Want to fit an anchor winch to your boat? Read this first!

​When we start out boating we generally have a pretty basic set up. Mine was a 13ft tinny with an old Johnson, no fish finder or even rod holders! But as we upgrade to bigger boats (and as we age) the more we appreciate those ‘press-of-the-button’ features that take the hassle out of boating and fishing. It’s about maximising that all important time on the water. 

That’s why I recently upgraded to an electric anchor winch and why many of our customers have too. But before you invest in one, it’s worth understanding the pros and cons to see if it’s right for you and your boat. 
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The pros of anchor winches

• Save your body – anchors and chains weigh a lot, so pulling that weight in can be hard on your body and potentially cause injures. If you have any sort of back issue that’s likely to be aggravated by pulling in the anchor, an electric winch is a no-brainer. Save your back and your energy for hauling on that 30-pound snapper instead!
• Safety – if you needed to move your boat in a hurry, i.e. the wind direction has changed and you’ve swung round into rocks, or another boat, an electric winch can save you precious seconds in getting out of danger quickly.
  If you do any solo fishing, then an anchor winch is a must.
• More enjoyable fishing - the only thing worse that not catching fish in your usual spot is needing to haul in the anchor to move spots multiple times. An electric winch takes the hassle out of moving fishing and diving spots, so you’re more likely stay out on the water and land that big one. You can quickly chase that work up or move away from sharks. ​                                

The cons of anchor winches

• You need space – anchor winches don’t work on every type of boat. You need space on the foredeck to mount the drum.
• Cost – they’re not cheap. A fully installed anchor winch will set you back $2,500 - $4,500, depending on the winch type and fitting requirements. So consider the age of the boat as you don’t want to over invest. You may also need to upgrade to a twin battery set-up to safely power the winch, so be mindful of some additional costs.
  
  ​Having said that, when you come to sell it, boats with anchor winches will demand a higher price so you should recoup the money spent. 
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What type of anchor winch do I need?

There are three different types of anchor winches – a drum, capstan and windlass. The windlass anchor winch can be further broken down into vertical or horizontal. 

Drum winch

Vertical capstan winch

The type of anchor winch you need depends your preference, budget but most importantly the size of your boat (the displacement) and the anchor well space you have to play with. A vertical windlass holds the motor, gearbox and anchor and chain below deck. These winches only work if you have the right ‘fall’ under the deck – i.e. the space between the deck and the anchor well. 

The most common type of anchor winch we install is a drum winch, which hold the anchor rope and chain on the drum either attached to the bow or in the anchor well. This type of winch is economic, hassle-free and because it spools the rode on the drum it saves valuable space so it will work on most boats, even a small tinny. 

The rope and chain required to anchor your boat safely, will help dictate what winch is appropriate for you also. As a rule of thumb, your anchor winch needs to pull 3x the weight of your rode (rope, chain and anchor).

Talk to the team

Once you use an anchor winch, I doubt you’ll go back. I certainly won’t!

If you’re interested in upgrading to an anchor winch, we can help you find the right winch for your boat and provide a no-obligation quote to get it installed. Just get in touch and let us know the size of your boat, winch preference, your rode weight and approximate length and we’ll be in touch. 

Want to keep learning?

Check out our full range of articles on a range of boating topics here. ​