Windlass

[Gerry Zagorski]

If all goes well with the survey and sea trial we will have a 28 foot Carolina Classic in the slip this spring. Only thing missing on this boat is a windlass so I am doing some research on them.

I hear good things about Good Windlasses and the company is right here in NJ.... Seems they are one of the few that have a few features that really interest me.
- Free fall so you don't have to motor the anchor down with the windlass motor the weight of the anchor makes it free fall... I know of some others that have this feature as well.
- Seems Good is one of the few that can truely be operated with out having to go up on the bow... No need for cleating your anchor rope off once the anchor is set and or to cleat it off when the anchor is in the pulpit. The windlass itself keeps the anchor tight. Not sure there are others that do this.

My buddy Bill has one and he loves it. I fish with him all the time and the only trouble he ever has is sometimes the anchor will not lauch because the rope is tangled in the anchor locker.

Any comments or suggestions here?

Also wondering if this is a install that some hack mechanics like me and brother Joe can tackle or should we hire a proffessional.

Thanks in advance for any input.