anchor windlass

D

Dan Kozusko

Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2007
RO Number
28781
Messages
108
Project this year is to install a windlass on my 30 Santego. The question is, what is more common or advantageous? A horizontal deck mount or a vertical unit? What wattage should I be looking at with a chain/rope rode on a bruce anchor. Fresh water use only. Any info from Santegos with that option would be much appreciated.
 
I'll chime in cause this topic just became relevant to me as my windlass crapped out a week ago! I have currently a horizontal deck mount with all chain rode. I'm going to replace with as robust as the original or better. DO you know how hard it is to haul up a Chain rode and anchor by hand! LOL. I'm just glad I was in 20 ft of water :)

So my advice is don't skimp on the windlass :)
 
Be sure you check what your windlass breaker is rated at. I replaced mine and found the Carver breaker was only 60 amp. I needed to replace the breaker and some wiring for an 800 Maxwell windlass.
 
I have a Maxwell Freedom 800 windlass on my Carver 355. I just bought the boat in May and decided to replaced the chain and rode. I also noticed the tension arm, the plastic piece with the yellow backing was broken, so I replaced that too. I got the exact chain and rode recommended by Maxwell and had it professionally spliced. So far I have gone through 4 tensions arms and have damaged the hole in the windlass the chain enters through. I have been working with the Maxwell distributor in North Carolina and have gotten no where. He says the chain and rode is correct but it doesn't work.
Every time I try it, the rode portion works fine but the chain breaks the tension arm immediately and jams.

It appears to me the weld on the individual links is causing the problem, but I've sent pictures and dimensions to Maxwell and they say it's the correct chain.

Tim
 
My carver came with a Maxwell 800 and it uses all line instead of any chain. I still have the original rode in there and use it almost every weekend. I'm replacing it this winter and was wondering about chain. Looks like I'm going to use exactly whats there instead of trying to reinvent the wheel!
 
Thanx for the info. The Maxwell freedom 800 has been discontinued on the Maxwell site but there are a few at a good price with an install kit as well! Two conflicting experiences with the same unit. I was looking at a powerwinch horizontal unit with free fall feature at a good price.. but not as good as the maxwell which is a vertical unit. I agree the bigger the better so I will aim at that. I wonder if the Maxwell was the original issue by carver? Any Santegos out there to weigh in?
 
I've got a 1989 Santego 3467 (which is actually a 38' boat, go figure). Anyways, my old windlass is worn out. I've tried to open it up, regrease it, etc. but I think it is time to let it go. The current windlass is a horizontal style, fully mounted above the deck. I really like the Maxwell RC series (used to be Freedom series), but I'm not sure if it will be compatible with my boat or the space I have available in my anchor locker. Any Santego owners that have this type of vertical windlass installed? I really like the low-profile styling of the RC series.

If that won't work, I'll probably just get another horizontal windlass, like the Maxwell HRC series.

Thanks everyone!
 
floydsfloat - What year/model Carver do you have? I can't quite tell from the picture (looks nice though!).
 
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