New windlass questions

[Boo2]

Hi,

I am going to add a 12V electric vertical axis windlass to Sunrunner (UFO 34) along with a 100m all-8mm-chain rode (I will use a rope snubber) and a 16kg Manson Supreme anchor. I have read around and there seems to be a distinct view that the Muir and Maxwell windlasses are desirable choices but they seem to he bard to find in the UK and the website prices I've found for the Muir in particular are up around the £1600 mark even before shipping and tax.

This pricing level makes them a bit hard to justify for me and I wondered if there is any practical reason that makes them worth this money ? I would really much prefer an all-stainless windlass just because of the perenial corrosion issues that ally-ss combinations lead to and I was wondering if any of the engineering cognoscenti have an opinion about the new Lewmar CPX range ? Otherwise, is there really any advantage to any of these compared to the Lofrans Project 1000 which seems to be well established ?

I should say that I want to control the whole thing from the cockpit so I need a windlass that can lower as well as raise under electric power.

Any personal experiences either for or against any of these makes / models would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Boo2

 

[prv]

I'd definitely recommend getting one with a clutch so you can drop the anchor (under control) rather than having to motor it down.

Pete

 

[pvb]

I would really much prefer an all-stainless windlass just because of the perenial corrosion issues that ally-ss combinations lead to...

There are countless thousands of alloy bodied windlasses around, and very few of them have corrosion problems. Lofrans has recently changed ownership, and there are apparently some spares shortages currently. If I were buying new today, I'd be tempted to consider Lewmar in preference to Lofrans.

 

[tidclacy]

look at South Pacific they came out best in the PBO test a while back. I have one on my 32ft boat with a Rocna ( Good Spec ),. Had it now for a couple of years and no problem.

i have the PBO article so pm me if you want a copy.

 

[vyv_cox]

Maxwell are now owned by Vetus so I'm surprised you say they are difficult to source. I am on my second one, the original replaced only because we wanted one with a capstan. I was most impressed with the Muir when I saw one at SIBS but it was far more expensive than the Maxwell. I bought some spares from the UK Vetus dealers, good delivery. Mine came with a cockpit control that has proved excellent.

YM tested quite a few a couple of issues back. The Maxwell came out second, I think, mainly due to its higher purchase price.

 

[Boo2]

look at South Pacific they came out best in the PBO test a while back. I have one on my 32ft boat with a Rocna ( Good Spec ),. Had it now for a couple of years and no problem.

i have the PBO article so pm me if you want a copy.

Thanks for the offer but I already bought the article from the ybw.com website. The upshot seems to be the Lofrans Project 1000 was the winner overall so I think I will stick with my original idea and go with that. AIUI it has the advantage that the solenoids are built in so there's no need to source them seperately, but I would have preferred stainless to chromed bronze, personally.

 

[Boo2]

Maxwell are now owned by Vetus so I'm surprised you say they are difficult to source. I am on my second one, the original replaced only because we wanted one with a capstan. I was most impressed with the Muir when I saw one at SIBS but it was far more expensive than the Maxwell. I bought some spares from the UK Vetus dealers, good delivery. Mine came with a cockpit control that has proved excellent.

YM tested quite a few a couple of issues back. The Maxwell came out second, I think, mainly due to its higher purchase price.

I didn't know they were owned / supplied by Vetus, now you mention it I see thay are available direct from them for £1309 though you need to add £162 to that for the solenoid box, see here : http://www.vetus-shop.com/maxwell-rc8-windlass-12v-1000w-8mm-din766-14mm-rope-p-2412.html

AIUI, the Lofrans and the Maxwell will both cope with a mixed rope/chain rode so can you tell me what use it is you put the capstan to ?

Thanks,

Boo2

 

[prv]

can you tell me what use it is you put the capstan to ?

Mooring lines with big boats in windy conditions?

Pete

 

[Tranona]

I didn't know they were owned / supplied by Vetus, now you mention it I see thay are available direct from them for £1309 though you need to add £162 to that for the solenoid box, see here : http://www.vetus-shop.com/maxwell-rc8-windlass-12v-1000w-8mm-din766-14mm-rope-p-2412.html

AIUI, the Lofrans and the Maxwell will both cope with a mixed rope/chain rode so can you tell me what use it is you put the capstan to ?

Thanks,

Boo2

Capstans are of limited use on vertical windlasses. Sort of thing you might use once in a while and be glad of it, but rest of the time cursing it because it sticks up ready to catch your sheets and bark your shins. Rope drum much more useful on a horizontal axis.

 

[vyv_cox]

Mooring lines with big boats in windy conditions?

Pete

Or elderly people with small boats We now berth at Leros Marina on lazy lines. When the meltemi is blowing it is necessary to haul in the bow line tightly, which requires more strength than either of us can muster. The capstan is superb, very powerful and easy to use.

The capstan has added about four or five inches to the height of the windlass but it doesn't seem obtrusive at all. Having gone from a horizontal to a vertical axis I can report that sheets catching was very much a problem with the former but has yet to happen with the latter.