Which Windlass & What type of Anchor??

[Vigilant32]

I am in the process of building a new bow pulpit with anchor roller for my Vigilant32. I was curious which brands of Windlasses have served you well, or which to aviod too! I want a flush mount to handle both chain & rope.

On a second note, which anchor style suits you best? We do not anchor much, and when we do it is usually at the Islands, more sandy bottoms than rocks.

I have used both fluke and spade/plow type, finding the later to work well while anchoring off the beaches and in sandy locations at Catalina and Clemente.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

[bertram31]

First off dont get one of the cheap west marine type windlass, they suck.All the horizon, simpson lawrence and so on are crap.They dont pull fast and they are weak.A real windlass isnt cheap but one of the most important peices of equipment on your boat.I would stick with one of three, Ideal, Lofrans, and Muir.

I have the Lofrans Cayman 88, It has free fall capabilities, with a rope capstan and a chain gypsy.It has 1450 pounds of pulling power and retrives the anchor at 75 feet per minute, the thing hauls ass.Like i said a good windlass isnt cheap, but you get what you pay for.

Captains Locker in Long Beach Marina can get you any one of these models.Ask for Joe and tell him Jack recommended you and he will take care of you.Feel free to PM me if you need help with the install or anything.

Jack

[Double Z]

Anchors. My backup/primary is a Bruce (imitation). My primary (on the pulpit) is one of those Lewmar Delta things. They stick. I've spent a couple nights tied to one of those. I went a couple sizes up, and added to the reccomended chain length too. Better to wake up stuck on the hook than stuck on the rock.

[Professor]

I use a Maxwell windlass and a Bruce style anchor. The Maxwell windlass sucks. The Bruce style anchor is one size over what is rated for the boat and it has performed flawlessly. I spend a lot of nights anchored up and I rest easy. Set up the anchor so the chain will break away from the shank on the anchor and your set. Also consider using more rather than less chain. I use 35’ on a 26 foot boat and another five wouldn’t hurt for me.

[Papa "J"]

On the 42 bertram I am buying the guy put on a Lighthouse Windless....I never heard of them before but was told they are the shit....very heavy duty & reliable...this one has a fluke style anchor (75lbs) & 400' of 5/16 chain....all the current owner has done with the boat is go to Catalina for 1 week or two, drop the hook, & party at Catalina. In the 7 years he has owned the boat he has never had any problems with the windless...

Now I don't know if they make different sizes, I would guess they do.

They are not cheap..he spent about $4000 to have it installed...but it also came with a digital chain counter in the flybridge & a remote to use it when your not in the flybridge.

[Vigilant32]

"I use a Maxwell windlass and a Bruce style anchor. The Maxwell windlass sucks."

Can you tell me more about this. What don't you like about these? Which model do you have?

I was looking at the 800 and others had told me it worked well for my application.

I only want to purchase one, so I really want to get this correct the 1st time!

[Professor]

The plastic bar that holds the rope against the jaws is regularly destroyed by the chain. Now I just use the boat to keep tension on the line when lifting the anchor.

Good luck in your search!