Review of Anchor Winches from Quick - Advice on Selection, Installation and Maintenance

An anchor winch is the most important and expensive element of yacht's anchor and mooring equipment - that's why it's so important to choose a model that perfectly matches a specific vessel. In this article, topRik experts draw your attention to the range of Quick anchor winches, widely represented in our marketplace, and give advice on choosing them using the brand's most key models as an example.

We remind you that, as always in our articles, the recommendations come from members of our team who use the equipment presented in the marketplace in practice. This opportunity is provided by our SimpleSail fleet, consisting of sailing and motor single-hull and double-hull yachts of various sizes and designs. All brands of winches presented in the marketplace have passed a real sea test. Quick’s anchor winches are no exception.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Winch Model

There are three main types of anchor winches - vertical, horizontal and horizontal reel type. Winches are also divided by the type of drive and are mechanical and electric.

Vertical Winches (Capstan)

Their main feature is that the engaging part of the mechanism, the drum and/or sprocket, is located on the deck, and the part – the electric motor and gearbox – is located underneath it.

The advantages of this type of winches include the fact that they have a small above-deck part, usually made of stainless steel, which practically does not spoil the appearance of the vessel and saves space on the deck.

The downside is that they require some space under the deck to accommodate the electric motor and a fairly large chain box to store the chain or cable.

Prices depend on the power, brand, manufacturer and, of course, the functions. There are models with a free anchor release, they work with both a chain and a synthetic rope, as well as with a combination of both. To complete the basic equipment set, you need to buy: a rope and/or chain, a roller, an anchor.

So, if it is important for you that the anchor winch does not stand out too much, does not hinder movement through the deck, and your boat has enough space under the deck to accommodate the power part of the winch and the chain box – then installing a vertical anchor winch will be an excellent choice for you.

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The use of vertical anchor winches is advisable for boats and yachts over 7 meters long.

Horizontal Winches (Windlass)

These winches are located entirely on the deck, so they do not require additional volume under the deck for the motor and gearbox, but they also need a chain box for storing the chain or cable. The starting price is lower than for vertical models, but then everything also depends on the power, functions, brand and manufacturer.

There are models with free anchor release, working with any types of anchors and ropes. The anchor, rope (chain), roller will have to be purchased separately to complete the boat's anchor-mooring device.

Installing a horizontal anchor winch is your choice if you have enough space on the deck and at least some sufficient volume for laying a rope or chain underneath. It is advisable to use it on boats from 5 meters in size.

Horizontal Reel Type Winches

A distinctive feature of this type of winches is that when selecting a cable or chain, they do not simply pull them with their sprocket and drop them into the chain box, but wind them onto their own drum. This feature makes low-power models of reel-type anchor winches ideal for use on small boats and boats, including PVC boats, since they do not require a chain box and impose minimal installation requirements.

On deck they take up about the same amount of space as horizontal winches of the same power.

The great advantage of these winches is that models for small boats (up to 6 m) are usually already equipped with a rope and roller, so you only need to buy an anchor. This can significantly save your budget and makes this type of winch the most popular among owners of small boats.

Mechanical and Electrical Models

Both mechanical and electric winches simplify the process of raising and lowering the anchor and eliminate unnecessary expenditure of physical energy by sailors. The size of the boat and its use determine the choice of the type of winch. Currently, there are winches for use with any type of anchor and cable.

Manual winches increase your muscle power by applying the laws of mechanics. Mechanical lever-type winches raise and lower the anchor by means of the reciprocating movement of the lever. Vertical-axis winches require the drum to rotate.

Lever winches are usually single speed, vertical shaft winches are two speed. One gear is for easy, fast anchor lifting, the second is used in situations where increased power is required.

Electric anchor winches raise the anchor on board the yacht with the push of a single button. Winches of this type are equipped with wired or wireless remote controls. The remote control allows you to control the raising and lowering of the anchor from almost anywhere on the boat.

