What windlass best for 24 super sport?

[jpaul72]

Im new to this site and a new owner of a 24 super sport, Im interedted in a descent windlass for the boat since when the family and I go boating I am the only one on board(or so its seems). Can anyone give me some advise one what type and style, what size and capacity,and what to look for in a windlass. Thanks!

[seabob4]

We use Lewmar V700 windlasses.  Excellent windlass, but look at Maxwell, as well as Quick, an Italian maker.  Both good windlasses also.  Used Maxwell at Wellcraft, and have installed a number of Quicks on my customers boats.

Size the windlass to the chain size on your rode.  3/8" or 1/2" chain is plenty for a 24.  I think vertical or horizontal is a matter of choice, not so much one being better than the other.  It's probably best to choose one that has the motor above the deck as opposed to below, as the motor can eat up space in the anchor locker.

Also keep in mind the length of your rode.  As the rode "falls" into the locker, it wants to stack up upon itself, which results in a pile of line.  As the pile grows taller, the windlass will stop retrieving as the length of the fall is not great enough to maintain the momentum needed to keep the line falling.

[a7ewizard]

Hi JPaul:

Welcome to the site! While I don't have a windlass on my 24SS, I have had a Horizon 500 on my 251 for the past 11+ years.

Lewmar bought out Simpson a few years ago. The Lewmar Pro Sport 550 specs out identically to the Horizon 500. The physical dimensions are a bit smaller but the pulling power, amps, etc are the same. I have a new Pro Sport 550 on order...It was shipped yesterday. If you wait a couple of weeks, I will be able to give you a tested opinion.

Frankly, I wore out the Horizon 500. The fiberglass gypsey (metal on the PS 550 )is worn to the point that it will no longer grip the 1/2 inch anchor line and the brake slips. I have anchored hundreds of times in strong currents (SF Bay) and this machine has taken alot of abuse over the years. I never felt that I needed a more powerful windlass....so I am buying a comparable replacement. If your anchoring requirements dictate deep reef fishing or currents greater than about 3 knots, than an upgrade may be desired. My normal fishing spots are in 30 feet or less.
I bought the windlass with new chain and rode online from Boaterland Marine.


Warren
P.S> Post your comments about you 24SS on the Models section!

[jpaul72]

Thanks wizzard. I will do my homework on these windlass. My normal anchor conditions are in the gulf of mexico around clearwater and caladesi island for the family to hang out on the beaches and 30-50 feet of water out fishing.

[seabob4]

jp,
Then you might recognize this location, just down the ICW from Marker 1 Marina in Dunedin.


I work on a customers 32 Express that he keeps there.  Need me to take a look at your 24, even do the windlass install, let me know, I'm just up 19 in Weekie Wachee.

[jpaul72]

Hey Bob, I spend alot of time on the water Between 3 rooker and Clearwater pass, I keep the boat at a marina in Tarpon during the season and on the trailer Nov-March. Bought it at Sunray Marine last month , great experience I had there. I would definatley be interested in letting you crawl through the boat and giving me some pointers and opionions. And yes when I Get the windlass I will have you install it, im sure the side work in this economy is good for someone of your experience. I didnt notice any pre wire for the hoist, so let me know what you charge for the install so I can factor it in to windlass budget. Also, do you think that anchor locker will hold 300' of 1/2" rope and chain? Let me know, I live in New Port Richey and can Be there in an Hour with boat in tow when im ready.

[seabob4]

jp,
Was down in NPR this morn, Floramar and 19. to inspect a 251.  Where are you at?  You don't have to drag her up here, I'll just come down there, no big deal.

Remember, with a windlass install, you need to factor in at least 6GA, preferably 4GA cables running from the batt all the way forward, a 50A breaker that protects the 12V+ cable, a solenoid, and a helm switch.

If you want to go with the Lewmar, let me get back to work on Monday to see if we have a kit in stock, which includes the windlass, switch, and solenoid.  My price for install will be $300.  I'm betting the windlass kit and cableing will come in at about $850, probably a bit less.

