls at the helm and a remote at the bow please ? Which product do you recommend?
Thanks in advance for replies.

I would say based on my personal experience and watching others struggle with the remote (half the time it's trying to find it!) that I would forgo the remote for work up front and get foot switches (one up and one down). They free up the hands, instantly accessible once the windlass has been activated from the helm and which can be particularly useful if you are going to use a chain and warp setup

example

 

[Tranona]

Foot switches have a poor reputation for reliability and they limit the use of the windlass as you have to stand in one place to use them. A wireless remote is the most versatile means of operating one. No dangling wires and can be used both from the cockpit and at the bow.

 

[vas]

have foot switches, lower and upper helm toggle buttons.
I use 99% the upper helm toggle and may have someone on the bow to have a nose around the anchor or check where it landed (sandy patch vs dark grass one...)
Foot switches are v.useful when checking later on and tensioning the anchor when mooring stern-to in a quai

But all that implies a decent anchor locker with the chain dropping in nicely and coming out nicely without intervention (in either direction). It also implies a self deploying anchor.
Now, if I'm correct and judging from the activity and number of ppl on the bows of sailing yachts in most sailing yachts the above is not the case! Looking at the actions taken by the anchor person, footswitches are of no use and a wired (more often) remote is useful.

So, on a mobo, easy to fit assuming there IS an anchor locker and it's of decent size and shape.

cheers

V.

 

[BruceK]

Each to his own then, just my experience. I love them and have noted companion boats struggle with remotes especially cabled remotes. As for reliability, mine are 26 years old and work perfectly. I carry 60 yards of chain and 100 warp. I could not manage the warp round the drum and maintain tension and cannot carry 160 yards of chain. Id be hard pressed to manage without them. Now the OP is after a small-ish boat that will probably have the same limitations

 

[BruceK]

have foot switches, lower and upper helm toggle buttons.
I use 99% the upper helm toggle and may have someone on the bow to have a nose around the anchor or check where it landed (sandy patch vs dark grass one...)
Foot switches are v.useful when checking later on and tensioning the anchor when mooring stern-to in a quai

But all that implies a decent anchor locker with the chain dropping in nicely and coming out nicely without intervention (in either direction). It also implies a self deploying anchor.
Now, if I'm correct and judging from the activity and number of ppl on the bows of sailing yachts in most sailing yachts the above is not the case! Looking at the actions taken by the anchor person, footswitches are of no use and a wired (more often) remote is useful.

So, on a mobo, easy to fit assuming there IS an anchor locker and it's of decent size and shape.

cheers

V.

Yes, pretty much the way I do it mostly when anchoring near shore or shallow water. However I also like to fish on occasion and in deep water and then everything is done from the anchor / bow pulpit. You cannot maintain enough friction to haul in 60m of 10mm chain with a 15 kilo anchor on with just 3 wraps around the drum. You have to pull with one hand to maintain friction / tension and feed the locker with the other