Anchor Winch Pro's & Cons, One Customers Thoughts

Thinking about adding an anchor winch to your boat?

Imagine going from a basic setup to just pressing a button for smooth sailing and fishing. As we get more into boating, these little comforts become a big deal for making the most of our time on the water.

I recently switched to an electric anchor winch—lots of our customers have too. But before you dive into this buy, let’s break down the good and the not-so-good to see if it fits your boating style.

The Good Stuff:

Taking Care of Yourself: Hauling heavy anchors and chains can mess with your body, especially if your back isn’t on its best behavior. An electric winch takes that load off, saving your energy for reeling in the big fish.

Safety First: When things get urgent on the water, quick boat moves are a must. An electric winch helps you act fast, dodging collisions or any other trouble.

Solo Fishing Buddy: If you’re out there fishing solo, an anchor winch becomes your best friend, making anchoring a piece of cake.

Better Fishing Vibes: No one wants to keep moving around because of anchor troubles. An electric winch sorts that out, letting you concentrate on landing the catch of the day.

The Not-So-Good:

Space Hitch: Installing an anchor winch needs space on the front deck, so it might not work for all boat types.

Money Matters: These winches can cost between $2,500 to $4,500, plus setting up a twin battery system adds to the bill. But hey, boats with these winches tend to sell for more later on, so that might balance things out.

Picking the Right Winch: There are three main types—drum, capstan, and windlass (split into vertical or horizontal).  For me, I went for the Lone Star anchor winch, the cost is a little more, but you cannot go past the quality. Once you start using a winch on the water you realise it needs to be pretty strong and resilient and I dont like the idea of getting stuck with a failed anchor winch on the water.

What you pick depends on your boat size, the space you’ve got, and what you like. For most boats, the drum winch is a good call—economical, space-savvy, and practical.  For many boats, if you have a good sized anchor bay, the winch can easily install in this and be unseen.

Oh, and the rope and chain combo matter a lot. Generally, your winch should handle three times the weight of your rode.

Once you get used to the convenience, going back to manual anchoring? Not likely. At least, not for me!