vanbar6 wrote:
Hello all. I just found this newsgroup and am hoping that someone will be
able to help me. I have a 2004 Hydra sports 212WA. I am interested in
purchasing an electric windlass for it. Of all the dealers I've contacted,
only one dealer has responded. Unfortunately, he hasn't been much help. He
says that only one windlass will fit that boat and that we wouldn't be able
to install it ourselves, so, of course, they would have to do it for
$1800.00. He won't even say what particular windlass it is; only that it is
a Lewmar.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks for your time,

Barb

Barb,

Any number of winches will fit a small boat like yours. I put one on my
old 27 footer and including the fiberglass bow pulpit and roller
assembly I probably spent about $2000 total. On your boat your only
talking about a roller assembly, the winch and the line with the chain
spliced on to it. I would say your probably looking at $1000 or less if
you do it yourself. Now a winch is not the easiest thing to install if
your not handy, but if you are, it's not bad. Best bet is to keep an
eye out for other boats like yours to see how others did it and which
installation looks the best. Also, I would reccomend a free fall
windlass, their just so much easier to anchor exactly where you want
to, rather than waiting for the anchor line to power out as you drift
away from where you wanted to be waiting for the anchor to hit bottom.

John