Windlass choice

[JimC]

I'm looking to buy a horizontal spindle windlass and have narrowed the choice down to the following: Quick Genius 1000, Lewmar Pro Series 1000, and Lofrans Dorado. Any experience or advice on these would be welcome. (30 ft boat with rope/chain rode and shallow anchor locker - hence horizontal preferred).

 

[Tranona]

You are not comparing like with like. The Lofrans model you have chosen is 700 watts which is OK for your application but the others are more powerful. The Dorado, although horizontal axis has the motor vertically underneath so needs the depth to mount.

No experience of the other two makes but can recommend Lofrans in principle - I have a Cayman 88, but probably a bit too big for your application.

 

[JimC]

You are not comparing like with like. The Lofrans model you have chosen is 700 watts which is OK for your application but the others are more powerful.

Not so, the Lewmar Pro series 1000 is 700 watt and the Quick Genius 1000 is 800 watt according to the published specifications.

 

[nickfabbri]

I installed a pro series 1000 a couple of months ago in a 32 ft sailing boat. So far no complaints at all. Instructions were precise,the kit had gaskets,templates etc. the wiring is fairly straight forward and it works well with chain and rode.
The only negative is that the standard kit comes with a rocker switch and you really need to be at the bow to raise the hook. So you wold need to buy foot switches or the neat remote that lewmar do now.
It was also on offer at one of the online chandlers at £599 .

 

[jeremyshaw]

I stripped our Lofrans (Cayman) in the summer to replace some seals after seven years and probably several hundred anchoring occasions. I was very impressed with the condition and it's given faultless service apart from a blown relay some years ago. The Italian office is helpful too, and the UK distributor OK.

 

[Tranona]

Not so, the Lewmar Pro series 1000 is 700 watt and the Quick Genius 1000 is 800 watt according to the published specifications.

Apologies - misled by the model numbers!. Surprised that both recommend suitable for larger boats. OK for your size but would want to go up to a genuine 1000w for serious use much above 34 ft.

 

[arawa]

I have a Lewmar Pro and it hauls in a 10kg anchor and 50m of 8mm chain with no problem at all. Foot switches at the bow and an up/down rocker switch at the helm make everything very easy.

 

[vyv_cox]

Have you looked at Maxwell? Now owned by Vetus and recently redesigned by them. I have had a vertical model from them for 10 years, perfectly reliable.

 

[JimC]

Thanks to all responders for advice given. I'm leaning towards Lewmar Pro series 1000 due to 5 year guarantee and British manufacture. Some concern about depth of fall from windlass, I only have about 8 inches fall into rear of anchor locker above which windlass will be mounted. Locker deepens & narrows as it runs forward into angle of bows. Am considering some sort of angled deflector plate to throw rode forward into locker as it comes off windlass. Also any advice on rope to chain splice? would like to use 8 plait and Lewmar gypsy apparently can take this. Am limited to about 15 metres chain due weight considerations, remainder will be about 75 metres 14mm rope so splice will pass over gypsy on regular basis.

 

[vyv_cox]

Some concern about depth of fall from windlass, I only have about 8 inches fall into rear of anchor locker above which windlass will be mounted. Locker deepens & narrows as it runs forward into angle of bows. Am considering some sort of angled deflector plate to throw rode forward into locker as it comes off windlass.

This was my solution to your problem.

I cut the lid of the anchor locker lid in half (approx) which allowed the mounting of the windlass immediately above the lowest point of the chain locker. Underneath the solid part of the lid is strengthened with 1 inch marine ply, bolted to the deck. This works very well and I can load 60 metres of 8 mm chain into the locker with usually only once redistributing the pile.

We originally had a horizontal windlass on this deck and found the genoa sheets snagged it on almost every tack. Never had a moment's problem with the vertical one.

 

[JimC]

That's a solution I hadn't thought of. I guess I was daunted at the thought of doing major surgery on a fairly new boat. At least snagging genoa sheets won't be a problem for me as she's a Hunter Channel 31 with a self-tacking jib. I'll have to measure what depth I have at the forward end of the locker but I think it probably isn't deep enough even there. The specs' I've seen for vertical windlasses call for at least 12" clear fall to the top of the chain pile and I think I'll barely have 12" to the locker floor. Apparently horizontal windlasses are more tolerant in this regard as the weight of the hanging rode is pulling straight down off the gypsy, whereas with a vertical it's having to negotiate a 90 degree bend.

 

[affinite]

Quick works for me.

Had a Quick Genius on my boat for 4 years and its been fine. With a shallow chain locker we also have the chain drop problem but just accept having to stop periodically and push chain into the locker to prevent a snag in the gypsy. The Genius seems quite happy with our 50m 8mm chain rode + 16kg Delta. With the clutch released and a halyard on the drum, its also powerfull enough to pull me up the mast for maintenance work!

 

[JimC]

re: Quick works for me

What rope are you using to back up your chain? I'd like to use 8 plait but Quick's specification mentions 3 strand only.