PM me if you want it done.  First, I have to see if we have some on the shelf in the stockroom. If we do, I'd grab it.  These days, we only order parts when we need them for a production boat.  So, if there are no production boats that call for a windlass on the schedule, it's a real b!tch to get something ordered that we aren't building, if you get my drift...

Bob

[jpaul72]

Hey Bob, I will want to do this late January-Febuary 2010. Christmas has bitten into my wallet. Question, the captaion who had taken my wife and I out for our demo(Steve in the service dept at sunray) made a suggestion to me about a windlass. He mentioned I might look for one that has free fall down because it uses less battery and wears less on the windlass to drop the anchor. It made sence to me and was wondering your thoughts since the Lenmar 700 didnt have freefall on it? Being new to off-shore boating I will more than likely take your recomemdation,(you seem to really know what your talking about and I am a realist and apprecite that.) and was curious to that option. Does that time frame work for for you for an install? Also, will the anchor locker hold 300' of rope and chain with a windlass?
 thanks. Jim

[seabob4]

Jim,
Thanks for the name!  Now, as far as a freefall version is concerned, you can get the 700 Profish, but we have installed exactly 1 in my almost 4 years at Proline.  I probably might agree with Steve on saving wear and tear and also battery drain, but the majority of windlasses (probably 98%) are power up/power down. 

Then you have to think about the fishing grounds here on the gulf coast.  Most of the time, say 15-20 offshore, you'll be fishing in 30' of water, probably trolling over a reef or ledge.  Find a hot spot with schools of baitfish over the reef, and you'll see action. Drop anchor and try to fish it steady, the schools will dissappear and the grouper will go back into their hidey-holes, the snapper will keep there mouths shut.  We troll or drift over productive spots until the bite is gone, then move on to the next spot.  Therefore, anchoring really doesn't come into play, whether it's free fall or power down.

The usual time we use an anchor is when we just want to be on the hook, kicking back, and doing whatever.  That is usually near shore, where you are in no more than 15-20' of water.  Which leads us to the next question.  300' of rode?  Given a 7:1 scope, in 20' of water, you would need 140', 30' of water, 210'.  We don't see 100' of water until 50-60 miles out, and 300' will be out at the shelf, 100+ miles due west of Tampa.

Hope this has been of some help.  As far as the 24 SS anchor locker accomodating 300' of 1/2" rope and chain?  I have no idea.  Our standard is 150', including 15' of chain.  But you can try to cram it all in there... 

[jpaul72]

O.K. Point taken. 150' would be plenty! I have the philosophy better have and not need than need and not have, so from time to time I over think extreme situations, 300' of anchor line may fall into that since I will not be taking a 24' boat 100 miles out.  Great info on the windlass by the way. Are you still interested in installing it?

[seabob4]

Jim,
I'd love to do the install.  Checked the stockroom today, we have 1 kit in stock, but we also have a 35 due to build first of January that may take up that 1.  Let me check with Donzi and see what they have.  If they have a few, I can probably get a kit shipped up to our plant.

[jpaul72]

O.K. Bob, sounds good. If donzi has the windlass will the price be competitive as to what I would pay myself or will there be a markup? Also when do I need to pay for the windlass and will the kit come with everything to install it? Thanks Bob.

[seabob4]

Jim,
This is the windlass we install, sorry about my confusion on the V700 and the Pro Series 700.

http://www.lewmar.com/cms/assets/1/Literature/B10490%20Iss2%20Pro%20Series-Fish_English.pdf

My price is the whole shebang including cableing AND the windlass solenoid.  You'll notice the 1000 model shows a solenoid, whereas the 700 doesn't.  We use a solenoid, and, as a matter of fact, I have never installed a windlass, regardless of manufacturer, without one.

There would be no markup, that is your cost.

[jpaul72]

Must have missed the the total cost Bob. Parts and labor that is.

[seabob4]

Jim,
Parts, $850.  Labor, $300.  $1150 total.  I'll PM you on kit contents.

Bob

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