Anchor Windlasses
As boat size increases, the size of their anchors tends to increase as well. At some point manually hauling in an anchor ceases to be an option, and boaters consider installing a windlass. Whether manual or motor driven, windlasses make anchor retrieval relatively simple and worry free. Manual windlasses are available as either lever-type (back and forth motion) or vertical axis (a circular winch-grinding motion). Lever-type windlasses are generally single speed, and vertical models, like sheet winches, have two speeds: a fast, low-power gear for light loads, and a slower speed with higher power for heavier loads. Electric windlasses haul ground tackle aboard with a touch of a button or a step on a pedal. Most are available with remote controls for operation from the helm or elsewhere on the boat, and nearly all offer a self-tailing feature which takes in the slack as the line is fake tan hauled in and feeds it into the locker below deck. The pulling power required from a windlass is generally three times the unloaded weight of the anchor and chain, but most experts recommend figuring four times the unloaded weight as a safety factor when anchoring in rocky areas or in adverse conditions. Horizontal or Vertical Although personal taste plays a part in choosing either a horizontal or vertical style windlass, much of the decision is by necessity based on the boat?s size and layout. The size and configuration of the foredeck, chain locker and forepeak dictate much of the criteria. Horizontal windlasses are generally used on smaller boats with limited under-deck space. Very large yacht windlasses and most manual windlasses are also horizontal. The windlass is fitted directly over the hawse pipe and positioned in line with the bow roller to ensure a fair lead.