What is Windlass?
A windlass, either electric or manual, is a powerful winch mounted on the bow that retrieves the anchor rode, reducing physical effort and improving safety during anchoring.
Answered by Marine Keeper — the boat maintenance platform trusted by boat owners and charter operators to track, schedule, and understand every system on the water.
Printing is disabled for this article.
Sign up for Marine Keeper to access our full library offline.
What it is
A windlass, either electric or manual, is a powerful winch mounted on the bow that retrieves the anchor rode, reducing physical effort and improving safety during anchoring. It consists of a motor or geared mechanism for electric models, a gypsy or chain wheel matched to the chain size, and often a rope drum for mixed rode. Windlasses are rated by their pulling capacity, which should be appropriate for the weight of the anchor and rode.
What it does
The windlass lifts heavy anchors and rode from depth, often 50 to 200 feet of chain or rope weighing several hundred pounds. Electric models operate by push button control, while manual versions use a handle or lever. The gypsy teeth are machined to match the chain, ensuring a secure grip without slipping. Most windlasses include a clutch that allows the rode to free fall when lowering the anchor or to release manually if the motor fails. High quality windlasses also include a removable manual handle as backup, allowing retrieval even if the batteries are discharged or the motor is inoperative.
Why it matters
Windlass failure can force crew to haul the anchor by hand, which is physically demanding and unsafe, especially when needing to depart quickly in poor weather or during anchor drag. Failures often result from corroded motors, low battery voltage, or loose electrical terminals and they typically occur under maximum load. Undersized windlasses can overheat or seize when overloaded. Nearly all failures are preventable with regular maintenance and inspection. If the windlass fails and the anchor cannot be recovered, the only option may be to cut the rode, resulting in loss of both anchor and chain, which can easily cost several thousand dollars.
General Maintenance
Follow the manufacturer’s service schedule, generally once a year or every one hundred hours of use. Maintenance should include greasing gears and bearings, inspecting motor brushes if fitted and verifying clutch operation. Rinse the windlass thoroughly with fresh water after each use to remove salt and grit. Inspect all electrical connections monthly for corrosion, heat discoloration, or looseness (poor connections cause voltage drop, overheating and equipment failure). Test the manual backup at least once a year to confirm the anchor can be recovered without electrical power. Check the gypsy teeth for wear and replace them when they no longer grip the chain reliably, which usually occurs every five to ten years depending on usage.
Try Marine Keeper free
Stop tracking anchoring & mooring maintenance on napkins.
Marine Keeper tracks every task, expense, and inspection across your fleet. Schedule automatically, get reminded on time, and never wonder when you last serviced something again. Free Personal plan available, no credit card needed.
Related articles
Anchor Rode
The anchor rode connects your boat to the anchor. It can be all chain, all rope, or a combination of both, most commonly 20 to 50 feet of…
Read articleAnchor Shackles and Swivels
Anchor shackles are robust, galvanized or stainless-steel bow shackles fitted with a screw pin that connect the anchor to the rode. They…
Read articleBow Roller
The bow roller, sometimes called an anchor roller, is a metal fitting at the bow that guides the anchor and chain during deployment and r…
Read article