windlasses: Lewmar, Maxwell or Lofrans?

Posted by svbagatelle (svbagatelle@…>)

I am planning the refit of my F30/32 and am considering low profile
vertical windlasses (without capstan), in order to handle a mixed
chain/rope rode and a Delta 22 anchor. The front-runners are
Lewmar V700
Maxwell Freedom 500
Lofrans Project 500.
There is also a Muir VM500 but it seems more expensive.
Does anyone have experience with these windlasses or their
manufacturers generally? It seems that Lewmar is both cheaper and a
lot more common, and I think people like them. In my case, given a
small anchor locker the Maxwell and the Lofrans have the advantage that
their motor is mounted horizontally belowdecks, not vertically like the
Lewmar.
Paul
s/v Bagatelle

Posted by michel.capel (michel.capel@…>)

I have a vertical Maxwell (I think a 500) and the disadvantage is
that it has no integrated hawsepipe. You have to install a separate
one a bit forward of the winslass. Also, it has no built in ratchet
pawls and springs to hold the drum when heaving anchor manually.
There’s only a large external pawl without a spring that you have to
push into the drum openings by hand at the end of every pull at the
handle.

Pro’s are the durable solid bronze and chomed bronze parts. My
Maxwell is perhaps 10 years old and it looks like new.

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “svbagatelle”
<svbagatelle@…> wrote:

I am planning the refit of my F30/32 and am considering low
profile
vertical windlasses (without capstan), in order to handle a mixed
chain/rope rode and a Delta 22 anchor. The front-runners are
Lewmar V700
Maxwell Freedom 500
Lofrans Project 500.
There is also a Muir VM500 but it seems more expensive.
Does anyone have experience with these windlasses or their
manufacturers generally? It seems that Lewmar is both cheaper and
a
lot more common, and I think people like them. In my case, given
a
small anchor locker the Maxwell and the Lofrans have the advantage
that
their motor is mounted horizontally belowdecks, not vertically
like the
Lewmar.
Paul
s/v Bagatelle

Posted by svbagatelle (svbagatelle@…>)

Thanks Michel, those are relevant points I hadn’t thought of. I
believe that Lewmar’s V700 doesn’t have an integral hawsepipe
either, but the Muir and maybe the Lofrans do. Aside from having to
drill the hole, is there any additional equipment involved? I will
look into the issue of ease of use of the manual override on the
various winches. Perhaps others can fill me in.
Paul

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “michel.capel”
<michel.capel@…> wrote:

I have a vertical Maxwell (I think a 500) and the disadvantage is
that it has no integrated hawsepipe. You have to install a
separate
one a bit forward of the winslass. Also, it has no built in
ratchet
pawls and springs to hold the drum when heaving anchor manually.
There’s only a large external pawl without a spring that you have
to
push into the drum openings by hand at the end of every pull at
the
handle.

Pro’s are the durable solid bronze and chomed bronze parts. My
Maxwell is perhaps 10 years old and it looks like new.

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “svbagatelle”
<svbagatelle@> wrote:

I am planning the refit of my F30/32 and am considering low
profile
vertical windlasses (without capstan), in order to handle a
mixed
chain/rope rode and a Delta 22 anchor. The front-runners are
Lewmar V700
Maxwell Freedom 500
Lofrans Project 500.
There is also a Muir VM500 but it seems more expensive.
Does anyone have experience with these windlasses or their
manufacturers generally? It seems that Lewmar is both cheaper
and
a
lot more common, and I think people like them. In my case,
given
a
small anchor locker the Maxwell and the Lofrans have the
advantage
that
their motor is mounted horizontally belowdecks, not vertically
like the
Lewmar.
Paul
s/v Bagatelle

Posted by michel.capel (michel.capel@…>)

If you install the windlass in a balsa cored part of the deck, you
have to remove the balsa and create a solid portion of deck under the
windlass. You have to be able to tighten the mounting bolts without
squeezing the balsa core. Also, a steel or aluminum backingplate
(preferably glassed under the deck) is necessary. Make sure you can
move the handle around, so avoid high objects (mast?) close to the
windlass.

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “svbagatelle”
<svbagatelle@…> wrote:

Thanks Michel, those are relevant points I hadn’t thought of. I
believe that Lewmar’s V700 doesn’t have an integral hawsepipe
either, but the Muir and maybe the Lofrans do. Aside from having to
drill the hole, is there any additional equipment involved? I will
look into the issue of ease of use of the manual override on the
various winches. Perhaps others can fill me in.
Paul

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “michel.capel”
<michel.capel@> wrote:

I have a vertical Maxwell (I think a 500) and the disadvantage is
that it has no integrated hawsepipe. You have to install a
separate
one a bit forward of the winslass. Also, it has no built in
ratchet
pawls and springs to hold the drum when heaving anchor manually.
There’s only a large external pawl without a spring that you have
to
push into the drum openings by hand at the end of every pull at
the
handle.

Pro’s are the durable solid bronze and chomed bronze parts. My
Maxwell is perhaps 10 years old and it looks like new.

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “svbagatelle”
<svbagatelle@> wrote:

I am planning the refit of my F30/32 and am considering low
profile
vertical windlasses (without capstan), in order to handle a
mixed
chain/rope rode and a Delta 22 anchor. The front-runners are
Lewmar V700
Maxwell Freedom 500
Lofrans Project 500.
There is also a Muir VM500 but it seems more expensive.
Does anyone have experience with these windlasses or their
manufacturers generally? It seems that Lewmar is both cheaper
and
a
lot more common, and I think people like them. In my case,
given
a
small anchor locker the Maxwell and the Lofrans have the
advantage
that
their motor is mounted horizontally belowdecks, not vertically
like the
Lewmar.
Paul
s/v Bagatelle