new windlass for Traveler

T

tomtom1941

New member
The old sprint lewmar 600 vertical windlass finally striped gears which are no longer available.

Does anyone have recommendations for a new one. I think I'd like to go horizontal and bigger this time and be able to cover the old mounting hole if possible.

Recommendations appreciated.

Tom
 
Hi Tom. Horizontals have proven more reliable. I have the Lewmar H700. You could fit that or go up a size to the H1000. Easy maintenance on these models and don't feed mud and sand into the seal like verticals. Best. George
 
This is not a specific answer, but... I'm going to add a windlass in the near future and I've earmarked the Lewmar Pro700 horizontal (which is the one George mentions above).

I am a bit disconcerted to read that a (presumably) 8-year-old Lewmar windlass is not only broken but considered so "old" that parts such as gears are no longer available(?) If I'm about to spend ~$800 on a windlass (not to mention wiring and installation costs), I'd like to think essential parts would be available for it in 8 years.
 
Just my two cents, I think that the vertical windlass are no longer made or supported because they where a crap design. As mentioned they all failed ( or a at least a high rate of failer) because of water intrusion into the motors that where poorly sealed and hanging directly below the shaft. It was a cheaper design to build because no gear box going from horizontal to vertical, but ended up being a poor design. I had one fail and rebuilt it but was not encouraged with it lasting more then a few years. Its still on the 22 I sold and I think its still running but its most likely due to my over sealing it then the design its self. I pulled a few more apart that people gave me to rebuild but they were to far gone to be of any use. The horizontal units don't seem to have any of the same issue that I know of. And you really don't have a choice if you want one as there are maybe 2 makers of smaller windlass on the market.
 
The Lewmar V700 is still listed on the Lewmar site and is widely available online so I suspect it is still being made. Ours has been used in salt water for 5 years and works fine with 3 strand line and 1/4 inch heavy duty chain. it is not perfect but functions well; having said that, buying now I'd get a horizontal version.
 
Thanks for the insight, Tom. I've always had horizontal (manual) windlasses, so gravitated to that design. I like that there is one less "curve" to get the rode into the deck pipe. As you say, not too many choices anyway, so I'll likely just get the Pro700 (horizontal) and hope for the best. Snubbing the rode (off the windlass) should help too.
 
Sunbeam":63aroely said:
This is not a specific answer, but... I'm going to add a windlass in the near future and I've earmarked the Lewmar Pro700 horizontal (which is the one George mentions above).

I am a bit disconcerted to read that a (presumably) 8-year-old Lewmar windlass is not only broken but considered so "old" that parts such as gears are no longer available(?) If I'm about to spend ~$800 on a windlass (not to mention wiring and installation costs), I'd like to think essential parts would be available for it in 8 years.
Click to expand...

FWIW, our ~13 year old Simpson-Lawrence Horizon 600 GD (somewhat less robust predecesssor to Lewmar Pro 700) is still plugging along after 700-800 overnights, with some halibut fishing and hauling a bunch of shrimp pots along the way.
 
Hold up everything a dam mintue...

When I was talking about the vertical vs horizontal I was talking about the mounting of the motors. Not the type of windlass. ( above deck or in deck) . to be clear the older vertical v700 compared to the v1 which has a horizontal motor. I would buy the V1 in a heart beat and think its a good design. All my problems where with the v700 or older v600's . I have not experience with the units that mount above deck. Looks to take up to much room to me and thats why I have the v1 on the 27.
 
Tom,

Is there a horizontal electric windlass that mounts below deck? I always thought that only vertical ones did that on our size boats.

I do have someone's cast off old Lofrans Royal manual horizontal windlass that was mounted below deck in a locker (had large hatch to foredeck), but that was a larger sailboat.

I understand a horizontal windlass to be one with the "axle" of the gipsy running athwartships (i.e. horizontally).
 
starcrafttom":14zfyxwe said:
http://www.lewmar.com/products.asp?id=8338&lid=25806
Click to expand...

Were you posting that link for me? If so, I believe that is still a vertical windlass, albeit the motor is positioned horizontally belowdecks. The way I understand it, the named orientation (vertical vs. horizontal) has to do with the way the gipsy "axle" runs. So if the gipsy axle is horizontal (like in the 700 Pro) it's a horizontal windlass, and if it's vertical (like in the V700 or the one you linked to) then it is considered a vertical windlass.

If you were not posting that "at" me, then... oops, nevermind.

Still always interesting to see different options. I take it these are preferable (hardier) to the other style with the motor that points down?

Sunbeam
 
OK. Here's a picture of my windlass.
IMGP0058.sized.jpg

Is it a vertical or a horizontal windlass? Thanks :roll:
 
As Barry said, it's a horizontal one. From what I understand, the determining factor is which way the "axle" of the gipsy (gipsy being the "wheel" that the rode wraps around as it comes in) runs. If that axle is horizontal (like yours), then it's a horizontal windlass; if it's vertical, then ... vertical.

As shown in the link, a vertical windlass can have the motor lying either vertically or horizontally (below decks). I have not had one of those (vertical), but if I understood Tom correctly, the ones with the motor lying horizontally are more robust than the ones with the motor lying vertically.
 
dotnmarty":x7kqf6h4 said:
Good. Thanks.
Click to expand...
The terms have always been confusing to me too Marty. Seems to me the higher standing windlasses like you have seem more "vertical" (up and down) to me, yet they're considered "horizontal" windlasses. Hmmm... :roll:

Peter
 
Having been the owner of both a V600 and a V700 windlass, I have a few comments on the design. First, the seal at the top of the shaft, where the capstan fits on has to keep out sand, mud, water, you name it. By the way, this is true for any vertical windlass. Second, Lewmar claims that the new V700 seal solves that problem though it's too late for a V600.

It turns out that that seal on the V600 was bad and let everything in. So Lewmar did 2 things. They started manufacturing their windlasses in Thailand and (somewhat) redesigned the windlass. They claim that the new seal is better. I do point out that the capstans are interchangeable, so I'm not sure what the redesign is. However the V700 has worked, though only for a year or so.

I'd appreciate if anyone else who has a V700 would comment on their experience, good bad or indifferent. I also added a washdown pump to try and reduce the crud on the line going through the winch. Also, I notice that Defender is selling motor and gear assemblies for the V700, so you can rebuild it, if you want

Here's the sand I pulled out of the V600 when I took it apart. Unfortunately, by then I'd replaced it with the V700. Live and learn. Notice the crud came down through the gearbox into the motor; got everything on the way down.

Leewmar_winch_1.sized.jpg

Boris
 
journey on":fe6o14tb said:
I'd appreciate if anyone else who has a V700 would comment on their experience, good bad or indifferent.
Boris
Click to expand...

I've had a V700 for almost 7 years. No problems. (Well, I did have to replace a bent control arm pivot screw and a worn out torsion spring.) No evidence of water, salt, sand or mud intrusion so far. Knock on wood.
 
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