Prior to cruising, Dave and I saw an electric windlass as something nice to have, but not essential. After ten years — actually we came to this conclusion after just one year — we see an electric windlass as a major safety feature on a cruising boat.
Both of our boats came with an electric windlass and I understand that they are pricey and that wiring can be challenging. At the same time, I’ll argue that it’s money well spent.
Without an Electric Windlass
Cruisers without an electric windlass tend to anchor in shallower water and often use less scope so that it will be easier to retrieve their anchor. This combination means that they:
- are more likely to drag anchor (being on short scope);
- have less time to react before being aground (since they anchored closer to shore); and
- will have a harder time and take longer to re-anchor, especially in deteriorating conditions.
When we were cruising in the Sea of Cortez, we knew of two boats that were lost due to this combination of factors, and several others that were damaged as they bumped the bottom.
Benefits of an Electric Windlass
One benefit of having an electric windlass is that it is relatively easy to re-anchor if you decide that you don’t like the spot you’ve picked after you’ve let the required scope out and can see where you’re sitting. Our rule is that we’re not anchored until we’re both comfortable with where and how we’re anchored. If one of us is a little nervous, it’s not good — we won’t be relaxed, won’t be enjoying ourselves and won’t get a good night’s sleep. And despite ten year’s experience in choosing our anchoring spot, sometimes we still feel the need to move a little after seeing how we lie.
We are also much more willing to move in response to changing conditions. Last summer in the Bahamas, a squall approached as we were in a tight anchorage between Leaf and Allen’s Cays. The wind shifted 90 degrees and put our boat closer to the beach than we were comfortable with. It took us less than 10 minutes to move about 100 feet — and thus it was feasible to do so before the squall actually hit.
The Problems with No Windlass
Obviously, having no windlass is the worst scenario as it is almost impossible to hand pull an anchor as winds build and white caps start forming in the anchorage. Injuries also become extremely likely . . . nasty things like broken bones, crushed fingers, and wrenched backs. Hand-pulling an anchor in a 40-knot squall with 2-foot waves is virtually impossible even if you try to motor up on the anchor as the wind will keep blowing the bow off and rip the rode out of the puller’s hands.
Even in calm conditions, hand pulling an anchor is tough work and not something that most of us want to do every day. On our Tayana 37, I could not have hand pulled our 66-pound anchor; if I absolutely had to, I probably could pull the 35-pounder on our current boat but it would be a very long and slow process. Even if Dave were willing to hand pull the anchor routinely, our rule is that we both have to be able to do everything on board in case the other one is sick or injured. An electric windlass makes it so that I can pull the anchor.
Manual Windlass
A manual windlass is definitely better than no windlass, and even has some advantages over an electric. But electrics also have their advantages.
The primary advantage is a manual windlass is they are less expensive and simpler to install as there is no wiring.
In general, manual windlasses are slower than electric ones — the exact speed difference depends on the two models being compared. That can be important in deteriorating conditions.
Manual windlasses are somewhat safer than electric: not that you can’t catch a finger or piece of clothing in one, but they can be stopped faster.
Manual windlasses aren’t susceptible to electrical gremlins, but they still have to be maintained to work properly.
Finally, manual windlasses are tough to use if you are single-handing — or effectively single-handing due to an illness or injury. While an electric windlass can be wired to use it from the helm (both of ours have been), you must be up on the bow to operate a manual windlass. It’s tough to motor up to the anchor and then run forward, pull up part of the rode as the boat drifts back, run back and motor back up, etc. Again, this can be a big problem if conditions are deteriorating, with winds and waves increasing.
Bottom Line
Dave and I firmly believe that an electric windlass is important for safety — anchoring a little further from shore, using more scope, moving if you don’t like where you are or if conditions change and also so that everyone aboard can raise the anchor if need be.
While we prefer an electric to a manual windlass, there are some advantages to a manual one and some will find them a better fit for their needs. Just also be aware of the cons and realize the tradeoffs you’re making.
Whichever way you go, your back will thank you!
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Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Dorothy Rogers Marusak says
I’m curious. … on our Gemini, the windlass is mounted forward of the chain locker. And the chain tends to pile up unless I tail it coming in. Did you relocate yours? And by putting it there, does it eliminate the pile up?
The Boat Galley says
This is where the previous owner installed ours. And no, it doesn’t prevent the pile up . . . and it’s a pain to open the locker with the chain coming across it. We have to pull some extra chain to have slack, put the chain lock on, then open the locker and redistribute . . .
Becky says
How do you know how much scope you have out? — we painted our chain different colors for different depths, but the action of winching wears off the paint eventually. Flag-tabs : could they catch in the winch parts?
Carolyn Shearlock says
Ours have never caught. Also, if you “etch” the chain with vinegar before painting, the paint stays on much better:
https://theboatgalley.com/marking-your-anchor-chain/
Geoff McClure says
We current have an SL manual but will soon be installing a Lofrans Tigres for that very reason. The SL works just fine and it consumes only manpower but we do make decisions based on retrieval and it does concern me if we ever needed to move in a hurry and in less than ideal circumstances.
The Boat Galley says
🙂
Susan Kam says
Totally agree! We had only a manual windlass on our current boat, a 37’ Gulfstar sloop, several years ago. We were trying to anchor in Boot Cove on Saturna Island in BC during a very windy evening. The anchor would not set after 3 tries of pulling up the anchor, moving, trying to reset. My husband had blisters on his hands and could not do it even one more time. Fortunately we were able to go around the corner to the dock and spend the night, where weirdly it was absolutely calm! Not sure what we would have done if the dock hadn’t been available. Probably motored to some place else and missed visiting with our friends. We installed an electric windlass right after that trip. It can also be deployed from the cockpit enabling John to singlehand when he wants to.
Rory Stewart says
Good, succinct summary!
Dan N Jaye says
The combination of being willing to put out more chain, and being willing to move if you don’t like the spot you’re in, are both excellent reasons for an electric windlass. You forgot one other benefit…we’ve happily put an oversize anchor on out boat, knowing that “Tiger” (our nickname for our Lofrans Tigres) will be doing the heavy lifting, and not my back! Our anchor is rated for a 45 foot boat even though we’re only a 33. In two different situations we have held ourselves, plus another unattended boat bigger than us that dragged in a squall, because of that. Safety all around!
The Boat Galley says
That is another really good point.
Amy Domaratzki says
Carolyn,
I’m planning on installing a Lewmar windlass on my Gem this spring. Would you mind taking a picture of the underside of the windlass so I can see how the glass is reinforced to take the load when using the windlass?
Harland Harris says
I installed a Lewmar V3 on my 41′ ketch. It had a vertical capstan for pulling into dock against wind or tide. It could also be good for retrieving sea anchor gear. With 55 lb anchor and 200′ chain, hand pulling the rode was impossible. Next time, I will put a battery very near the windlass to avoid long run of $$$ heavy cable.