Windlass??

M

mickster

Member
Joined
May 21, 2006
RO Number
21343
Messages
14
How many people use a Windlass? My 24' bayiner 245 doesnt have one but I am tossing around the idea of getting one installed. Not only will it save on the back, pulling up the anchor, it will be safer to do so, when I am out with the kids.

I was figuring it would be out $1,000. Not sure if I can do it for cheaper then that.

Thanks for the help.
 
My windlass cost about $1k installed. But I couldn't be without it. If I didn't have the windlass, it would be impossible for me to anchor out by myself. With the windlass, I can handle everything from the helm. And it saves my back!
 
I just purchased a Stainless Steel Lewmar 700H Free Fall, for about $700. If you install yourself, you could get by under a grand. You'll need to buy quite a lot of heavier gauge wire - depending on your length of wire run.

That wire costs about $150 or so. But it's rated for up to a 35' boat, and handles rope & chain (most do) and has a 5 year warranty also.

I had a windlass on my 27', and it's fantastic to be able to anchor retrieve without any hassle.

Hope that helps...
 
I wouldn't consider having a boat if it didn't have a windlass. Watching people hassle over having to secure the anchor and then have to retrieve it upon leaving is enough for me. I agree with Flutterby, wouldn't be out there without it!
 
My first cruiser, a 26' Stephens, didn't have a windlass. I managed okay, but there were times it would have been nice to have.

My second big boat was a 36' Carver. It had a windlass and it made life so much easier! The anchor was much larger and heavier than my previous boat so without a windlass it would have been a real chore.

My current boat is a 55' houseboat. It has no windlass, no chain locker, not even any place to install one. It sucks. I miss that windlass.
 
No windlass on our 26' woodie. The vast majority of boats at our marina have an anchor windlass of one kind or another.

I may put a chain/anchor capstan and some kind of hide-away roller on it eventually. A windlass on this boat is a luxury and not a necessity. I can handle the boat, drop and pull anchor single-handed and do it all of the time, even in wind. It's just a matter of doing the right tasks in the right order and thinking ahead.
 
abdiver

I've seen houseboats which have added a small bow pulpit up front. The anchor locker is a big box of some sort which sits on top of the deck. You might consider something like that!
 
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