Windlass options Maxwell VW vs RC series

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by JOHNMARDALL

Sorry Mike, but as common as the practice is, using the windlass as a propulsion system was never the intention and if done often enough, will wreck the windlass. ...
John Mardall
Vetus Maxwell Group.

John, I've asked this question before, and have never received an authoritative answer:

Our VWC1500 is rated at 1500 lbs pull. The literature suggests that this is appropriate to lift a tackle weight of 500 lbs (with a generous safety margin). In anything less than gale conditions, a steady pull of much less than 500 lbs is required to pull the boat forward. Then, why is it so harmful to use t he windlass to move the boat up to the anchor? How does this practice "wreck the windlass"? I would sure like to know...

Jim

[Cottontop]

Originally Posted by gaucho

Calculations for 250ft of G4 chain at 1.50 lbs a feet (375 lbs of weight)

Do you anchor in 250 feet of water?

[a64pilot]

I usually use the windlass to pull the boat up, as it's easier than trying to use the engine and be on the bow to raise the anchor, I want to be there to see if the chain kinks or something.
But when I do use the windlass, I'm not pulling the boat with it, I pull the slack out of the chain and stop, the weight of the chain will get the boat moving slowly, wait 30 sec or so and take the slack out again, but stop short of pulling the chain tight, cause this isn't a timed event, no extra points awarded for getting it done fast and I'm not in a hurry.
I can imagine if someone just held the up button down that say 25,000 lbs of boat could put an excessive strain on the windlass right away, bad on the gearbox and maybe burn brushes or the armature too.
I have to assume that recommendations are made with the assumption that people don't have enough sense to stop before the windlass strains?


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[Jim Cate]

I have to assume that recommendations are made with the assumption that people don't have enough sense to stop before the windlass strains?

Exactly! It is quite apparent when the windlass is straining. If it isn't (and that is the case when we do exactly what you do) what is "wrecking the windlass"?

Jim

[gaucho]

Originally Posted by Paul L

The RC-10 is also available with the warping drum. Just installed one.

Originally Posted by Cottontop

Do you anchor in 250 feet of water?

Might need to anchor in up to 30ft of water under certain particular circumstances. With a 7:1 scope, which is a recommended amount of scope to have in general (I usually go for 5:1 if I won't be there that much), we are talking about 200ft of chain out. Some might even say 10:1 is a scope you would want to be able to cover. Not that the windlass will have to handle all that rode at once, but that's why you have 200-300ft of rode in many cruising boats.

I don't remember whose blog I read, where they in an attempt to de-twist the rode, they let out around 200ft of rode in deep water, only to find out their windlass didn't have the power to bring it back up

Anyhow, Im still confused as why Maxwell themselves cannot give us any definitive answer on go the difference between their own products . I will probably go for the VWC, exactly because I suspected what John said (not really, he suggested it); the VWC MIGHT have better grip on the chain since it's not a multipurpose groove.

[Jim Cate]

Gaucho, in one of your posts you said something about the RC series being all stainless. If you look carefully, I suspect that there are several critical components which are not: for one, the gear box housing in the VWC series is aluminium, and the appearance is identical to that shown in the RC manual. Not that Al is inappropriate, but Maxwell does not see fit to use anti-seize compound on the cap screws that hold it together. This has meant for us having to drill out one of the s/s screws when access was required. I can suggest that if you do buy either one of these, removing those screws and gooping them with lanolin or Tefgel before installing the windlass will perhaps save you some grief in days to come!

I sure wish someone had told me to do that!

Jim

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Exactly! It is quite apparent when the windlass is straining. If it isn't (and that is the case when we do exactly what you do) what is "wrecking the windlass"?

Jim

In the approach a64 gave the windlass is taking in chain slack and the weight of the tightened chain is keeping some forward way on the boat. Nothing wrong with this and no windlass should complain. If it's blowing 30kts then this approach doesn't work and the engine should be used.

[GMac]

Originally Posted by gaucho

Could someone explain what advantages or disadvantages might come from either choice?

The VWC is old school. The RC is new and does everything the VWC does plus more.

Anyhow, Im still confused as why Maxwell themselves cannot give us any definitive answer on go the difference between their own products

Because in reality they are pretty much the same winch but with differing topworks.

I don't remember whose blog I read, where they in an attempt to de-twist the rode, they let out around 200ft of rode in deep water, only to find out their windlass didn't have the power to bring it back up

We get to fix those sorts of problems too often. It's an easy fix, we just wire the bloody thing up properly using the recommended sized gear.

I'd buy the RC long before a VWC.

[gaucho]

Originally Posted by GMac

The VWC is old school. The RC is new and does everything the VWC does plus more.
I'd buy the RC long before a VWC.

I ended up choosing the RC; more rode options (3/8" in any short link configuration, plus plain ole rope), cheaper, same apparent drive motor. Maybe the chainwheel skips the chain once in a while, because it's not specifically designed for 3/8" HT for example as the VW is. But, I'll take the flexibility right now. Also, the boat Im putting it on has already 150' of 3/8 chain (it's BBB), and I wanted to use G4. So if I bought the VW/VWC I would have had to buy the 300' of chain I wanted right away. With the RC10 I can use the 150' I already have, and get the 300' later down the road, when Im in the caribbean and actually could use that much rode.

[SVTatia]

I am reviving this old post since I am now at the same dilemma between the two windlasses:

Maxwell VW1500 (not VWC)
Maxwell RC 10-8

The price difference is about $300, the RC is cheaper.
Both will have the warping drum, the VW is 1200 watts and the RC is 1000.

The only different feature is that the warping drum on the VW can be operated independently from the gypsy - "Provides the versatility of operating two anchors from one winch."
I wonder if anyone can provide updated comments on these two models.
Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by gaucho

This is what has me confused. Why go with the VW1500 if I can do the RC-10 which:

a) has the same apparent features (including the warping drum)
b) it's cheaper
c) I can use chain AND rope rode
d) It's stainless steel, and it looks awesome

Originally Posted by Paul L

If you can wait a year I let you know what I think of my new install.

Originally Posted by GMac

The VWC is old school. The RC is new and does everything the VWC does plus more.

Because in reality they are pretty much the same winch but with differing topworks.

We get to fix those sorts of problems too often. It's an easy fix, we just wire the bloody thing up properly using the recommended sized gear.

I'd buy the RC long before a VWC.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by SVTatia

I am reviving this old post since I am now at the same dilemma between the two windlasses:

Maxwell VW1500 (not VWC)
Maxwell RC 10-8

The price difference is about $300, the RC is cheaper.
Both will have the warping drum, the VW is 1200 watts and the RC is 1000.

The only different feature is that the warping drum on the VW can be operated independently from the gypsy - "Provides the versatility of operating two anchors from one winch."
I wonder if anyone can provide updated comments on these two models.
Thanks in advance.

To use the drum on the RC you slack the clutch with a winch handle, then only the drum turns, not the chain gypsy.

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by Paul L

To use the drum on the RC you slack the clutch with a winch handle, then only the drum turns, not the chain gypsy.

Thanks for posting. For the RC this is not specified anywhere but the manual.

Today I spent some time on the phone with the Maxwell tech from their office in Maryland and he recommended the RC for my case. The fact that he took the time to explain the differences between the two models, was very helpful, polite and directed me to the less expensive product really got me and I wish all equipment manufacturers were like that. I'll be ordering the RC8-8 this week.