Best Anchor Windlass ⁠— The Key to Raising the Anchor

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If you have ever raised an anchor manually, then you know exactly how challenging it can be. It is physically exhausting even if you have a medium-size anchor, and if your anchor is too large, raising it by hand can be downright impossible. There go your chances of catching your big fish…
Perhaps a smaller anchor is going to cause no problems? Well, yes, a lightweight anchor is much simpler to raise, but even then, raising it will still make you exert some effort. You may not even notice it, not right away, but your back is going be feeling that ache for a week, give or take a few days.

That is a problem, but that is a problem an anchor windlass is designed to help you with.

Let us tell you right away, you have myriads of options available to you, including do-it-yourself anchor windlasses. What you need to realize is that an anchor windlass is not going to work wonders if you choose — or, for that matter — a windlass that is far from the best fit for your anchor or boat. Also, let’s not forget about the other components of the anchoring system. While a windlass is an essential part of it, it is not the only part. A windlass cannot help you if you have a faulty road or if Your anchor digs into the rocky bottom so deep that it is effectively stuck. If you get a windlass and anchor that, combined, are volumes above what your boat can handle, the windlass is more likely to break or even sink your boat than it is to get that anchor out of the ground. A windlass should never be used to break the anchor free, no matter how powerful. Its primary purpose is to raise the anchor.

Anyways, it’s better to have an anchor that is easy to extract in the first place. If you buy a heavy anchor, make sure it is easy to free.

The important thing is to make sure the windlass strength is comparable to that of the other components of your anchoring system. There is no point in buying a windlass that is more powerful than any other element, but at the same time, it should never become the weak link; otherwise, you risk losing the anchor.

By no means are the things I’ve just listed the only factors for you to consider. You need to account for many parameters, starting with the style of the boat and ending with the weather conditions. It always easy to do that in hindsight, but to make the right choice quickly and efficiently, you need some outside help. And I offer you that help in my top 5 list of the best anchor windlasses.

I do not claim any of those windlasses are the best match for your boat specifically. But they are some of the best products available, and you have specific requirements that none of those windlasses meet, you can always refer to my Buyer’s Guide to make that choice yourself. It will take you some time, but much less than you’d spend without any sort of guide.

So here it is, the list of 5 best anchor windlasses compiled for your convenience.

5 best anchor windlasses for your fishing boat

1
Five Oceans Pacific 1500 Vertical Windlass — Best Overall

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This is a vertical windlass for larger boats, from 40 to 65 feet from bow to stern. It offers a 2640 pounds pull and is perfect for heavy rode and anchor combos, but not heavier than 1067 pounds. Its 1,500 Watt motor can raise the anchor as fast as 131 feet per minute if you use the all-chain setup.

The line speed is noticeably above everything the other windlasses on this list can deliver. Even though it’s nothing mind-blowing, that can come in handy.

The motor is overpowered and not really necessary for most boats.

Rode

Rope

5/8″ in diameter

Double Braided

3 Strands

8 Plait

Chain

3/8″ HT G4 chain

Motor power

 

1.5 kW

Maximum line speed

 

131 ft/min

Maximum pull

 

2640 lbs

Working Load

 

1067 lbs

Boat length

min

40 ft

max

65 ft

Orientation

 

Vertical

Freefall

 

No

Pros
  • Offers a 2640 pounds pull
  • 1,500 Watt motor can raise the anchor as fast as 131 feet per minute if you use the all-chain setup
Cons

 

  • The motor is overpowered and not really necessary for most boats.

 

 

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2
Lewmar PRO-Fish 700 ⁠ — Cheap Horizontal Windlass

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The Lewmar 700 is a perfect windlass for everyone who likes fishing and has a boat that does not measure more than 30 feet from bow to stern. While the windlass is made for smaller boats between 23 and 30 feet in length, it can work for even smaller setups, if you choose to use a windlass rather than a winch.

But what makes it so suitable for fishing? It comes with the freefall feature, and that means you can anchor the boat in seconds after you find a shoal of fish. Meanwhile, power out windlasses will make you wait for at least a minute unless you are in shallow waters. That is critical, because you will either drift away by the time the anchor finally sets, or you’ll have to use the engine to stay put. And the constant noise from the motor can scare the fish away.

The working load is 175 pounds, which makes it ideal for relatively lightweight anchors. Of course, having a more powerful windlass would not hurt, but this one is cheaper because of its low power. Still, it’s not suitable for yanking heavy anchors.

It is ideal for boats with a small chain locker.

