South Pacific Windlass

[asj1]

I am considering puchasing one of the above. They appear to be very good value - or are they just cheap?
Does anyone have any first hand experience?

Regards

 

[paulwitney]

I installed a South Pacific vertical windlass (1000 stainless) on my 33ft yacht about 10 months ago. Have used it several times and it has performed well. (Is only young!!) Has plenty of power and though it was not advertised as a "free fall" model it certainly does a good job of imitating this when dropping the pick! And my back is forever grateful when it comes to pulling up the anchor. I put the controls back in the cockpit by the engine controls.......makes motoring up to and raising the pick quite easy BUT I'm going to put an isloator switch on the windlass control inside an adjacent locker. I discovered that when on tack to windward on starboard tack my foot can press against the switch!!! "What the hell is that noise!!!" Luckily it was DOWN and the chain went back into the locker. We were racing and the anchor was stowed in the locker as well. You live and learn!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, windlass works well and is a lot cheaper than others of same specs. Also very compact and looks good. Fitting was easy. I cut the hole in deck and fitted windlass during a slip to antifoul and fitted wiring next weekend.

 

[minquiers]

fitted one to a friends boat, a bit noisy, but seems to be well made and certainly does the job ok,not a bad bit of gear.

 

[pampas]

Brilliant bit of gear, when I exstoled its virtues on a post somebody said it was a "Gutless Wonder", far from it, does what it says on the box and at very low power consumption,around 19amps, Used a lot and I dont find it noisy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JimC]

I fitted one last winter, it is the 800 series horizontal model with the alloy casing. After one season's use I'm very pleased with it. It has no problem with my ground tackle which consists of 10Kg anchor, 30 metres of 8 mm chain & 45 metres of 12 mm 3 strand nylon rope. The only slight problem I've had is that the gypsy sometimes skips and fails to grip when the rope/chain splice is passing over it. This may be just my bad splicing but I did follow the splicing instructions on the DVD that came with the windlass. I'll probably re-make the splice over the winter.

 

[asj1]

Pampas,
Which model did you fit? I am looking at the hoizontal axis white ones possibly 900 mighty or express.

 

[pampas]

I think its the 800 series ordered the windlas type but was supplied with one with capston as well,on enquiry was told that there was a long shipping delay so gave me the next in range at no other cost. Very kind of them, since then moorind single handed if now a piece of cake,two turns bitter end back to cockpit and two ropes can be handled with ease,didnt have roon for the Horizontal type which would have been my preference.

ps. will take un -calibrated chain or rope.