Pulling power
Adding some mechanical assistance up at the bow is a very common upgrade on older boats. And even for a new boat, it’s good to understand the dynamics of a powered windlass to ensure it suits your intended ground tackle and cruising plans.
The first and often most baffling question is whether to opt for a windlass that works on a horizontal or a vertical axis – or as some in the business term refer to it, ‘ferris wheel’ or ‘carousel’.
Luckily this is mainly a question of the available space on and under the foredeck.
With a standard vertical windlass, the motor and gearbox assembly is mounted out of sight and out of the way under the deck. The motor can usually be offset to one side or the other for a better fit. And the way the chain feeds round the gypsy and into the chain pipe means that a vertical windlass grips more links of the chain simultaneously, giving a more secure lift.
Boats with limited space in the anchor locker may only suit a horizontal windlass, while some classics prefer the look. Here, the motor and gears are all housed in the deck unit, leaving more room for stowing chain below. Being higher off the deck, a horizontal model may offer a cleaner run of chain or rode over a high