 

Rode

Rope

1/2″ in diameter

3 Strands

8 Plait

Chain

6mm DIN 766

7mm DIN 766

1/4″ ISO G4

1/4″ BBB

Motor power

 

500 W

Maximum line speed

 

105 ft/min

Maximum pull

 

700 lbs

Working Load

 

175 lbs

Boat length

min

23 ft

max

30 ft

Orientation

 

Horizontal

Freefall

 

Yes

Pros
  • Working load is 175 pounds. Makes it ideal for relatively lightweight anchors
  • Comes with the freefall feature. That means you can anchor the boat in seconds after you find a shoal of fish.
  • Cheaper because of its low power
Cons
  • Not suitable for yanking heavy anchors
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3
Maxwell RC8-8 — Ideal for Small Watercraft

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Before I begin, the windlass in question is not RC8-6 as the product description claims. It is obviously an RC8-8. The difference between them is that the RC8-6 is less powerful and is made for smaller boats, with its motor packing only 600 Watts. But this is a 1000W RC8-8.

As a vertical windlass, you would expect it to be quite hard to install. Fortunately, it’s not, at least, not compared to other vertical windlasses. Maxwell cares to make it easy to mount machinery, and this RC8 comes it two pieces to install above and below the deck. The installation has never been easier.

 

It is designed for medium-size boats, but it’s also suitable for smaller boats, as short as 28 feet. The working load is 440 pounds, which is more than enough for a small boat. However, fitting it on larger vessels is not the right choice.



Rode

Rope

9/16″- 5/8″ in diameter

3 Strands

8 Plait

Chain

5/16″ in diameter

Motor power

 

1 kW

Maximum line speed

 

105 ft/min

Max pull

 

1320 lbs

Working Load

 

440 lbs

Boat length

min

28 ft

max

45 ft

Orientation

 

Vertical

Freefall

 

No

Play Video
Pros
  • Working load is 440 pounds. More than enough for most lightweight boats
  • Easy installation
  • Cheaper because of its low power
Cons
  • Fitting it on large vessels can be troublesome
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4
Lewmar V700G Vertical — Best Bang for the Buck

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If you think that this is another iteration of Lewmar PRO-Fish 700, then you’re right. But unlike that windlass, this one is vertical. And that means more delightful looks, more complicated installation and a need for more spacious chain locker.

The V700G is made for a relatively small load, and it’s relatively cheaper. But you will need a large chain locker to use it. On the plus side, it supports different types of rodes. It’s a good fit for small boats.

 

Rode

Rope

5/8″ in diameter

Double Braided

3 Strands

8 Plait

Chain

1/4″ in diameter

6mm DIN766

1/4 G4

1/4 BBB

7mm DIN766

Motor power draw

 

320 W

Maximum line speed

 

82 ft/min

Maximum pull

 

700 lbs

Working Load

 

175 lbs

Boat length

min

–

max

32 ft

Orientation

 

Vertical

Freefall

 

No



Play Video
Pros
  • Good fit for small boats
  • Supports different types of rodes. Braided, double braided, chains, you got it.
  • Cheaper because of its low power
Cons

 

  • Complicated installation
  • Large chain locker needed
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5
Five Oceans Atlantic Horizontal Windlass — Most Versatile Horizontal Windlass

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If you have a small boat and a heavy anchor, this is a windlass for you. It is especially handy if you don’t have enough space in the chain locker.

It’s a horizontal windlass, which means installing it won’t be a problem. Besides, the windlass is designed for boats as short as just 16 feet, and not many windlass manufacturers make such a bold claim. Unfortunately, anything other than a small boat isn’t compatible with this windlass.



Rode

Rope

1/2″ in diameter

Double Braided

3 Strands

8 Plait

Chain

1/4″ in diameter

HT G4 chain

Motor power

 

600 W

Maximum line speed

 

115 ft/min

Maximum pull

 

1200 lbs

Working Load

 

550 lbs

Boat length

min

16 ft

max

32 ft

Orientation

 

Horizontal

Freefall

 

No



Pros
  • Large chain locker not needed
  • Designed for boats as short as 16 feet. Not many windlasses support them
  • Easy installation
Cons
  • Not potent enough for larger vessels
Check price on Amazon

Important Factors to Consider

These are the most critical factors you need to take into consideration before you decide what windlass to buy.What do I mean by “important factors”? It’s all the factors that may prevent safe usage of the windlass if you buy it without accounting for them. At best, you won’t be able to use it at all, at worst, it may be dangerous.Anyway, here are the 3 most important things you have to keep in mind before you commit to a purchase.

