Ruskie wrote:

I'm trading up to a 42' cruising sailboat, and I have narrowed the
search down to a used Pacific Seacraft, Shannon, or Valiant.

Numerous salespeople have lectured that, despite being big and strong,
I won't be able to, or want to, use a manual windlass with this size
of boat.

Acutally, I do want to use a manual windlass, if possible.

Any opinions?

We have a manual windlass and I can operate it with no problem. And
I'm big g but not particularly strong or fit. We have a CSY 44 and
almost always use all chain rode and an anchor that's about 55 lbs.

The trick (as I'm sure other people will agree) is not to try to pull
the boat with the windlass. Bob normally gets up and goes up on deck
at takes the slack out of the rode, and then goes and gets a cup of
tea. While he's doing that, the boat comes up closer to the anchor.
Then he repeats until the boat is up to the anchor. If necessary (if
there is a lot of wind or current), then we motor up to the anchor.

We got a Sea Tiger second hand at Bacons in Annapolis. It didn't have
a handle, so Bob made one.