The 7 Best Manual Anchor Windlass (2023 reviews)

We consider a manual anchor windlass to be a worthy investment in the long run. We are here to help you choose the right one for your purposes from all the best available products in market today.

Our review process: Show/Hide

Our Top Picks:

Lewmar rocker Switch Buy: READ REVIEW

Lewmar Manual Anchor Windlass Buy: READ REVIEW

Maxwell Manual Anchor Windlass Buy: READ REVIEW

Five Oceans Manual Anchor Windlass Buy: READ REVIEW

Powerwinch Manual Anchor Windlass Buy: READ REVIEW

Five Oceans Atlantic Series Windlass Buy: READ REVIEW

Powerwinch Manual Anchor Windlass Buy: READ REVIEW

Lewmar rocker Switch

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Best part: lewmar rocker switch costs comparatively low and it is available to ship in 24 hours. The Lewmar horizontal windlass kit includes windlass, three m8 studs and nuts, 70 amp circuit breaker, guarded rocker switch, solenoid, lewmar wench, drilling template and installation manual. It comes with everything needed to add to that it is a light duty anchor and retirevial device. It has a powerful motor providing a fast line speed of 100' per minute. You can quickly drop this anchor near a wreck, ledge or anywhere else the fish are biting.

The pro-fish windlass accepts 1/4" chain spliced to 1/2" rope. There's a pin you can adjust manually to enable freefall mode. It is smooth and quieter than the old one which is a rope only windlass. It comes with both the switch and breaker.

• Affordable light duty limited use windlass
• Good brand reputation

Lewmar Manual Anchor Windlass

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Next on the list, we've got yet another windlass that manages to win our hearts. It's the lewmar manual anchor windlass and it's widely considered as windlass that has the most suitable features. It comes with 100% 316 stainless steel housing and a sleek flush-mount design that hides the motor down below, the v700 is one of the most attractive and durable windlasses on the market. It works at the push of a button and has two built-in features that make it unique motor protection and anchor lock. All is required is to undo the top cap, this releases the pressure from the gypsy on the cone clutch and allows it to freely spin. It is dual direction Up/Down.

• Delivers what they promise
• One of the new comers and featured product

Maxwell Manual Anchor Windlass

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The maxwell manual anchor windlass is capable of outshining several other windlass featured in this list in overall features for the price point. The all new stainless steel RC8 fully automatic rope/chain windlass is designed to effortlessly retrieve and deploy 6mm/7mm (1/4”) chain spliced to 12mm (1/2”) three strand or 8-brait (plait) rope. It features a revolutionary, and patented, new wave design. In combination with a heavy duty, large wire diameter, stainless steel pre-loaded spring, the pressure arm always exerts maximum control pressure. The Unique spacer tube design allows installation through virtually any deck thickness and the multiple mounting positions and self aligning gearbox ensure optimal location of gearbox and motor in virtually all installation situations.

The RC8 works just as effectively with all-chain rodes. It is made for atvs for up to 20 bucks and works flawless. It features maxwells revolutionary, and patented, new wave design.

• Manual override and free fall, using the emergency crank/clutch handle provided
• Works perfectly and has for almost 2 years
• New and hot release

Five Oceans Manual Anchor Windlass

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The five oceans manual anchor windlass might be a relatively new release, but it's still nothing short of impressive this year. The five oceans pacific 900 vertical windlass carries a stylish look of 100 stainless. It includes a solenoid, rocker switch, circuit breaker, deck foot switches, and windlass, five oceans, for 40 years developing high-quality marine & outdoor products. It provides a maximum pulling power of 1654 lb / 750 kg and a maximum working load of 550 lb / 250 kg.

The windlass manages the rope and chain with the use of a special spring. It includes a 3-wire solenoid, 100a circuit breaker, up/down foot switch, rocker switch, manual top-cap handle, owner manual, mounting hardware, and mounting template. It is suitable for boats up to 35 feet in length.

• Steel design, which sits elegantly on the deck
• Designed of solid polished and anodized 316 stainless steel housing
• New and hot release

Powerwinch Manual Anchor Windlass

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Best part: powerwinch manual anchor windlass costs comparatively low and it is available to ship in 24 hours. Free-fall anchoring truly is the easiest way to anchor, as the free-fall stops when the anchor reaches the ocean or lake floor, and they allow you to quickly anchor in poor conditions. By dropping almost immediately, the windlass 41 also lets you anchor in a precise location, so you won't drift to a new spot while waiting for the anchor to activate.

Foot class boats, the Windlass 41 sports an exclusive stainless-steel rope and chain guidance design, with durable stainless-steel fasteners and watertight seals that resist corrosion and stand up to years of use. The ultra-smooth motor, meanwhile, uses fewer amps than power-down anchors, helping preserve your battery life during the battery-free free-fall process. Thanks to the heat-treated, oil-impregnated gear structure, the Windlass 41 runs smoother and lasts longer than most of its competitors.

It is also a leading manufacturer of comfort and convenience products for the recreation industry, with valuable experience and resources it can lend to the powerwinch business.

• Steel rope and chain guidance design, with durable stainless
• 5 /8-inch powerwinch premium medium-lay nylon
• Drops up to 4 times faster (300 fpm) than power-down anchors

Five Oceans Atlantic Series Windlass

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If you often find yourself scrambling for appropriate and satisfactory windlass, five oceans atlantic series windlass is your solution. This series can work only with 3 Strands Ropes. It includes 4-wire solenoid, 60a circuit breaker, up/down foot switch, rocker switch, manual top-cap handle, owner manual, mounting hardware, and mounting template. The power 600 watts motor provides a maximum limit pulling power of 1200 lb / 540 kg and a max limit working load of 400 lb / 180 kg. Most of the components are made by hot forging and they are able to withstand the high-load strain.

The motor is around from the hole in the deck so any water that does make its way to the motor would not be a problem. It allows a Line speed of 69 feet per minute. The windlass manages the rope and chain with the use of a special spring. The motor is also sprayed with a Teroson multiwax 103 to keep the water off the motor.

• Designed of solid polished and anodized 316 stainless steel housing
• Delivers what they promise

Powerwinch Manual Anchor Windlass

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The powerwinch manual anchor windlass is suitable and reliable and fits well with your daily usage. The PowerWinch SportFish 450 does come with a rocker switch and circuit breaker. It is built for sport fishing boats, the sport fish 450 boasts an exclusive stainless-steel rope and chain guidance design, with durable stainless-steel fasteners and watertight seals that resist corrosion and stand up to years of use. The ultra-smooth motor, meanwhile, uses fewer amps than power-down anchors, helping preserve your battery life during the battery-free free-fall process.

By dropping almost immediately, the sport fish 450 also lets you anchor in a precise location, so you won't drift to a new spot while waiting for the anchor to activate. It runs better wet then dry. The unit is mounted above deck and can be operated from the helm or on a remote foot switch on the deck. They drop up to four times faster, they stop when the anchor has reached bottom, and they allow you to quickly anchor in poor conditions.

• You can easily put 400 ft of chain or rope
• A replaceable rode-glide that smoothly channels the rope and chain below the deck
• Drops up to 4 times faster (150 fpm) than power-down anchors
• Up to 150 feet per minute