What are the best inexpensive boat windlasses?
The windlass is an essential element on a mooring line. It is used to raise an anchor easily. The chain is wound up on the gypsy thanks to a motor for the electric windlasses or to the force of the arms for a manual windlass. You should also know that there are two types of electric windlass: the horizontal windlass and the vertical. You have to choose the one that best suits your boat. Once you know which type of windlass to choose for your boat, you can follow this guide to know the best cheap windlasses.
Choosing an inexpensive windlass suitable for your boat
Cheap manual or electric windlass: not just a question of price
The manual windlass is much cheaper than an electric windlass but it is not suitable for boats with a heavy anchor line.
The manual windlass is the best choice when your vessel does not have a battery or an electric charging system (so a small boat). Despite its slowness, this type of model performs its function very well: unhooking the anchor. Once the anchor is free, all you have to do is hoist it by hand.
For its part, the electric windlass is intended for boats that do fairly frequent anchorages. Depending on the length of the boat, it is possible to oversize the power to make the equipment faster and prevent it from overheating.
Choosing a cheap vertical or horizontal electric windlass?
The axis of the windlass cannot be chosen according to its price. You must indeed check the space available on the deck and the anchor locker. We recommend that you measure the height that separates the bundle of chains from the underside of the bridge. If this fall height is 40cm or more then you can opt for a vertical axis windlass. If the chain is piled up while maintaining a distance of less than 40 cm from the deck, then you have no choice but to choose a horizontal axis windlass.
The vertical electric windlass offers a better traction force as well as a better maintenance of the chain. They are also the most used.
The horizontal axis electric windlass is easier to install because everything is located on the deck. Make sure to position the equipment correctly before connecting it.
What power of electric windlass to choose?
The higher the power of a windlass, the more expensive the windlass will be.
The power of the windlass depends on the length of the chain and the weight of the anchor. To obtain it, we generally multiply the total weight of the mooring by 5. Before choosing the motor for your windlass, we advise you to carefully read our article on the power required of a boat windlass. You may therefore need a 500w, 700w, 1000w, 1200w or 1500w electric windlass.
NB: you should never choose a cheap windlass with less power than required. Of course, you save money on the purchase, but an underpowered windlass will not be able to raise your anchor.
The best cheap windlasses for boat
Now that you've determined:
- if your boat can have an electric windlass or if it has to be satisfied with a cheap manual windlass,
- if your boat has enough room in the anchor locker for a vertical electric windlass or if you need a horizontal axis windlass,
- if your boat needs power of 500W, 700W, 1000W, 1500W or 1700W.
All you have to do is choose the best cheap windlass !
Below is a comparison of the different brands of windlass according to their price.
NB:
- Always check that the windlass gypsy is the same diameter as the links of your anchor chain!
- Choose a voltage suitable for the electrical installation on your boat (12 or 24 volts).
- The doll is used to reassemble the cable. But be aware that the models without headstock are equipped with a mixed gypsy which accepts mooring lines made up of chain and cable.
Italwinch inexpensive windlasses: the best value for money
Italwinch, an Italian-made brand, was founded in 2009 by MZ Electronic. The latter, being a supplier of winches, has created, with the collaboration of ORVEA, a range of efficient and innovative winches.
Italwinch now offers a range of cheap and quality windlass to equip boats measuring up to 90 meters. The brand offers a selection of products for different types of watercraft, including motor boats, speedboats and sailboats.
Their range is represented by 5 categories of windlasses. This is particularly the case for:
- Smart Plus: In stainless steel, with or without tailstock, with a power of 1000 to 1500 W and suitable for 10 mm chains;
- Smart: with integrated hawse bar, chain counter sensor, power from 500 to 600 w, windlass chain of 6 mm or 8 mm;
- Obi;
- Devon: 1000 and 1500 W, aluminum frame with sprocket and headstock in chrome-plated bronze;
- and Giglio manual windlasses.
Italwinch is by far the brand with the best value for money on the market. We recommend their cheap windlasses to all boaters who have a low budget but want a quality product.
