Lighthouse 1501

The original windlass was a Monica Marine 500 series which worked fine until I tried to remove it to repair some foredeck leaks. The motor had frozen onto the shaft, I accidentally extracted the drive shaft out of the bottom of the topworks trying to get it apart.

I purchased a Maxwell 1200 series vertical windlass to replace it thinking I was getting an even stronger windlass. It turns out that not all manufactures use the same "rating" system and the Maxwell was quite anemic compared to the Monica Marine 500. I returned it once to the manufacturer and then finally to where I purchased it for credit. Sigh, another big hole in the foredeck to patch!

A friend with a Valiant 40 suggested the Lighthouse 1501. While not inexpensive, it is an amazing windlass, significantly more powerful than the Monica Marine 500. 

I have been amazed at how many things an electric windlass can be used for. Friends haul me up the mast without fuss, hauling things found diving from the bottom, moving large anchors/moorings around without fuss, and even using it as a sail control winch on the foredeck for the spinnaker when I don't feel like running the line aft!

Lighthouse 1501 Windlass

Note that the windlass is not lined up with the centerline of the vessel but rather is lined up with the bow roller, the footswitch is off to the side, away from the "danger zone" behind and above a windlass, The line on the port cleat is three strand line with a rubber snubber and a chain hook on the end to take the load off the windlass, and there is sufficient clearance under the roller furler for the CQR 35 anchor to clear.