Skip Gundlach wrote:
Unfortunately for us, our boat appears to be right in the middle of the
high or low end of most of the various different classes of vertical
windlasses available, at least based on boat length. Having had a
replacement motor in my hand at the local WM Bargain Center, I agree
with the assessment of the Lewmar Sprint series, which is that they're
not worth having.


I've heard at least a dozen stories of grief from Lewmar windlass
owners... a bad rap, possibly, but then I know of at least a dozen
owenrs of Ideal windlasses who use them hard and never think about any
trouble with them.


We also know that prices vary all over the map; what is quoted on one
site may be double that of another. So, "street price" is what matters
in the end.

So, given a gypsy/drum arrangement on a vertical windlass with a chain
pipe (automatically feeds the chain below), and a street price of under
or very close to $2k, who's replaced theirs recently with something
like that, and what's been the experience?


http://www.idealwindlass.com/choosing_a_windlass.htm

You won't get a new one sized for your boat (I'd be thinking about 1200
or 1500 watt) for under $2K that's for sure.

Considering price, last fall we bought a 1000W 'Quick' windlass, made in
Italy, and installed it. Only used it about a dozen times, and under
benign circumstances, but at this point I have no apprehension about
it's service.

Ordering something like this is a risk that the gear won't work as well
as you want, but OTOH an Ideal windlass/capstan is going to cost you $2500.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Muir-... 7452639QQrdZ1

Fresh Breezes- Doug King