There are also electro-hydraulic anchor winches - powerful and expensive, which are usually installed on larger vessels.

Italian company Quick Spa, whose anchor winches are reviewed in this article by topRik experts has been operating in the US since 2006 under the name Quick USA INC and is also present in the UK under the name Quick UK, founded in 2018.

It is no coincidence that the brand has received worldwide recognition – this is evidenced by the list of equipment that the company produces for organizing an anchor-mooring device of any type and for any yacht:

• vertical axis windlasses;
• horizontal on-deck windlasses;
• rope windlasses;
• capstans;
• multipurpose capstans;
• chain counters;
• hand held remote control;
• switches;
• radio remote control;
• controls for proportional systems;
• anchors;
• anchoring accessories .

Later we will focus on the technical characteristics and functions of specific models that have been tested at sea on the vessels of our fleet. And now we will tell you about the main criteria for choosing an electric anchor winch for a specific yacht.

Main Criteria for Choosing a Winch

In order to choose the right electric anchor winch for your boat, you need to answer three questions.

1. What are the dimensions of my yacht?
2. What length of anchor rope do I plan to use and is the rope storage box on my boat large enough?
3. How much power should my winch have?

Selecting a Winch According to the Dimensions of the Vessel

The surest way to avoid making a mistake in choosing in this category is to use the recommendations provided by the manufacturers of anchor winches to select the appropriate model.

The first thing to consider is the pulling force, or lifting capacity, required of the winch. The basis for this choice is the length of your boat and its displacement. Winches are not designed to pull a boat against a 25-knot wind or to yank a heavy anchor out of a hard bottom. They are designed to lift an anchor that is not under tension while still providing sufficient tension. The power of the anchor winch motor should move the boat into the wind, and the winch should only yank the anchor, not itself.

Once you answer the next two questions, you can adjust your initial choice if necessary.

What Length of Anchor Rope Am I Going to Use?

Measure the depth of the cable locker to determine the space available. The measurement should be performed between the lid of the locker and the top of the fully folded cable inside it. This is the most important measurement that will help you determine what type of winch to choose for your boat.

Horizontal winches. Most of the mechanism of such winches is located on the deck of the boat. You will need to drill holes in it through which the cable will pass and connect the power. Installation of such a winch is simpler than vertical. Horizontal winches are well suited for boats with small boxes for the cable. The cable of such a winch goes around the winch and enters under the deck into the box at an angle of 90 degrees. The depth of the box should be more than 30 cm.

Vertical winches. This is the most popular type of anchor winch on the market. The minimum size of the cable box for such models should be 30 cm from the top of the stowed rope to the lid. This will allow the cable to stretch under its own weight. In addition, nylon ropes are lightweight, and the shallow depth of the box may prevent it from being stowed evenly. For greater safety, the cable of the vertical winch is wrapped once around the capstan and lowered through a hole in the deck at an angle of 90 degrees.

How Powerful Should My Winch Be?

Once you have chosen the type of winch – vertical or horizontal – and determined the model based on the size of the boat and its displacement, you can check your choice using the following formula.

We determine the total weight of the anchor and the cable. Then we multiply the resulting weight by 3 to obtain the required winch pulling force. The factor 3 takes into account wind, current and other unknown factors and is a safety margin.

Although it should be said that some manufacturers recommend that the maximum lifting capacity be four times the normal working load - the combined weight of the anchor, slewing and equipment.

Quick Model Lines Overview

Quick anchor winches presented in the topRik marketplace are divided, first of all, by the type of drum location - that is, into vertical and horizontal. There are much fewer horizontal models, as with many manufacturers, compared to vertical ones.

Thus, the first ones include anchor winches of the GENIUS series - GP2, HECTOR - HC3, HEROES - HR5, etc.

GENIUS - GP2

GENIUS - GP2 series are horizontal deck anchor winches made of anodised aluminium with a white composite base (GP2 500).

