Best Free fall anchor windlass?

[Pedro]

I'm planning on purchasing an anchor windlass over the winter, my mech told me the Lewmars are good but the free fall models stop working well in a year or two and need some attention.does anybody have exp with a free fall model? Doesn't matter the brand I'm just looking for positive experiences to identify a good windlass, I want to do this once,Pete

[Jeremyvmd]

I've done a bit of research, but don't have one yet. My plan is to go with a "good" windlass. They seem from reports to be tough as nails and are designed to hold the boat on the windlass unlike the lewmars. They have a good warenty as well. Doesn't hurt that their factory is about 30 min from my house and boat (halfway between the two) and I pass them every time I head down to the boat so service will be easy and the factory will come out and install it.

[Tree]

I have a Good Windlass on FP2 - does the job and is pretty rock solid, the only downside is parts availability for me over here but I will say Tim who works in sales has managed to ship parts out to me within a week and got me up and running again.

The downside with the Good set up is the 50 amp breaker, it is right on the tipping point of the motor and any extra load, i.e. heavy seas - the thermal breaker needs to be reset. I've since upped mine to an 80 amp breaker and it all seems to work perfectly now.

Don't expect to be able to use the windlass from the helm, the rode has a tendency to coil up due to the lack of drop in the anchor locker.

[catalina_mike]

My 28 TE has the Lewmar Pro Fish http://www.lewmar.com/products.asp?id=8330 I have anchored a couple of times and it worked great. I also have the wireless option so I can raise and lower on deck (no foot buttons installed). 40' of chain and 300' of rode.

[Pedro]

Catalina Mike ,What do you have for an anchor?

[catalina_mike]

http://photo.pacificwestcontrols.com:80 ... 302e4a5047

[Pedro]

Wow Mike you have done a lot to that boat! looks great, Did you replace the helm seat? That upgrade is coming soon for me,Where did you get yours? I'd go with the same look, I have the same green hull tan color scheme on mine,Pete

[catalina_mike]

We recovered what was there for now. I want something with flip up arm rests but fitting will be dificult as we like to swivle and hang out.

[Nepidae]

Let me interject here, Good windlass, I believe, will not handle chain (other than a little lead, 10', just past the anchor).

If you anchor anywhere that you will need any length of chain the Good windlass will not handle it, they don't have a gypsy on the windlass.

Also, don't know if you are looking at a horizontal or vertical windlass.

Our anchor rode is currently 50' of chain and 200' of 8 plait. I'm adding 200' of chain prior to spring launch.

We put a Lofrans Tigress, which may be more than you need for your boat, on our Albin, which has a chain gypsy on one side and a capstan on the other.

Lofrans makes other windlass and I am happy with ours.

Don't know why you necessarily want a free fall but if I loosen the clutch on the Tigress it will free fall, we just use the foot pedals to lower the anchor. Seems more controlled and you don't get a mass on the bottom from the free fall energy of the drop.

Just my 2 cents.

[Tree]

I use chain on my Good Windlass - they do indeed have a gypsy on them

[zinbaad]

Had a GOOD WINDLESS installed 6 years ago, works great with 15 feet of chain. Yes the chain occasionally jams so I usually pull up to start of chain and drop it in the locker I had a lewmar on a previous 22", felt like a toy compared to the heavy duty Good. They have great customer service also

[Tree]

Had a GOOD WINDLESS installed 6 years ago, works great with 15 feet of chain. Yes the chain occasionally jams so I usually pull up to start of chain and drop it in the locker I had a lewmar on a previous 22", felt like a toy compared to the heavy duty Good. They have great customer service also

That could be down to your rode to chain splice - we had problems initially but once i put a longer splice in, it works fine now. Also the pitch of the chain is critical - Lewmar and Lofrans do similar chains to the one that is specified but Good but they are just not quite right so will jam.