Windlass / bow winch

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Trumpton189

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Hi - I am looking to upgrade / replace my manual windlass to an electric version and would be interested in views and recommendations re: the best way forward. i.e. make, power, yard etc Boat is a 34ft river and broads cruiser and mud weight used is usually 22kg but can increase to circa 44kg if weather conditions and tide demand same.

Many thanks
 
I'd stick to Lewmar or Lofrans and a 700w one will be more than man enough for a mud weight. I have a 700w Lofrans on my boat and it was strong enough on Saturday to hang onto a CQR snagged on a wreck until the anchor broke, leaving half of it behind :(

Fit a switch at the helm and a remote at the bow, i find it's a good idea to stand at the bow when recovering, in case of any tangles or weed etc coming up with the anchor.
 
Trumpton189 said:
That's great thanks Paul. Any idea on costs?
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Not checked any prices recently, but a quick Google should tell you. You will need to run some heavy cables to the bow and fit a trip somewhere in the positive. You'll also need a contactor for most windlasses. Helm switch is nothing fancy, any momentary on-off-momentary on switch will do, or there are ones out there marked "windlass". At the bow you can use foot switches or a remote on a curly cable. I've had both and found the remote best, although it ties one hand up, it does allow you to move about.
 
Windlass Princess 32

HI i am also looking at installing a electric windlass on my Princess 32 . I am looking at a 900 Pacific which are sold at Eye Marine at Llevington on the Orwell.At under £500 thay seem good value,any one got one or had any experance of them
 
tichmarshjohn said:
HI i am also looking at installing a electric windlass on my Princess 32 . I am looking at a 900 Pacific which are sold at Eye Marine at Llevington on the Orwell.At under £500 thay seem good value,any one got one or had any experance of them
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Yes, they are pants John. Not well made and easy to break. They are under 500 quid for good reason. Shop around for the best price on one of these :

http://www.marine-super-store.com/posit/shop/index.php?selectedpartno=99122614

Or the 700w 8mm gypsy version of this one :

http://www.safety-marine.co.uk/Anch...ADO-Horizontal-Windlass-(700W).htm?P1202-S38-

With the 32, remember to fit a good sized backing plate under the foredeck. It's also worth noting the 32 doesn't have a self draining chain locker, so any water ingress around the chain will have nowhere to go. When i had my 32 i drilled a hole either side of the stem and fitted a couple of stainless clams.
 
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windlass princess 32

Thanks Paul thought it was to good to be true.Do you think i would have room in the chain locker to fit a Lofrans Dorado horizontal and can you explain how you draind of water from the chain.Many thanks John
 
You should have room for either John, but the Lewmar one sits totally above deck. You'll need to cut a decent sized hole in the foredeck for the chain to pass through. It will be in the area of deck that is sandwiched with a piece of wood, so you'll have to make sure seal the wood up. I cut a slightly oversized hole through the deck and then bonded a very short piece of stainless tube into the hole with resin. The windlass has to go quite forward, so the chain enters the locker when it leaves the gypsy and on mine the bow cleat was in the way. There just wasn't enough room for the cleat in front of the windlass, but i didn't want it behind the windlass. What i did was to fit the windlass as far back as i could and then get a stainless horn cleat and fit it sideways, in front of the windlass, so the anchor rope passed between the horns.

I reached down into the chain locker and drilled two 3mm holes through the hull (after making sure they'd be above the waterline), one just each side of the centre of the stem. I then drilled these from the outside, making them about 12mm. These also need some resin to seal the glass fibre. I then fitted a stainless clamshell over each one. These allow any water that gets in either with the rope and chain, or just rainwater that gets in through the hole, to drain away.
 
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