Anchor Winch Opinion - The Hull Truth

Fishheads · 11-13-2007, 07:06 AM

I have a center console 23 Ft Century my wife is getting tired of pulling up the anchor rope when we go fishing. I had convinced her that it would tone up her arms & neck, well after a year of fishing her arms did not get toned and her neck has a awful crick in it. Now she thinks I lied about all of this & now she won't clean my fish & clean the boat up after a good days fishing lolo. I have to make her happy again so I am thinking of buying her a power Anchor Winch for Xmas for my boat.......yes I am lol. How well do they work and who makes a good one.

yottyboy · 11-13-2007, 07:24 AM

Dood, you better get her something far nicer than an anchor winch or your fishing days will be over, at least with her as your spouse. After you get her a "thanks for hauling the anchor all year" gift (which better cost as much as a windlass) look at Good Automatics at http://www.goodwindlass.com/index.htm and buy one for the BOAT.

Fishheads · 11-13-2007, 07:34 AM

lol thanks

kerno · 11-13-2007, 08:01 AM

You'll probably want a horizontal windlass because they do a better job of feeding the line into a small anchor locker. The verticals need the most fall or they jam. There are lots of 'em out there and not many bad ones. The speed is a function of the amps that they draw, so make your choice based on that rather than what they say the line speed is. Also, don't scrimp on the wire size or the windlass runs slower and the wiring gets hot. Lewmar, Lofrans, Quickand Muir are among the good ones. For your boat size, you can use one that takes 1/4 inch chain. The weight of the chain plays a big part in keeping the anchor planted, so if you can go to 5/16, you'll have a sturdier setup. eBay can be a good source.

You are a braver man than most of us. The good thing about giving her a windlass is that it a lot less dangerous than giving her a shotgun.

1bayouboy · 11-13-2007, 10:39 AM

If you're installing yourself....go out to the powerwinch website and look at the prices they have on wiring kits....8 guage and 6 gauge.....pretty good prices for the quatity and size wire....with free shipping.

frank1861 · 11-13-2007, 10:57 AM

If you decide to go with a horizontal windlass I would consider a free fall type they're much faster to drop the anchor.

Defedently get her somthing shiny that is more expensive then the windlass or you're a dead man.

wigsplitter · 11-13-2007, 11:30 AM

Lewmar profish 5, I have it and its great, also has free fall. About 1k installed

WishFish · 11-13-2007, 11:44 AM

If we put all the suggestions together:
1- Free fall
2- Your boat is 23’, buy one that is listed for 32’.
3- Use heavy gauge wire (4, or 6) for wiring.
4- Use North East line, specially made for use windlasses.
5- Use at least 25’ of g4 chain, made for windlasses.
If you buy any brand but Lofran, you need to drive the boat to the anchor while lifting, otherwise in case of Powerwinch, you will strip the thin plate that holds the gears in.
I agree with bribing your anchor woman with a diamond bracelet any time.

nsh · 11-13-2007, 11:54 AM

I have had both, free fall and control fall. I would suggest considering the control fall. Like I said I had the free fall for five years. It crapped out and someone gave me one that he thought was burnt up (wasnt burnt, i fixed it with little effort). It was not free fall. Since it was free I decided beggars cant be choosy. I much prefer the control fall over the free fall. For one you have more control over the fall if you don't want to splash a anchor in the water. The control fall are less noisy when deploying. Also I would find the free fall to sometimes tangle up when deploying mores so than the control fall. At least the control fall will "pull" the rope out of the locker. Sometimes when bouncing around in the bow the rope and chain becomes "packed" in there causing problems when deploying.

AND the biggest advantage of control fall v/s free fall. Say you are cruising along at 30kts. Someone decides to hit the anchor deploy button. Think about it, would you rather free fall or control fall. Just some thing to think about and my preferences.

But for sure either of the two is better than nothing...

frank1861 · 11-13-2007, 11:55 AM

8 plait line is a must with any windlass its expensive, but It will not twist and jam nearly as often as 3 strand will.

yottyboy · 11-13-2007, 12:01 PM

Say you are cruising along at 30kts. Someone decides to hit the anchor deploy button. Think about it, would you rather free fall or control fall.

That's known as a club hauling.

Glen E · 11-13-2007, 12:05 PM

Quote:

yottyboy - 11/13/2007 2:01 PM

Say you are cruising along at 30kts. Someone decides to hit the anchor deploy button. Think about it, would you rather free fall or control fall.

That's known as a club hauling.

not a problem when you have a safety cable which is the proper thing to do when you have any windlass....

V2325wreckfisher · 11-13-2007, 12:12 PM

Good Automatic as Yottaboy said!!!!!!!!!!!!!

StingerII · 11-13-2007, 06:12 PM

Use 8 Platt Rope with a low profile (tapered) splice to G4 1/4" Chain make sure whatever windlass you go with, you match the Gypsy to the rode/chain package. Don't use the windlass to unset the anchor, poor seamanship. The windlass's job is not to set or unset the anchor, it's only function is to drop the line and retreive the line. Lock off the rode and use the boat to set the anchor as you do now, and when you retreive, drive to the anchor and then use the windlass to pull it up. And if you don't have a chain stopper of some sort, get one.. This is the type I use

V2325wreckfisher · 11-13-2007, 06:26 PM

Stinger, I guess most charter captains in NJ use bad seamanship. But we can because Good Automatic windlasses have the power and durability to yank any anchor off the bottom. I love being a bad ... They also lock, and don't need any type of external lock. We use them everyday, commercially for wreckfishing. Those other brands are more like toys for the occasional anchor hauler. I've tried em all.

StingerII · 11-13-2007, 06:39 PM

V2325,

I am so enamoured that you have used them all and your GOOD is a he man woman hatin, anchor haulin, machine. I however, will do it the proper way, and I bet my Lewmar will last as long as I own my boat. Also GOOD is not the only windlass with an intergal lock, my V700 has a fall-safe gypsy lock and I stick with the photo I posted above, because it's not going anywhere, for sure.

nsh · 11-13-2007, 07:18 PM

Well i am a bad seaman as well as i dont tie off the rode when anchored. I move 15 - 20 times a day sometimes. I am not going to go lock it off everytime i move. And my current lewmar is 10 years old. Still going strong. As i posted above it was broke when i got it. Was a bad connection, nothing to do with the winching mechanism. I;ll stick to the way i am doing it now.

rwidman · 11-14-2007, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Fishheads - 11/13/2007 9:06 AM

...... my wife ......................... I have to make her happy again so I am thinking of buying her a power Anchor Winch for Xmas for my boat.......yes I am lol. ..........

It has been said many times that one should never buy a woman a gift that has to be plugged in or uses batteries. I can think of only one exception.

rwidman · 11-14-2007, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Fishheads - 11/13/2007 9:06 AM

I have a center console 23 Ft Century my wife is getting tired of pulling up the anchor rope ..................

I suppose there's a very good reason that you don't pull up the anchor?

Hint: This would far less expensive than a windlass installation.

1bayouboy · 11-14-2007, 08:36 AM

Stinger....I haven't seen that style chain lock...where they be at.....??