The best inexpensive manual windlasses from Italwinch:
- See the ITALWINCH Giglio manual windlass with headstock and a ø6 mm gypsy
- See the ITALWINCH Giglio manual windlass with headstock and a ø8 mm gypsy
The best inexpensive vertical shaft electric windlasses from Italwinch:
| Windlass make and model | Wattage | Sprocket diameter | Voltage | With or without doll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italwinch Smart | 500 W | Ø6mm | 12V | with |
| Italwinch Smart V | 500 W | Ø6mm | 12V | without |
| Italwinch Obi500 | 700 W | Ø6mm | 12V | without |
| Italwinch Smart | 700 W | Ø6mm | 12V | with |
| Italwinch Smart | 700 W | Ø8mm | 12V | with |
| Italwinch Obi500 | 700 W | Ø8mm | 12V | without |
| Italwinch Smart V | 800 W | Ø8mm | 12V | without |
| Italwinch Obi1000 | 1000 W | Ø8mm | 12V | without |
| Italwinch Smart Plus | 1000 W | Ø8mm | 12V | with |
| Italwinch Smart Plus | 1000 W | Ø8mm | 24V | with |
| Italwinch Smart Plus | 1500 W | Ø10mm | 12V | without |
| Italwinch Obi1400 | 1500 W | Ø8mm | 24V | without |
| Italwinch Obi1400 | 1500 W | Ø10mm | 24V | without |
| Italwinch Smart Plus | 1500 W | Ø10mm | 24V | with |
| Italwinch Smart Plus | 1700 W | Ø10mm | 24V | without |
Italwinch's best inexpensive horizontal shaft electric windlasses
| Windlass make and model | Wattage | Sprocket diameter | Voltage | With or without doll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italwinch Devon | 1000 W | Ø8mm | 12V | with |
| Italwinch Devon | 1000 W | Ø10mm | 24V | with |
| Italwinch Devon | 1500 W | Ø10mm | 12V | with |
| Italwinch Devon | 1500 W | Ø8mm | 24V | with |
| Italwinch Devon | 1500 W | Ø10mm | 24V | with |
The rather expensive windlasses from Lewmar and Lofrans: the reliability of the big brands
The Lewmar and Lofrans brands are renowned around the world. Their products are a guarantee of quality, performance and safety. However the price of their windlasses is much higher… If you have enough budget, Lewmar and Lofrans windlasses will give you satisfaction for many years to come.
The best manual windlass from Lofrans:
The best fairly expensive electric vertical shaft windlasses from Lofrans and Lewmar:
| Windlass make and model | Wattage | Sprocket diameter | Voltage | With or without doll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lofrans Dorado | 500 W | Ø6mm | 12V | without |
| Lofrans Dorado | 700 W | Ø8mm | 12V | without |
| Lofrans Kobra | 1000 W | Ø8mm | 12V | with |
| Lewmar VX1 | 300 W | Ø6-7mm | 12V | without |
| Lewmar VX1 | 500 W | Ø8mm | 12V | without |
| Lewmar VX2 | 700 W | Ø8mm | 12V | without |
| Lewmar VX1L | 800 W | Ø8mm | 12V | without |
| Lewmar VX2 | 1000 W | Ø8mm | 12V | without |
| Lewmar VX2 | 1000 W | Ø8mm | 24V | without |
The best fairly expensive electric windlasses with horizontal axis from Lewmar:
| Windlass make and model | Wattage | Sprocket diameter | Voltage | With or without doll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewmar Pro-1000 Series | 700 W | Ø6mm | 12V | without |
| Lewmar VX2 | 700 W | Ø8mm | 12V | without |
| Lewmar VX2 | 700 W | Ø8mm | 12V | with |
| Lewmar VX1L | 800 W | Ø8mm | 12V | without |
| Lewmar VX2 | 1000 W | Ø8mm | 24V | with |
| Lewmar VX3 | 1500 W | Ø8mm | 12V | without |
| Lewmar VX3 | 1500 W | Ø10mm | 12V | without |
The very expensive windlasses from Maxwell Marine: the top of the range for your mooring line
Maxwell Marine is a New Zealand company specializing in windlasses. Their range is suitable for all boats: pleasure boats, semi-rigid, super-yachts and even commercial vessels. For more than 50 years, the brand has been developing high-performance, but also very aesthetic products. Maxwell understands that boat owners not only want equipment that works perfectly, but products that look great on deck as well. This brand is the top of the range for windlasses. If aesthetics are a priority, then choose Maxwell. Otherwise Lewmar and Lofrans are of the same quality and their windlasses are cheaper.
