Maxwell Windlass

[DougSea]

Hi all,

Does anyone out there have experience with Maxwell windlasses? I'm thinking of replacing my Lewmar Pro-1000 with a HRC-8.

I've been having all kinds of problems with the Lewmar, especially with chain jams at the hawsepipe, and currently have a sheared main drive gear. (2nd time!) My unit is a slightly older model and I spoke with Lewmar last year and was told the newer units have a stronger shaft. So my options are, buy another replacement gear set, buy a newer model, or run away from Lewmar. Reading the reviews on the West Marine site and others has me leaning to "run away". On the other hand I've had great luck with Vetus products and the Maxwell's do well in the online reviews I looked at.

Any opinions from the AOG crowd?

[Marcy K]

Hi Doug,

We have a Lewmar Pro-fish 1000 that was installed in 2010 and have used it a lot (we anchor out mostly while cruising) and have had no problems. I'm not sure if our model is the same as the one you are talking about. It seems like a good sign that you are thinking about anchoring - does this mean that Sonny IV is being worked on? Does she have a diagnosis yet? We all hope you are back on the water very soon.

Marcy K
A 34 Paumanok
Westbrook CT

[DougSea]

We have a Lewmar Pro-fish 1000 that was installed in 2010 and have used it a lot (we anchor out mostly while cruising) and have had no problems. I'm not sure if our model is the same as the one you are talking about.

It's the same model with a different gypsy. Mine doesn't have the free-fall that the Pro-Fish has. Other than that they're identical. Hopefully your 2010 model has the heavier construction. I don't know when they changed it.

I have an all chain rode and the narrow hawse pipe, combined with a short drop into the anchor locker causes chain jams. Unfortunately for me, that then caused shearing of the main gear. Twice. So no more Lewmar's for me.

It seems like a good sign that you are thinking about anchoring - does this mean that Sonny IV is being worked on? Does she have a diagnosis yet? We all hope you are back on the water very soon.

Negotiations and consultations are the tune of the day. Given how I told Jay in another post how you shouldn't speak out of turn least the boat gods punish you I'm waiting for facts before posting. Really hoping to have some news and forward progress soon though. Not making ANY plans until she's good to go, but I do like to be optimistic!

Thanks very much to you, erice, Serenity, RobS, rtgcwhite, Nancy, and everyone else for the good wishes. It does help!

In the meantime I'm going to put some time into getting the whaler (Sonny Jr) shipshape and launched...

[Nancy]

In the meantime I'm going to put some time into getting the whaler (Sonny Jr) shipshape and launched...

Always good to have a backup boat.

[jleonard]

Based on my windlass experience today make sure you buy spare shear pins, key stock, and have a manual on hand or on file in the I pad or computer. Be advised your owner's manual may not give you enough info to repair it if it breaks, you may have to do some internet searching for the right information. Especially if you need special or oddball tools.

Oh yea...and many rolls of paper towels.