Is windlass worth it?

[charron]

I have an R7 on order and my wife and kids are pushing me to get the windlass anchor. They said that I stress them out when they are throwing out and fetching the anchor and think I’ll lose my mind if they hit the new boat with it. Dealer said that a windlass will cost me $3100 from Cobalt. For those who have one, is it worth the money? I’m sure it’s really nice to have, but $3k is a lot. I guess that’s how it is with Cobalt.

[NautiGirl]

Mr. Nauti here.


As the member of the family that often gets anchor duty - yes you should order one. Our next boat will have one.

Whats 3k as a percentage of the total R7 purchase? Just do it.

[jhnmdahl]

On my 210, not really needed. On a boat like an A25 or R5, I would consider it. On an A28 or R7, it would probably be on my options list.

[ajcampen]

I just watched a YouTube on it. Do it it looks amazing

https://youtu.be/MUJY9vud5hY

[cmattj]

My first boat with a windlass..

Push the button and drop.. from dash or at the under panel.. what's so fancy?? Let me just say..

It bites imeadiatly and runs less scope to stay .

Engineered to have better holding.. and it does.

Pull forward slightly and retrieve with either control

Auto swivel back in place with no bind

Off you go.. clean hands.. no droplets of gunk in your seats. Plus Cobalt design of thru hull mounting and stainless is Sexy and never goes out of style.

[Driller]

It is the one option which my wife repeated mentions she wishes we had on our boat.

Especially when I take a dive pulling the anchor in by hand. Lake Travis is deep. 165' of rode is a lot to pull in.

[Tuscany]

I don’t think a windlass will do you any good of you need 165’ of line. You can’t spool that much.

I didn’t order it.
Reason? We rarely throw an anchor in. We just shut down and float..
Having said that, if you use an anchor regularly, I would definitely order it.

[Big Block Power]

I didn’t order it.
Reason? We rarely throw an anchor in. I can count on one hand the amount of times we tossed one in.
Having said that, if you use an anchor regularly, I would definitely order it.

Our lake is 20 feet deep or we are in 3 feet of water. Throw a rope out. Lol. It's cool but $3k ouch. It's prewired how much to put in by yourself. That alot of gel coat you can fix for that.

[Tuscany]

BB, he’s dealing with 165’ of depth? A windlass won’t spool 1/3 of that..
I hear you on the price. For our needs, it was an easy option to cut off of our order list. Since we trailer, and I didn’t want to deal with that sharp thing hanging in the way of retrieving.
It’s also a wide open spot for water to enter the bilge if the waters are rough and the nose dips into the swells.

[Big Block Power]

BB, he’s dealing with 165’ of depth? A windlass won’t spool 1/3 of that..
I hear you on the price. For our needs, it was an easy option to cut off of our order list. Since we trailer, and I didn’t want to deal with that sharp thing hanging in the way of retrieving.
It’s also a wide open spot for water to enter the bilge if the waters are rough and the nose dips into the swells.

I was just wondering that, from that video. Is the bow wide open there? How much chain and line or is it all chain that can be held up there. Sorry is lake winneswampy deep?

[cmattj]

I guess it depends on your day of boating. We average 20 feet and the main Chanel's for the Freighter is 50 feet .

We carry 10 feet chain 70 feet rope with markers telling us how much is out.

I don't anchor when I'm on missions all over the Delta.. Resturant.. bar.. etc

But the days when your backing up to a beach the Windlass shine when your packin up leaving..

Ok.. everyone in?? I jump up start... idle forward.. up on the winch.. Done!!

[Driller]

Wonder what the max length a Cobalt windlass can handle?

[Tuscany]

I'm not sure of length. What I am sure of is that it's not a big spool, and it's 100% chain. That equals "not much"..

[Tuscany]

BB, he’s dealing with 165’ of depth? A windlass won’t spool 1/3 of that..
I hear you on the price. For our needs, it was an easy option to cut off of our order list. Since we trailer, and I didn’t want to deal with that sharp thing hanging in the way of retrieving.
It’s also a wide open spot for water to enter the bilge if the waters are rough and the nose dips into the swells.

I was just wondering that, from that video. Is the bow wide open there? How much chain and line or is it all chain that can be held up there. Sorry is lake winneswampy deep?

It has to be open to accept the chain onto the spool. I doubt that is an issue, but it exposes the bilge to bugs, and other crap that could make its way up the chain.

[cmattj]

I'm not sure of length. What I am sure of is that it's not a big spool, and it's 100% chain. That equals "not much"..

On ours its 10 feet of chain then goes to 70 foot rope. (ther seems to be room for more but we don't need it. The Maxwell bites both chain and rope with no slipping. And of course the chain helps limited scope.