A windlass is an equipment that allows you to anchor - the chain and anchor aboard your boat. Once manual (requiring a lot of physical effort), today it is essentially electric. Indeed, the price difference between a manual and electric windlass being so insignificant, that the market only sells electric windlasses.
A windlass is therefore composed of an electric motor and a gear box to increase the force. The windlass is therefore connected to a battery to supply it with electricity.
Horizontal or vertical?
The position of the windlass motor can be on deck or hidden under the deck. If the engine is on deck, it is called a horizontal windlass. Indeed, in this case, the sprocket (the star wheel on which the chain is wound) is fixed on the axis of the motor which is horizontal.
If the motor is below deck, the sprocket is flat on deck and the motor shaft is vertical. This is called a vertical windlass.
A question of space and look
The choice of one type or the other of windlass depends on the configuration of the bow of the boat. Everything depends on the space you have to install the windlass.
A vertical windlass is more aesthetic because only the sprocket projects over the deck. Manufacturers are incorporating this data on current boats and plan to install this type of windlass.
If the anchor locker does not have room for a vertical anchor windlass, a horizontal model visible on deck is sufficient.
On some large boats (on catamarans in particular), the bow is so large that a horizontal windlass can be accommodated without any problem. In this case, once the trunk is closed, the windlass disappears completely from view.
A solid fixation
The windlass location must be reinforced to support the anchor's tensile load. Lewmar stipulates that a bridge between 20 and 40 mm thick depending on the power of the windlass. On old boats, which were not designed to receive this equipment, it is often necessary to bring reinforcements under the bridge.
A deep lease strongly recommended
Watch the height under the windlass. Indeed, the chain while going up forms a pyramidal pile. With length this pile sometimes comes in contact with the windlass and ends up blocking the whole.
If the anchor locker is not deep enough, it will be necessary to pause regularly during the ascent to distribute the chain throughout the locker.
