Choosing Your Windlass
How do you choose from the wide array of windlasses on the market? Lofrans, Muir, Quick, Maxwell and Powerwinch all manufacturer great windlasses. Factors to consider for selecting the correct anchor windlass include the vessel size, displacement, windage, anchor size and rode selection. Locker space and depth of fall for the rode also play a part in deciding which windlass is ideal for you. Here is some information to help you make a more informed decision.
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1. Why install a windlass? Manhandling ground tackle on even small boats has the potential for major back strain and injury. A windlass is not only a wonderful convenience it can also save you time and potentially save your boat. If raising your anchor is easy and convenient you will not be as reluctant to re-anchor should the need arise. There are two types of windlasses of interest to the recreational boater - manually or electrically driven.
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2. Manual windlasses supplement your muscle power with mechanical advantage. They are available as either lever-type (back and forth motion) or vertical axis (a circular winch-grinding motion). Lever-type windlasses are generally single speed, and vertical models, like sheet winches, have two speeds: a fast, low-power gear for use when loads are light, and a slower speed with higher power for when the going gets tougher.
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3. Electric windlasses haul ground tackle aboard with a touch of a button or a step on a pedal. They are even available with remote controls for operation from the helm or wherever else you'd prefer to be. An indispensable option on either model is a self-tailing feature which takes in the slack as the line is hauled in and feeds it into the locker below deck. The first step in choosing a windlass, however, is to determine which type is compatible with your ground tackle.
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4. Horizontal or Vertical?Although personal taste and your boating style are factors in choosing either a horizontal or vertical style windlass, much of the decision was made when you bought your boat. The size and configuration of the foredeck, chain locker and forepeak dictate much of the criteria. First, let's look at the differences between the two.
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A Horizontal windlass generally, though not exclusively, is completely contained in one sealed unit mounted on the deck, making it simple to install. The holes drilled for the hawse pipe and bolting the unit down is all the drilling necessary. The windlass is fitted directly over the hawse pipe and positioned in line with the bow roller to ensure a fair lead. The rode is retrieved by the motor-driven gypsy and deposited directly into the chain locker below. |
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A Vertical windlass has it's motor and gearbox mounted below deck which leaves the foredeck relatively uncluttered, but making installation a bit more complicated. Careful consideration must be made as to positioning of the whole system before touching a saw. You must be sure to have sufficient vertical clearance (more is better) from the deck to the chain in the locker to ensure that it pays out properly. Vertical windlasses are versatile, as the rode can be led from any direction. The rode wraps around the drum/gypsy through 180°, and leads forward to the hawse pipe and down into the chain locker. |
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5. Where to Mount?
With either type, a windlass should normally be mounted on the yacht's centerline with the chain in close alignment to a line drawn from the chain wheel through the bow roller (or chock) to straight ahead in the water. It is important, especially for combination rodes, to locate your windlass so that, as rope is stripped from chain wheel or drum, it can “fall” directly into the rope locker.
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6. What About Anchor Lockers? 
The location and depth of an anchor locker are important elements in a windlass installation. The anchor locker should also be positioned so that the chain and rope feed through the windlass deck plate or hawsepipe directly into the anchor locker. Deck thickness and locker space play an important role in deciding whether to install a vertical or horizontal windlass. Estimating or measuring the depth of fall of the rode into the anchor locker may dictate which type of windlass is most suitable for your vessel. Calculating the depth of fall differs for horizontal chain only windlasses and for vertical chain or rope/chain windlasses. When the rode is in the anchor locker, the top of the anchor rode should be a minimum of 16” below the underside of the deck.
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7. What Type of Chain Do I Need?
A proper fit of chain to chain wheel is very important. Imtra offers a variety of chain wheels to fit different sizes and types of chain. For optimum windlass operation, a short-link chain is much preferred. We recommend ISO-specification HT (G4) or BBB (3B) types of chain. The current HT chain we offer is much stronger and lighter than earlier proof coil (PC) and BBB chains. This allowed boaters to reduce the chain size, therefore saving weight or allowing for a longer length to be used. We also offer stainless steel chain (with the same size/configuration at HT galvanized chain) for those looking for a more distinguished look on deck. Imtra has full customizing capabilities. We can make custom rodes of virtually any configuration (including combination stainless steel/G4 chain lengths for a shiny look on deck backed up by affordable and strong galvanized G4 chain). Find out more in our Anchor Chain, Line and Rodes section.
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8. Power Down or Free Fall?
All electric windlasses offer power up/power down for controlled hauling or dropping anchor. Most can also be operated in a free-fall mode by manually loosening the clutch with the supplied handle; this lets the gypsy spin freely. Many boaters prefer to drop anchor in the free-fall mode since it is quicker to just let the anchor drop.
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9. Customizing Your Installation?
AhoyCaptain offers a wide range of electrical switchgear, anchoring accessories and anchor rodes to customize your installation (or to enhance an existing system). Every installation is unique. We have extensive experience in developing solutions for even the most unusual application. |
Before purchasing any windlass, measure your forepeak to see if everything fits. AhoyCaptain can provide you with a detailed manufacturers dimensions plan.
If you need more assistance in selecting a windlass or have other questions, contact us by e-mail or call us at 1-908-464-5581 and we'll be glad to assist you.
No matter what type of anchor and rode you use, AhoyCaptain has a windlass to handle it. |
Boat Outfitting