Free fall technology allows the chain to move freely through the chain drive when lowering the anchor. The process is controlled using the down and up control buttons. In the first case, the winch will release the clutch and the chain drive will begin to rotate freely. To stop the free fall, press the up control button: the clutch will engage, stopping the chain drive and allowing the chain to be removed. With GP2 500 you have manual control only, waterproof motor IP66, planetary gearbox (GP2 1500-2000).

HECTOR - HC3

Horizontal deck winches with hard oxide anodised aluminium base and composite or hard oxide anodized aluminum cover.

Available with or without drum, with pressure lever, emergency manual lifting system and manual free fall system.

Rope and chain - on one gipsy. Waterproof motor IP66.

HEROES - HR5

HEROES - HR5 horizontal deck winches are available with or without drum and have a painted aluminium base (RAL 9010).

Distinguishing features: emergency manual lifting system with ratchet mechanism, manual free fall system, safety mechanical band brake.

Rope and chain on one gipsy, the engine is waterproof with IP 66 protection.

PRINCE, DYLAN, RIDER and other series contain models of vertical anchor winches with various characteristics and functions. Let's focus on the most relevant models, which will certainly interest owners of yachts and boats of various sizes.

Since vertical models of anchor winches are more in demand, all series selected for this review have several options with different modifications.

PRINCE

PRINCE vertical anchor winches have several options: PRINCE - DP 1 P, PRINCE DP 2 P, PRINCE - DP 2 E, PRINCE - DP 3, etc.

PRINCE - DP 1 P vertical shaft anchor winch works only with a chain. Recommended (depending on the power) for vessels from 5 to 13 meters long). It has an emergency (free) chain release function (the chain sprocket is released using the handle included in the delivery). There is no option to manually release the chain. The housing is made of stainless steel. The engine is protected from water (protection class IP 67). The winch is available in two versions - only with a sprocket for the chain or with an additional drum for the cable. The delivery set includes a load switching relay (solenoid).

Prince DP 2 works with chain and synthetic rope. Recommended (depending on power) for boats from 5 to 15 meters long).

Power 300 W, 500 W, 700 W, 1000 W, maximum force respectively: 370 kg, 660 kg, 680 kg, 930 kg, and maximum working load – 120, 200, 300, 320, 420 and 480 kg.

Prince DP2E winch works with a chain, a rope, and a combined anchor line (chain + rope). Recommended (depending on power) for vessels from 6 to 12 meters long. The special feature of this model is a patented anodized aluminum gearbox with high efficiency, due to which the Prince DP2E winches provide more traction per unit of engine power than winches with a traditional gearbox.

Prince DP3 is the largest model in the Quick line. It is equipped with a manual chain and anchor release. The chain and anchor cable are on one pulley. The chain size is 8/10 mm. It has an emergency chain release function. The body is made of stainless steel. It is suitable for boats of 7-10 meters (700 W), 10-13 meters (1000 W) and 12-15 meters (1500 W).

DYLAN

DYLAN series winches are made of reliable materials: the lower part is made of durable anodized aluminum, all external visible parts are made of stainless steel AISI 316, the chain pulley is made of chromed bronze. The pulley accommodates both the chain and the anchor cable. DYLAN models allow you to lift the anchor manually if necessary.

As can be seen from the table below, the series has a HYDRO modification for yachts 15 - 20 m long.

A manual free fall system and an emergency manual lifting system are provided. The gearbox is made of anodized aluminum.

Waterproof motor IP 67 (1500-1700 W) and IP 66 (2000 W).

RIDER

Quick vertical winches is also available in a version with a capstan.

Winches of this series have a round base made of anodized aluminum. The handle included with the winches provides easy control of the anchor chain. The motor is protected from water, and the body is made of high-quality stainless steel. The emergency chain release function saves the winch from overheating. Works with a chain, cable, and anchor end. There is no option to manually select the chain.

Both versions are recommended for boats from 6 to 20 metres in length. Gearbox in anodised aluminium (1400 W) and technopolymer (700 W/1000 W).

