Choosing the Right Anchor Windlass for Your Boat
Choosing the right anchor windlass will make even the most difficult anchoring situations much safer and more efficient.
When it comes to choosing the right anchor winch for your boat, the considerations are the length of your vessel, the mounting space, the power type, the weight of the anchor rodes, and the anchoring environment.
The anchor windlass is responsible for pulling the weight of the ground tackle, and it is often exposed to harsh elements to offset the effects of bad weather, therefor the high quality marine grade 316 stainless steel gypsy housing components and an IP68 waterproof design motor will be more important to ensure water and corrosion resistance to get a reliability and long term usage.
The key considerations provided in this article should only be relied upon as general information. When recommending the best winch for your particular boat, there will be more information depending on, but not limited to …
- Type of winch power supply(DC 12V/24V, AC 380V, Hydraulic).
- The length of your boat.
- The space of the mounting area.
- The required working load of the winch (Total weight of anchor and chain).
- Anchoring environment- ocean or rivers and lakes, it defines the necessary working power.
The Type of Winch Power Supply
Three main ways a windlass can be powered.
1. DC Battery supply. 12V or 24V
2. AC Power. 380V / 440V
3. Hydraulic Power.
The Size of the Anchor Winch
The first factor to consider when choosing a winch is the length of your boat and the total weight of the anchor rodes. The size of the winch is often defined based on the length of the boat, and another consideration is the anchoring environment conditions.
Sometimes, a smaller boat would need a larger winch to handle the rougher conditions. Cause the anchoring depth and required length, size of the rope/chain will be much more than using in rivers and lakes. The necessary working load power will need much more.
Depth of the Chain Locker / Anchor Well?
Lastly, don’t forget the space of the mounting area on your boat. Usually, vertical winch needs more space of the chain locker, horizontal windlass and drum winch need more space on the deck.
For gypsy windlass, measuring the vertical distance from the underside of the deck to the top of the full length of stored and heaped anchor rode in the locker will assist in determining the installation to suit your vessel.
Types of Anchor Winches
Gypsy Windlasses & Drum Winches
Gypsy windlasses store all the rope and chain in an anchor well or chain locker. It comes in two styles: Horizontal and Vertical Windlasses.
Drum winches store all the rope and chain on a spool drum, which means it is ideal for vessels which have no anchor well/chain locker to gather the rope&chain in.
Horizontal or Vertical Windlasses (Gypsy Windlasses)
Gypsy windlasses are traditional anchor winches, it comes in two main configurations: Vertical and Horizontal Windlasses.
The two basic configurations refer to the main drive shaft orientation. If the shaft is parallel to the deck, it’s a horizontal windlass, and if it is perpendicular to the deck, it is a vertical windlass.
One way to think about this is the way that the chainwheel spins when the windlass is being operated. If the chainwheel spins like a merry-go-round, it’s a vertical windlass, and if it spins like a Ferris wheel it’s a horizontal windlass.
Deck thickness and underdeck space are the two primary considerations when deciding which orientation will work best for your application.
Vertical Windlassees:
The primary point of this style is the distance between the hawse hole and the accumulated chain should not be less than 46 cm (18”).
Vertical windlasses hide their gearbox&motor below deck, saving deck space and offering a neater, cleaner look appearance. But the motor is located below deck, making maintenance more complex. It typically needs a much larger anchor locker to allow for a minimum fall of 46cm (18in) to provide enough gravity for the anchor rode to drop into the chain locker. Vertical Windlasses are generally the most popular choice for boats with deeper anchor lockers, as the rode falls naturally with gravity.
Horizontal Windlasses:
A minimum of 30cm (12in) fall is required to allow for proper stacking of the anchor rode in the chain locker.
In contrast, a horizontal windlass has both the gypsy and motor stored in a sealed cover housing mounted on the deck. It is generally easier to install and maintain, making it ideal for boats with smaller anchor wells or chain lockers or where under-deck space is limited. But it requires more deck space for installation.
Drum Winches:
A drum winch gathers all the rope and chain on a spool drum, which means it is ideal for vessels which have no anchor wells/chain lockers to gather the rope & chain in, so it can be mounted anywhere where the winch has a direct line pull over the bow roller.
Drum winches can be limited by the amount of rope and chain that can be contained on the drum. To obtain extra length, you can use thinner (smaller diameter) rope with higher breaking strain. This will increase the length of rope that can be stored on the drum, however it needs to be selected carefully for safety reasons. It is also more expensive so can increase the overall cost.
Drum winches release the anchor rode very quickly and pull it in equally fast.
If you’re still unsure about which winch to choose, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice. We’re here to help you make an informed decision and find the ideal winch that meets your specific requirements.
With the waterproof design and ease of operation, you’ll be able to anchor your boat with confidence and enjoy your time on the water even more. Visit our website today to find the best winch for your needs.