Size

The size of the boat is probably the most critical factor when it comes to the windlass, the anchor, and the road. Depending on the size of the boat, you need different types of windlass.While most critical, it is quite a simple problem to solve.First, a windlass can recover a certain weight, it is usually referred to in the product description. Some people make the mistake of only accounting for the anchor’s weight when the rode’s weight can contribute to their combined weight sufficiently, mainly if you use a chain rode.Second, you don’t want your windlass to be too heavy. But how heavy is too heavy?If your boat is a lot shorter than 30 feet, just stop pondering over that problem. Get the smallest windlass, and you’re good to go.You see, windlasses for boats shorter than 30 feet are simply not manufactured, except perhaps tailor-made. That means, most of my readers can just skip to the next item.“But wait, what if want extra power to break that anchor free if it’s trapped?“I advise that you don’t, ever. You have your engine, use that instead. The engine of any motorboat is way more potent than a windlass. Even a trolling motor is more powerful, so you can get the anchor freed in no time when you use the engine. If you can’t do that with your engine, then a windlass stands no chance.In fact, you don’t even need a windlass specifically if you have a small boat. Consider using a winch instead. It’s a far more optimal choice for small boats than a windlass, and most owners of small boats go for that option.
The Difference Between Windlass and Winches
They have many subtle distinctions, but the most noticeable difference is that a windlass does not store the rode. A winch, on the other hand, includes a spool or drum that is used for storing it or is otherwise attached to it.Some expert boaters may claim that my explanation is not entirely correct or too simplistic. I won’t argue against that claim. Some people don’t make any distinction between the two anchor lifting devices, and some may point out a few other differences I never brought up. That’s fine, confusion is quite common and expected when it comes to winches and windlasses. A lot of windlasses are made by Powerwinch, and the name is quite confusing in the context.It just so happens that even expert boaters do not have a unified opinion on this matter. But, generally, the spool for storing the rode is what sets them apart for many people. Besides, I’m not done just yet.The other difference is that even most basic powered windlass can haul at least a few hundred pounds. That kind of power is overkill for a small collapsible boat, and with the average price of a windlass, a winch sounds like a preferable alternative.But of course, if your boat is even a tad larger, you can always turn that extra power to your advantage. If you use a windlass rather than a winch, you can be sure it’ll raise your anchor as fast as possible. With a winch, you have to be somewhat careful or risk burning the engine if the anchor is stuck. Not that you can’t do that with a windlass, but the problem must be an order of magnitude more severe for you to burn its motor.If your boat is longer than 30’, then you definitely need a windlass. You can still use a winch for things like fishnets, but for paying out a rode with a 500-pound anchor windlass is the only viable solution.

Type of Rode

This one is a lot trickier. When you use a winch, you don’t have to worry about recovering the rode, because it is just spun on the spool. A windlass has a more complicated design. It leads the rode in and out of the so-called “chain locker.” That locker has a lot more storing space than any drum, but that is beside the point. The main problem is the gypsy of the windlass because it is what does the leading. Jamming is not uncommon, and it can be caused by a multitude of reasons.You can use three types of rode: rope, all-chain, and chain rope. Out of the three, the latter one is likely to cause most problems if set up inappropriately. It is not unusual for the mechanism to jam on the rope to chain splice. If there’s a shackle between them, well, no windlass will be able to handle that. All-rope and all-chain rodes and not free of problems. They can still jump the gypsy because they are not a good fit for the windlass.Each windlass is designed to work with the rope of a certain width and chain of a specific type. As with the weight, windlasses are sold with clear instructions that indicate the preferable anchor rode or chain. You should either make sure your rode matches or simply buy the rode when you buy the windlass.

Vertical or Horizontal

Windlasses come in two styles: vertical and horizontal. What is the difference?A vertical windlass looks a lot tidier because the only thing you can see when it’s working is the rode and the gypsy that resembles a roller with its axis perpendicular to the sea surface. The motor is hidden under the deck.A horizontal windlass is much easier to install, and it is perfect for boats with small chain lockers, as it needs less “fall.” The gypsy’s axis is parallel to the sea surface. However, a horizontal windlass should be installed very precisely, because the rode must be in line with the gypsy.

Features You May Want Remote Control

Some may call such a function extravagant, but its importance cannot be denied. If your boat is long enough, running from the cabin to the bow to lower or recover the anchor is going to grow wearying quite soon. But if you can lower or raise the anchor with a push of a button, that’s a lot more convenient.Remote control does not mean wireless control. In most cases, remote control of the windlass is wired, if provided at all.  At the same time, I can see how wireless control specifically would be useful: it would allow for controlling the windlass remotely without tedious installation and mounting the wires.

Freefall

It is an extra feature, all right, but it is one that can be very important. Windlasses come in two types: “power out” or “free fall.” With power out windlasses, the anchor is only lowered if the gypsy is rotating. “Freefall” windlasses allow the anchor to fall to the sea bed unhindered. It is more important than it sounds. Depending on the depth, it can take the anchor minutes to hit the sea bed. That kind of delay can be unacceptable when it comes to anchoring. In three minutes, a boat can drift a few cable’s lengths.

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