The best very expensive electric horizontal axis windlasses from Maxwell Marine:
| Windlass make and model | Wattage | Sprocket diameter | Voltage | With or without doll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxwell HRC 6 | 600 W | Ø6mm | 12V | without |
| Maxwell HRC 8 | 600 W | Ø8mm | 12V | without |
| Maxwell HRC 10-8 | 1000 W | Ø8mm | 12V | with |
| Maxwell RC 10-8 | 1000 W | Ø8mm | 12V | without |
| Maxwell HRC 10-10 | 1200 W | Ø10mm | 12V | with |
Our opinion on the best cheap windlasses
The best windlass is not necessarily the cheapest. It is the one that adapts to your needs and that of your boat or sailboat. To choose this rigging equipment well, you must first of all take the trouble to know the characteristics of your vessel. This will determine the engine power required and the type of model (horizontal or vertical).
Then to choose between the different manufacturers of windlass, the budget and the reputation of the brand are decisive choices for many sailors. The choice is made by personal preferences:
- Lofrans windlasses are certainly the most famous and the most used.
- Lewmar windlasses are loved by many sailors because a big brand like Lewmar will be able to service from all over the world.
- Maxwell windlasses are the highest of the range and the most aesthetic.
- the cheap Italwinch windlasses are the best value for money in view of the performances displayed.
The best accessories for cheap windlass
You can purchase a foot switch and install it flat on the deck. It is the most efficient for maneuvers.
If you want to control your cheap windlass remotely, you have the choice between wired or wireless remote controls:
- See the Italwinch remote control
- See the Lofrans remote control
- See the Lofrans wireless remote control
- See the Quick wireless remote control
Also, in order not to damage the windlass gears, never leave the chain on the gypsy during the wetting operation. We recommend the use of a hook connected to an anchor damper, itself connected to a mooring line with splice. The mooring is then stretched over one or more cleats until the chain tension on the gypsy is removed.
- See hooks for anchor chain ø 6 to 8 mm or ø 10 to 12mm
- See the best anchor shock absorber
- See mooring lines with ø 10, 12, 14, 16, 20 or 24 mm splices
To increase the life of your sprocket, you must change the chain links that are too worn or rusted. For this, there are chain links to rivet. It is advisable to always have a few on board (of the diameter corresponding to your chain) as well as a rivet pliers and rivets.
- See a good rivet pliers and these rivets
- See rivet links for ø 6 mm anchor chain
- See rivet links for ø 8 mm anchor chain
- See rivet links for ø 10 mm anchor chain
- See rivet links for ø 12 mm anchor chain
We advise you to use the riveted links above because they have breaking loads equivalent to or even greater than that of the original links. In addition, their dimensions in mm correspond exactly to those of anchor chains. Thus, you are sure to have a quality link that will not get caught on your gypsy.
Finally, we recommend that you always have a maintenance kit for your windlass on board. You have to choose the kit corresponding to your model. You will find many pieces on Amazon, Ebay et Ticketmaster in order to leave with peace of mind!
Finally, once you have purchased a cheap windlass suitable for your boat, don't forget to maintain it properly! You must grease it with suitable marine grease every 2 months if you are sailing or at the end of each season before wintering. Must also check the oil level from time to time and change it every two years (use only SAE 80W-90 oil for your windlass). For more information on the maintenance cycles of a windlass, you can read our article: How to clean a windlass on a boat?
How to create a suitable mooring line for your cheap windlass?
Your anchorage is not just a cheap windlass. All the elements of the mooring line must be adapted to each other to work in harmony. We have just seen that the windlass must adapt to the size of the anchor locker. But that's not all ! The davit must adapt to the anchor, the chain to the windlass, the swivel to the anchor to the cable, etc ... Otherwise, you will quickly encounter problems. It is therefore imperative to choose all the elements of your mooring line. We explain everything in our article: how to make an appropriate mooring line for your boat?
