Electric Anchor Windlass

R32Stbrigid

R32Stbrigid

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I am considering wimping out and buying an electric anchor windlass. Having done some research I am getting very different answers from the manufacturers (Lofrans / Lewmar / Quick so far) on the appropriate wattage / KG pull. Can anyone offer any real world advice and recommendations please?. My boat is a Rival 32, displacement about 6+ tons, and would rather err on the more powerful side. Also is it absolutely necessary to change the chain for calibrated?

Thanks in advance
 
I'll be interested in this also. The back is too precious to risk hauling a heavy anchor by hand, a manual winch is to slow and worst of the lot light ground tackle can be dangerous.

Your Rival at 5 tons (11,200 lbs) is just a bit lighter than our ETAP so the answers should work for both of us!
 
Displacement is of less importance here than weight of anchor and size of chain. Personally I would reckon a 1000w should be about right. - recommend lofrans.
 
A Lofrans Cayman looks like the ideal for your size and weight.

The advantage of Lofrans is that they rarely change their models, have worldwide support and are made by a specialist manufacturer not a marketing company.

Take a look at their website for information on selection of windlass.

Keep it well lubricated so that you can run the chain out on the clutch and therefore save a huge amount of power and install it using best practice in cabling, routing and connections. Also consider a seperate battery to serve it.

Our Tigres is 5 years old and apart from winter servicing has only had one replacement part, a control box in that time.

Yes, properly calibrated chain IS necessary to avoid the chain jumping off the gipsy as well as accelerating the wear on that costly component.

Steve Cronin



Steve Cronin
 
Agree with Steve, Lofrans Cayman. We fitted one last year and replaced the chain this year with Lofrans calibrated

We run ours from the engine start battery as you'll need to have the engine running anyway. You'll need some big cables
 
We went through the same proces a while back and chose a Lofrans Tigres (1200w). So far (4 years, touch wood) it's been worth every penny. Why the Lofrans Tigres? Recovery/pay out speed is significantly faster than many, those we spoke to recommended the brand and spares seem to be widely available. With an extra long main halyard routed via a block forward, my wife uses it to haul me up the mast when necessary. During the Round the Island race we kedged half way between Lymington and Yarmouth. When the wind picked up and we decided to resume sailing, the windlass happily pulled the boat over the anchor and broke it out in 12kts of headwind and >2kts of tide without use of engine. The boat incidentally is a long keeler of about 8.5-9 tons in sailing trim with the amount of windage to be expected of a ketch.

I also find that instead of calculating how much chain is required and putting that out and no more (in anticipation of having to haul it all in manually) I'm now far more generous with my scope where space permits, which has to be safer. We had no problem selling our old chain for a fair price which helped to offset the change.

As has been said elsewhere, you will need calibrated chain. If in doubt, put a broomstick through a gypsy and let the chain run over it. Our previous chain (SL) would jump off a Lofrans gypsy after about 20 links although at first glance, it looked as though it would be compatible. As with all things electric, make sure there is a mechanical fallback mode! Next time you see E'le May in Newtown creek, feel free to ask for a demo.
 
Like Tome, we have a Lofrans Cayman (I think); a 1000 watt jobbie anyway, that handles Cornish Maid's considerable tonnage (around 8 metric tonnes at least) very well.
 
I agree with the other recommendations regarding Lofrans. I fitted a Lofrans Airon last winter and am delighted with it. I don't regard it as wimping out because I now anchor in sensible depths with sensible scope.
The other day I had an unserviceable engine and the picking up rope broke. The 5.5 ton twin keel boat ran aground on a leeshore (force 5/6) and falling tide. The 1000W windlass motor enabled me to kedge off with no problem.
I didn't bother to change the chain for calibrated chain; and I've had no problems with it.
 
Becky, didnt you have trouble with your windlass last year?

There does look like a good vote for the Lofran Cayman though!

(ps Moody 37 - 7.3 tonnes, by the way /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif)
 
On my 6 ton 40 footer we have a 1000w Lofrans. It happily hauls up our ground tackle and rarely trips out the breaker (80A). It is important not to use the windlass to haul the boat up to the anchor, the windlass should be for breaking out and lifting the ground tackle. In practice I haul the cable taut and stop as soon as the windlass starts to labour, then pause while the weight of the cable pulls the boat forward.

NB if you get a Lofrans, be sure to follow the instructions for regularly stripping and greasing - like several others on here mine has seized so the warping drum can no longer be used.
 
We're about 12 tonnes all up and find the Lofrans Tigres 1200w has served us well. We have a 25kg delta on 50 metres of chain, so it has a fair old weight to lift.
 
Fitted a Lofrans Kobra 2 years ago with Lofrans calibrated 10mm chain on the 15KG bruce. 1000w with a 170 ah battery.
Works a treat
Think we are heavier than the Rival
 
I'm fairly smug anyway so I'm not really sure. I do know that my back is much better than it used to be - how is yours and are you still having to use the truss?
 
Glad to hear the Biscay 36 still races, regrettably mine doesn't!

What size cable did you use and what route did it take? I'd be interested to learn more about your set-up.

Maybe you could post some pictures and details on the Biscay 36 yahoo-group?

Regards, Bernard
 
Have graduated to a manual windlass which have eased the back problems somewhat.
Watching the cricket at Headingley yesterday and saw the clock dedicated to Dickie Bird. Apparently it's known as the ' Dickie Ticker'
 
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