Windlass

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paddywackcocker

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Hello
I'm looking at the lofran Tigers and Cayman, I can't see the diffrence and if you shop about the price is the same as well.
Am I missing something.
12v 8mm
What am I missing?

P
 
Thanks for reply’s
Looks like the Tigres then (bit extra omph at same price, depending on supplier) from jimmy greens
Regards
P
 
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Check the cable size you need as well, because if if the cable is larger and you need a lot of it, that could push the price up. Also, check the footprint if there are any restrictions. I have the same setup as Vic, and it all works fine.
 
I'd question the faster line speed of the Tigres (at 14m/min) as the Cayman is 16m/min in my brochure for the 1000w motor (it also comes with a 700w motor).

If space is an issue the Tigres is slightly bigger, longer and wider.

If price are similar - my guess is you get what you pay for. You get a bigger motor, which (presumably) cost more and there are savings made somewhere else (gearbox, shaft, capstan, gypsy??)

The Tigres has a horn cleat as part of the casing on the top - I'd prefer not to have this but use an independent cleat. Having an integral cleat will lead to unnecessary loading of the whole structure (and this is one reason to advocate snubbers, take the load off the windlass).

The Tigres body casting incorporates holes for the securing bolts. It is not entirely clear how the Cayman is secured, it looks as if it has a separate base plate (which might be good or bad - you would need to look at both - but it might, or not, be easier to instal and service the Cayman).

Superficially I'd favour the big motor but I would tend to want to see the 2 windlass side by side and look in more detail at how they are installed. I'd also interrogate a dealer - to have him defend the price similarity (for so similar windlass with very different motors)

Jonathan
 
Neeves said:
I'd question the faster line speed of the Tigres (at 14m/min) as the Cayman is 16m/min in my brochure for the 1000w motor (it also comes with a 700w motor).
Click to expand...

Those figures are right for working load, but the Tigres is a fractionally faster at max line speed.
 
The Cayman has studs screwed into the base plate for mounting.

Not sure of the benefits of the more powerful motor, but of course it depends on how heavy the tackle is, although 8mm chain suggests not massive. The Cayman is by far the most popular model as it covers the most popular size boats, typically 35-42' or so.

Bigger is not always better! - but the OP has not said what his boat is, size of anchor etc, although he is in the Med which gives an idea of the type of anchoring he will be doing. As you can see above others with quite big boats such as Vic's Moody get good service out of a Cayman.
 
You also need to remember if your your useing the windlass correctly, you should only be lifting loose chain . And not pulling the boat forward under load ,
In our case 10mm chain 2.5 kg a metre roughly plus anchor , so even if you in 14 meter which very rarely we do anchor that deep
you only talking 60 kg at the most and that's bein reduced each mts you haul up .
 
Tranona, Interesting comment - and I'm not doubting the accuracy. I don't know why the Cayman would be more popular as they both accept exactly the same gypsies, from 6mm though to 10mm. The Cayman with the small motor, 700w, might be cheaper and more popular on smaller yachts (1500w of the Tigres would be a bit overkill on an small yacht). The Cayman seems 'more' versatile' because it allows 2 motor sizes.

But I like the idea of the bigger motor, though the increase in maximum pull and working load is not major. But 1000W would be fine for 8mm chain.

Whatever your choice - check for stainless in contact with the aluminium casing - ensure Duralac or equivalent is used.

Jonathan
 
I have a 1500w Tigres pulling 3/8th chain and a 55lb Rocna on a 44 ft boat. As I am singlehanded some of the time I often need to pull the boat up to the anchor using the windlass.

I am very happy with my Tigres and would have another.

Lofrans foot switches last about 12 months on my deck. Currently I have a Quick hand held control unit.

It is worth noting that it is a common windlass on charter boats and it survives.
 
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sailaboutvic said:
You also need to remember if your your useing the windlass correctly, you should only be lifting loose chain . And not pulling the boat forward under load ,
In our case 10mm chain 2.5 kg a metre roughly plus anchor , so even if you in 14 meter which very rarely we do anchor that deep
you only talking 60 kg at the most and that's bein reduced each mts you haul up .
Click to expand...

We regularly pull the boat up towards the anchor with our Lofrans Tigres. Whyever not? It's a windlass (type of winch). Normally getting the boat moving forward towards the anchor, demands far less power than breaking the anchor out.
 
NormanS said:
We regularly pull the boat up towards the anchor with our Lofrans Tigres. Whyever not? It's a windlass (type of winch). Normally getting the boat moving forward towards the anchor, demands far less power than breaking the anchor out.
Click to expand...

I not saying my cayman won't ,
what I am saying is we drive our forward as most people do to take the stain off the gypsy , you only need a little movement for the gypsy to only have the weight of the chain to deal with
and as far as break out the anchor .
We also don't break the anchor out with the windlass , the slow movement forward is enough and if it's that deep in that a small amount of movement over it won't break it out then on goes the snubber and we drive it out .
If we really want to make the cayman work we could just sit back and let it do all the work .
With the 35 kts of wind we had yesterday as we left the anchorage our windlass would had taken some working pulling over 10 tons of boat to ward the anchor , I no doubt it would do it but whyever would you .
In any case I would like to get as much life out of my windless as I can . Others may not care how much wear they do .
The only time I would consider using the windlass to do all the work would be if I was solo .
I think you find that's the way you should use it .
Not sure why you want to nit pick at my posting , it normal to use a little power to go forward especially if there any wind blowing .
Whyever wouldn't you
As far as what you would do that's fine , some will pile the chain on top of chain while anchoring , other will drop two or three time the depth and other won't set there anchor , but we don't work like that and we wouldn't anchor as they do the same way we wouldn't use the windlass to move the boat forward .
Hope now is made clear .
 
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