Anchor Windlass Guide: Vertical vs Horizontal and How to Size One

An anchor windlass saves your back and makes anchoring something you do from the bow or even from the helm instead of a chore. The choice comes down to three things: whether the windlass is vertical or horizontal, which rode it has to handle, and how much pull your boat needs. This guide walks through each one using the manufacturer specifications for the Lewmar, Maxwell and Powerwinch windlasses we carry.

The short answer

• Deep anchor locker and a clean foredeck: a vertical windlass such as the Lewmar V700 or the Maxwell RC series, with the motor hidden below deck.
• Shallow locker or no room under the deck: a horizontal windlass such as the Lewmar Pro-Series or the Maxwell HRC10, installed completely above deck.
• Anchoring over wrecks and ledges to fish: an automatic freefall windlass such as the Lewmar Pro-Fish or a Powerwinch helm-operated model.
• Rope only, for pots and lines: a capstan such as the Powerwinch Capstan 1000.

Whichever type you choose, the windlass has to match your rode exactly: the chain size and the rope diameter it is built for are part of the model, not an option.

Vertical vs horizontal windlasses

A vertical windlass keeps only the gypsy (the chainwheel) and the capstan above deck, while the gearbox and motor hang below deck inside the anchor locker. The Maxwell RC series installs in two pieces, with a spacer tube that adapts it to almost any deck thickness, and the Lewmar V700 uses a flush mount design in 316 stainless steel. The trade-off is space: you need enough depth under the deck for the motor and enough fall for the rode to drop into the locker.

A horizontal windlass sits entirely on deck. Maxwell describes the HRC10 as a two-part watertight case that holds the motor and drive above deck, saving space below, with a simple bolt down installation and routine maintenance done on deck. Lewmar builds its Pro-Series and Pro-Sport models the same way. That makes horizontal units the usual choice for center consoles, walkarounds and boats with a shallow anchor locker.

Sizing a windlass: rode, pull and boat length

Rode first. Most recreational boats use a rope and chain rode: a length of chain spliced to nylon rope. The windlass gypsy is made for one chain size and one rope diameter, for example 1/4″ chain with 1/2″ rope, 5/16″ chain with 5/8″ rope, or 3/8″ chain with 5/8″ rope. Check your rode before you look at anything else.

Then pull. Maximum pull is what the windlass can lift for a short time, not what it should work at all day. A common rule of thumb is to choose a maximum pull of at least three times the combined weight of the anchor and the rode.

Then boat length. Lewmar publishes a maximum boat length for each model, which is a good check once the rode and pull match.

All of these run on 12 volts DC. Pull figures and boat lengths come from each manufacturer’s specifications; where the manufacturer does not publish a number, the table says so.

Lewmar vs Maxwell

Lewmar covers the smaller and mid-size boats most of our customers run. The Pro-Sport 550G is the economical option, with an aluminum center case, a 150 W motor and manual freefall. The Pro-Series is housed in 316 stainless steel and has push-button control and a built-in manual emergency recovery. The V700 is the vertical option, with built-in motor protection and a fail-safe anchor lock.

Maxwell goes further up in size. The RC series is a fully automatic rope and chain windlass in 316 stainless steel or chromed bronze, and Maxwell fits it with its patented Wave Design chainwheel, which grips the rope in a wave pattern instead of jamming it, handles the rope to chain splice and is gentler on the rope. Most RC and HRC models use a cone clutch for manual free fall, with a handle for emergency crank recovery. Maxwell lists a three year limited warranty on the RC10 and HRC10-8.

Freefall windlasses for fishing

A freefall windlass lets the anchor drop on its own instead of being powered down, so you can pull up over a wreck or a ledge and set the anchor in the right spot. The Lewmar Pro-Fish 700 and Pro-Fish 1000 have an automatic freefall and a Pro-Guard plate that keeps the rope from jumping out or snagging, and Lewmar notes they also suit stern installation, since you do not need to reach the windlass to drop or retrieve the anchor.

Powerwinch builds its helm-operated free-fall windlasses by boat class: 36′, 41′ and 46′. Powerwinch states the free-fall system anchors at up to 300 feet per minute and does not use battery power on the way down.

Rope-only winches and capstans

If you only handle rope, you do not need a chain gypsy. The Powerwinch Capstan 1000 pulls up to 1,000 lb at 40 feet per minute, takes rope up to 3/4″ and comes with a footswitch, which makes it popular for crab and lobster pots. Powerwinch is clear that chain should never be wrapped around a capstan drum. The Maxwell AnchorMax is a compact rope winch for smaller boats, rated at 850 lb maximum pull, and Maxwell does not recommend it for chain.

Wiring, switches and spare parts

A windlass draws heavy current: Maxwell lists 80 amps for the AnchorMax at a 220 lb working load. It needs its own circuit breaker, a reversing solenoid (contactor) and cable sized for the run from the battery. Kit versions include those parts; windlass-only versions do not. The Lewmar V700 and Pro-Series 700, for example, are sold both ways, so check what is in the box before you order.

For upgrades and repairs we also carry Lewmar deck foot switches (up and down), the Lewmar 12V control solenoid and a replacement windlass motor kit.

What is the difference between a vertical and a horizontal windlass?

A vertical windlass keeps only the gypsy and capstan above deck, with the motor and gearbox below deck in the anchor locker, which leaves a clean, low profile foredeck. A horizontal windlass mounts entirely above deck, so it needs little or no space below and suits boats with a shallow anchor locker. Both can handle a rope and chain rode.

What size windlass do I need for my boat?

Start with the rode: the windlass has to match your chain size and rope diameter exactly. Then pick a model whose maximum pull is at least three times the combined weight of the anchor and rode, a common rule of thumb, and check the manufacturer’s maximum boat length. For example, Lewmar rates its Pro-Series 700 for boats up to 32 feet and the Pro-Series 1000H for boats up to 38 feet.

Can one windlass handle both rope and chain?

Yes. Rope and chain windlasses such as the Maxwell RC and HRC series and the Lewmar Pro-Series use a gypsy designed to pull the chain, the rope and the splice between them. The gypsy is made for one chain size and one rope diameter, so the rode has to match the model.

What is a freefall windlass?

A freefall windlass lets the anchor drop under its own weight instead of powering it down, which is faster and lets you anchor precisely over structure. Some models, such as the Lewmar Pro-Fish, do it automatically at the push of a button; others, such as the Maxwell RC series, use a manual clutch release.

Shop anchor windlasses

See every model in our Anchors and Windlasses category, or browse by brand: Lewmar and Maxwell. Send us your boat length and the chain and rope on your rode and we will tell you which windlass fits. In Pompano Beach and across South Florida we also handle the wiring through our marine electrical installation service: call (786) 277-2596 for a quote.