Windlass

[sanna]

I am the owner of a 32 feet sailboat (6 tons) without a windlass. The 20 kg anchor with a 8 mm chain can be hard to collect. I therefor wonder - should I buy a windlass and what kind is the right for me? Should it be a manual one or is it better with an electrical one ? There are both vertical and horisontal, what are the pros and cons ?
I would be helpful for any help !

Regards
Tor
(in Oslo)

 

[romany123]

I have a manual Seawolf I use it with a 50lb CQR its brill...trouble is there are so many on the market now suppose Electric/manual if you are not very strong.
Try asking boat owner if they have done a survay on windlasses.
Dave

Dave

 

[Guest]

a manual windlass does not save work - it simply means that you put less effort into each pull but you have more pulls and it takes much longer. the electric one saves you effort. electric is more expensive, but if you can afford to buy one, i would recommend electric every time.

there is a safety issue. if you are not happy with the place where you have dropped your anchor, you are much more likely to try again if your windlass is electric.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Of course a manual windlass doesn't save work, but it makes that work so easy, by virtue of the gearing, that you don't resent it if you have to reset an anchor. It's less hard work than sheeting home a genoa in big winds.

Electric, OTOH, is much more expensive, sets some interesting cable run problems, often uses up headroom in the forepeak, and does pose a threat to fingers and toes (speaking as somone who broke the top of a finger in an power windlass).

 

[sanna]

Am I right that you will recomend a manual Seawolf ? Can you tell me who the maker is ?

Regards

Tor in Oslo

 

[romany123]

Hi sanna
I try not to recomend, I just comment on the gear I use and happen to think my two speed Seawolf is brilliant. I think as howard says a manual winch is takes more effort to use ( alrough I have never felt it a chore) but I dont think it is a safety issue.if you are resonably fit....which of course you have to be to sail...it should not pose a broblem. Electric can go wrong so it may be prudent to have a dual system if you want to go down that route.
Im not sure where you can buy the seawolf . try a search on the internett ...or maybe one of the wise readers will be able to tell you.


Dave

 

[Twister_Ken]

Sea Wolf is (was?) a product name for Simpson Lawrence windlasses. SL is now owned by Lewmar so you could start by checking www.lewmar.com

 

[colin_jones]

If the piggy bank will allow, fit an electric windlass. Get the biggest you can handle in space and battery size. You will be running the engine when you lift, so a separate battery is not essential.

The way to calculate power required is to imagine all your chain has run out and is hanging vertically. The windlass should be able to cope with the deadweight. The guys who are at the main chandlers and who specialise in - say - Lofrans ( a popular make) are generally clewed up and helpful about all this.

In all honesty, you need to budget for about £1000+ for a good installation. Buy the remote control, but have another wired back to the helm position. This is invaluable for pulling 2 anchors, or when you have a problem occupying the hands of the foredeck crew. If you can get the hardware done well, you can do the wiring yourself. It is quite simple.

A principal advantage of electric is if you anchor badly and want to shift position to a better place, or to clear a neighbour's line, it is so easy to pull the anchor that you do it. In extremis, my wife can raise the anchor and move the boat with no help from me.

Vertical or horizontal will probably be decided by the space available for installation. There is not much to choose between them. A vertical rotator is good for kedging and swinging ship. The horizontal is easier for handling - say - a rope anchor in addition to the chain or - if you are brave - to pull a crew member up to the masthead!!