If you want to learn more about these and other models of Quick anchor winches, visit our catalog dedicated to winches of this famous brand right now and ask all your questions to the marketplace experts. Consultation is free.

How to Install and Maintain Quick Anchor Winches

Each Quick anchor winch model is supplied with diagrams and instructions for installation, operation and maintenance. The owner's task is to strictly follow the recommendations set out there. Strong advice from topRik experts: if you do not have experience and permission to work with electrical equipment, you should entrust the installation of the Quick electric anchor winch to specialists, ideally certified by Quick SPA or representatives of the manufacturer.

Let's dwell on the points that are not set out in the instructions, but, in our experience, are quite important. topRik team's experience shows that proper winch installation depends on three factors.

First, determine whether your winch has a permanent magnet motor.

Permanent magnet motors have two wires on the motor. You change the direction on the motor by changing the polarity of the terminals. Winding motors have three terminals - two positive and one negative. Which direction the motor runs depends on which positive terminal is on. The type of motor determines what type of switching mechanism can be used to operate the winch.

Second, decide whether you want to operate in single-directional (up or down only) or bi-directional (up/down) mode. Many winches don’t give you a choice, others have a manual clutch that lets you control the down direction, while some just have a free fall. Since most boaters prefer the convenience of an on/off power switch, single-handed models are becoming less common.

Finally, decide if you want to be able to operate the winch from a remote location. On any boat, it can be unsafe to stand on the deck in rough weather. Foot switches located near the winch are useful even if remote operation is not needed. Panel switches near the helm are popular on powerboats, and handheld remotes (wired or wireless) can be used on sailboats or powerboats when remote control is needed.

Alignment

The anchor roller/holder should be the correct size and type for the anchor you will be using. Powerboats typically place their anchor rollers/holders on their centerline since they do not have head stops. Sailboats with stock fittings and furling drums should place their 4"-8" anchor rollers to the right or left of the head and parallel to the centerline of the boat.

Wooden blocks may be required to raise the anchor roller over the bow and into the side to prevent the anchor from hitting the boat when being lifted. Some winches may require a cut to the point where the run is parallel to the deck. Side alignment is also important for vertical winches, which may need to be compensated for in relation to the boat's centerline. You want a straight, clear run for the anchor chain, all the way to the chain locker.

Spare Plates

To distribute the loads that occur when hoisting the anchor, be sure to install large support plates under all the equipment in your winch grounding system. You don't want the anchor to rip everything out, do you?

Mounting Holes Sealing

The mounting holes where you install the winch must be properly sealed to prevent water from penetrating into the first layers of plywood or deck.

Electrical Safety

Any electrical devices on a boat must be protected by fuses or circuit breakers. This rule also applies to Quick electric winches . The circuit breaker serves as a backup for the electric motor and the system as a whole in case of winch overload.

Circuit breakers typically maintain their contacts in a closed state when the load is below a threshold. For example, a circuit breaker set to 70 A will remain closed until the current exceeds this threshold. However, the maximum permissible peak current can reach 250 A, but only for a very short period of time.

The main rule when using electric winches is that the anchor must be pulled out by the movement of the boat. The winch should only reel in the rope and lift the anchor. Using the winch to pull out the anchor or pull the yacht to it is not worth it. This can easily lead to its breakage or complete failure.

Proper Use during Anchoring

Winches are not designed to withstand heavy loads when the boat is at anchor. Therefore, if you are not using it while the boat is moored, the load should be removed from the winch by securing the anchor cable with a special clamp. You can transfer the load to a bracket fixed to the deck.

Remember that only full compliance with the rules for installation and operation of Quick winches will ensure you are entitled to warranty service.

If you are not sure which Quick anchor winch is right for your yacht, ask your questions to our experts on duty right now. To do this, use any method that is displayed on all pages of the catalog – feedback form, a phone call to the specified number or a message to the e-mail address [email protected].

All consultations are free and we can guide you through the entire process of purchasing the Quick anchor winch.