Electric windlass - Quick vs Maxwell

Koeketiene

Koeketiene

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24 Sep 2003
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Location
Le Roussillon (South of France)
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I am in the process of gathering quotes for the next Winter poject: adding an electric windlass.

I had set my mind on a Maxwell RC8-8 (7.8T 36' boat).
The new owner of my previous boat had one fitted, and having it seen in action, I must say I was impressed.

Yesterday I spoke with the foreman of one of the yards I'm considering to fit the windlass and her suggested a Quick Prince DP2.
I had never heard of Quick, so I did some research and the QUick windlass would be significantly cheaper than the Maxwell.

Is this a case of you pay for quality or is one as good as the other?

Would love to hear from people with first hand experience of either brand.
 
Our boat came with a Quick, from 2006 - whatever model that is.

It's been good to us over the last two years. I think they've been fitted to volumes of Dufours of that era and I haven't heard any whinges.
 
We have a an RC8-6 (or maybe its a 6-8. Its for 6mm chain but is the same physical model as the 8-8, the difference is the gypsy.

We were downsizing chain from 8mm to 6mm and retired our old windlass, primarily because I could not justify spending so much money on a new gypsy for a 16 year old windlass. The yacht was obviously the same, just the chain is lighter, and in consultation with Maxwell we arrived at the 8-6. I am not keen on sacrificing windlass capacity.

I self installed - easy - I don't quite understand why you would need to have someone fit a windlass. Much of the installation is very simple, drilling holes to secure the windlass to the deck/bulkhead and feeding cables. Neither is demanding - but you will pay full rates. If you are worried about the electric, ask here - and maybe have your installation checked by a professional. Your labour will be cheaper than any boatyard.

Maxwell - Very impressed, solid construction, amazingly speedy with retrieval, awesome service. Providing the Maxwell continues to be totally dependable we would buy Maxwell again, without hesitation.

When you instal - make sure the motor is as far away as possible from the fall of the chain, the motor location is infinitely variable, and coat the motor casing with the 'stuff' that is used or was used to reduce corrosion from salt in the underside of UK cars.

Jonathan
 
I also have a Maxwell, our second. The first one was excellent once an initial design issue was resolved, poor drainage of the housing above the gearbox. We changed it for another with a capstan, not a moment's trouble since. One chain stripper replaced, a consumable item so not unexpected, and available in Greece.

Highly recommended.
 
Neeves said:
I self installed - easy - I don't quite understand why you would need to have someone fit a windlass. Much of the installation is very simple, drilling holes to secure the windlass to the deck/bulkhead and feeding cables. Neither is demanding - but you will pay full rates. If you are worried about the electric, ask here - and maybe have your installation checked by a professional. Your labour will be cheaper than any boatyard.
Click to expand...

There are currently NO provisions whatsoever for ground tackle on board.
No anchor, no chain, no opening anchor locker, no anchor locker drains, .... Nothing.
Fitting the windlass will involve GRP (not to mention teak) work - all of which exceed my skillset.
 
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Koeketiene said:
There are currently NO provisions whatsoever for ground tackle on board.
No anchor, no chain, no opening anchor locker, no anchor locker drains, .... Nothing.
Fitting the windlass will involve GRP (not to mention teak) work - all of which exceed my skillet.
Click to expand...

Fibre glass work is very well documented and requires more care than skill. The hard work is in fairing (sanding) and its the sanding that takes the time (and will cost you the money). If you don't enjoy sanding :) then I think paying for someone to fit the windlass would be sensible. I suspect, given the absence of any anchoring gear, at all, then you will also need a bow roller. You might also need to increase the size of your house battery bank (or less likely) have a dedicated windlass battery

You mention that Maxwell are more expensive than Quick, with which I would agree. Paying for a shipwright and sparky to install the windlass will, I suspect, make the cost of the windlass pale in comparison.

Members here will have done the work you envisage and will have views on how grand tackle might be designed, arranged - if you start separate threads on the various components needed to complete your ambitions, with detail of your yacht, you will enjoy some learned comment - based on which you can make future decisions. The advantage here is - you don't need to spend any money for their advise :)

The first question I would raise would be - on what basis are you buying a 8mm windlass and not a 10mm or 6mm windlass.

I'm one of those who dislike throwing money at a problem - which could be solved by the individual and bring them pride and pleasure.

Jonathan
 
You might also consider Lofrans. A little more expensive than Quick but much cheaper than Maxwell. Widely used and highly regarded in the Med charter business where using a windlass is a daily, and often twice daily action. Quick and Lewmar are the two basic manufacturers, perfectly adequate for leisure use - i have had no issues with my Lewmar, but if I was going liveabord or back to the Med, I would change to a Lofrans. Had excellent service on my last boat with 7 years of chartering.
lofrans.com
 
My Beneteau has quite a lot of Quick product installed including the windless. No issues with it.

I also have a cockpit remote chain counter and over one winter lost the sun cover due to very high winds (I now duck tape all sun covers in place over the winter period). I was charged in the order of £65 for a replacement. By comparison, replacements for my other instruments, all Simrad, are about £10. I believe that NASA sun covers are around a fiver.

With such a spare parts policy I would never recommend them ?
 
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