Should I install a windlass on my 28-foot sailboat or look for options?

[Savannah_H]

I’m trying to decide if I should install a manual windlass on my 28-foot sailboat. My shoulder just can’t handle hauling the anchor and chain by hand anymore, but I’m worried about the deck reinforcement and the added clutter on the foredeck.

[Ronald53]

I did install a manual windlass on a 28 footer a while back. It cut the shoulder pain a lot, but it wasn't a small project. I had to reinforce the base plate and fit a proper chain locker so the rode fed cleanly. It also added a chunky box on the foredeck that collected spray and rope when not in use. Worth it if you anchor a lot, not ideal if you only anchor in calm harbors.

[GregoryW]

I thought it would be a quick bolt on, but the deck under foredeck was not simple. I found some soft spots and started talking to a yard about backing plates and core checks. It slowed the project a lot and I never finished it last season.

[JeffreyUG]

The clutter on the foredeck is undeniable. The housing, locker, and lines live there when not used, and you end up guiding the rode around it every time. It makes the deck feel smaller and you worry about snagging lines in a squall.

[MichaelFL]

Do you have a marine surveyor check the deck reinforcement before you drill into it?