Releasing and retrieving an anchor can take a lot of time and effort. Unfortunately, there’s always a chance of getting injured while doing so, especially if you’re new to boating or sailing. If you want to make the whole process safer and smoother, invest in an anchor winch. An anchor winch is a mechanical device used on boats and ships to manage the anchor and anchor chain. It makes the entire process of raising, lowering, and securing your anchor so much easier.
With so many types of anchor winches available in the market, choosing which one to buy can be overwhelming. Luckily, we’ve made a list of the best anchor winches, looking at factors like speed, boat size compatibility, and durability. Our favorite is the Minn Kota Anchor Winch, but keep reading and see which one you like the most! maxwell 3500 windlass
If you are looking for an anchor winch that is convenient, durable and easy to use, then look no further than the Minn Kota Anchor Winch. Designed to make fishing boat navigation-friendly and effortless, this electric winch can be raised or lowered with just a click of a button. With this anchor winch, any universal davit can be mounted at base of DeckHand or in remote position on boat deck. You can also mount it horizontally to stop the anchor swing.
Equipped with an 8,000 pound nylon rope test and an anchor capacity of 40 pounds, thanks to the nylon construction you also don’t need to worry about the rope rusting or getting damaged. This product is the best because it is easy to mount and allows for quick anchor changing, which makes it suitable for both beginners and experts.
Tired of manually retrieving and releasing your boat anchor? Trac Outdoors Fisherman Anchor Winch allows you to do so with a simple click of a button! Featuring an all-steel gear, 12 volt DC motor, this anchor winch is not only very efficient but also uses less power than other brands. For effortless operation, it features a two-way membrane switch that makes pulling and lowering the anchor easier.
The anti-reverse clutch system that this winch features restricts the fee spooling and increases the ability of the winch to bear the load in a very effective manner. This winch is installed with 100 foot long pre-wound braided anchor rope. Capable of pulling a maximum of 35 pound weighing anchors, it comes with all assembly hardware needed and an instruction manual.
The Attwood Anchor Lift System drops the anchor with the turn of a switch and stores it in the anchor storage locker when not in use. Made from heavy gauge steel, this anchor lift system is perfect for heavy-duty use due to its heavy construction. Thanks to its smart design and handy design, it can be mounted on the bow or stern corners of most boats.
The pull line speed of this winch allows you to roll 100 feet of rope in just just a few minutes. Since the nylon wheels are self-lubricating and lightweight, you can expect smooth execution from the rope each time.
To choose the right anchor winch for your boat, consider the following factors:
Remote controlled winches are very convenient as they allow you to sit back and relax while the anchor winch does its work of pulling the anchor up or down. Some winches come with a remote, but for the ones that don’t you’ll need to buy one separately. For added convenience, you can choose a wireless remote.
Since anchor winches are an expensive boat accessory, you don’t want to buy a winch that breaks easily. One way to guarantee that you are buying a durable winch is to check whether it comes with a warranty. Since the motor that retrieves the anchor in and out of the water is exposed to friction regularly, this can damage the motor over time.
To make sure the anchor winch doesn’t give up on you when you need it the most, you must pay importance to its capacity. Before purchasing, check if the anchor winch is sturdy enough to pull the chain, as well as if the rope and anchor are required to hold your boat without breaking. The working load of the winch should be able to lift the entire length of chain and rope when all is completely suspended off the ocean floor.
Before purchasing the anchor winch, determine the approximate weight and length of the anchor. Most anchor winches come with recommended rope, chain and boat lengths to allow you to choose the rest of the components accordingly. Depending on your need, you’d either change your anchor setup to suit the winch or buy a new one to suit your current anchor setup.
Likewise, you also need to pay attention to the links in the chains. Regular and long link chains aren’t suitable for anchor windlasses. The right grade and size of chain is needed to ensure it’s compatibility with the gypsy. In case of mismatch, you might need to deal with chainwheel problems such as the chain getting jammed.
An anchor winch is a necessity for boats carrying anchors that are too heavy to retrieve by hand. Skippers of small-sized boats usually have the choice to either lift the anchor themselves or let an anchor winch do the work for them. Some of the benefits that anchor winches provide are:
When in the waters, you might experience situations where you need to pull the anchor and leave in a hurry. Weather conditions can change rapidly or an approaching vessel are two of the many reasons you might need to retrieve the anchor and leave quickly. With winch anchors, there are also less chances of falling overboard and injuring yourself.
Anchors tend to be very heavy with some weighing 30,000 pounds and above. This makes them very difficult to pull manually. An anchor winch relieves you of the hassle of having to pull the weight manually, and operating one is as simple as pushing a button to set and retrieve.
If you need to lay and pull your anchor manually, you probably wouldn’t be able to move fishing spots very often. An anchor winch allows you to move the boat with less time and exertion.
The most commonly available types of anchor winches include but are not limited to:
The rope and chain with these types of winches rotate over a winch that is in a horizontal position. While a winch wraps around the chainwheel, this anchor winch retrieves the anchor rod and stores it in an anchor storage locker.
Also known as a vertical windlass, this type of winch stands in an upright position and works to rotate the anchor line horizontally around it. Capstan anchor winches feature a 180 degree wrap of the anchor rode around the chainwheel.
This type of anchor winch stores all the chain and rope on a drum, which makes it suitable for vessels that don’t come with a storage locker to gather the chain and rope in it. This type of winch works by pressing a button on the dashboard. With these types of winches, only a limited length of rope and chain can be contained with the drum. For added length, you can utilize a rope that is thinner and has a higher breaking strain. This will let you store more rope on the drum.
An anchor winch is a machine that is used to manipulate and restrain the anchor chain on a boat. It also allows you to release or pull the anchor with the help of a chain cable.
Yes, there are several anchor winches available in the market that are specifically made for pontoon boats. If you aren’t sure if your anchor winch accommodates a pontoon boat, consider checking the product description prior to purchasing.
The main difference between both is that a capstan has a vertical axis whereas a windlass has a horizontal axis. As far as versatility goes, both windlass and capstan serve the same purpose and the terms are usually used interchangeably.
SAIL Magazine Review Team reports on best-selling products in sailing and boating. SAIL Magazine is reader-supported: When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Artificial Intelligence (large language models) may have been used in the research and creation of the content.
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