With so many choices for marine electric winches out there, it can be difficult for a beginner to make the right choice. Every manufacturer/brand claims its product to be the best and just right for you. However, not all winches are created equal. After all, there is a huge price difference among brands. Having said that, quality does not always equal price. You need to focus on factors other than the price to get the best value for your money.
Before you go shopping for this piece of equipment, you should know that there are different types of marine winches available in the market. There are windlass winches, capstan winches as well as drum winches. All these three types have their own advantages and limitations.
A windlass winch is installed in a horizontal position and the rope and chain rotate vertically over a winch. Generally, these types of winches are preferred in smaller boats as these do not require a lot of space. However, these also experience a lot of slippages, especially compared to the alternatives.
Capstan winches are installed in a vertical position and it is the most common type of winch you will find installed on a boat. There is also the drum anchor winch where rope and chain are stored on a drum. It is best for boats that do not have any space for storing the anchor as well as the chain. These also have a limitation on the amount of chain that can be used with the anchor. One of the biggest advantages of drum winches marine is their high speed. These winches release and pull in the anchor rope extremely fast as compared to the alternatives.
As far as the choice of a marine winch is concerned, it should be made after considering a few important factors. One of the most important factors that really matter is the capacity of the winch. You wouldn’t want to be in a situation where the motor burns out when pulling in the anchor rope.
The working capacity of the winch is mentioned in the specifications but it is theoretical and there is no reason for you to trust no-name brands when it comes to product description. They might mention one thing but once you use the machine in the real world, you might find that the actual capacity is nowhere near the specifications mentioned in the product description.
The choice of winch also depends on the length of chain that is going to be pulled in by the winch. In addition to these technical factors, the other important factors that really matter in the long run are reputation of the brand and price of the winch.
A marine winch is expensive but if you already own a boat, you know that owning a boat isn’t cheap. Many people make the mistake of trying to save money on other pieces of equipment necessary for the boat but you shouldn’t cheap out on a winch. It may have serious consequences for your safety.
Overall, your focus should be on buying a high-quality product rather than price. This is why you should always check the product reviews and reputation of the brand instead of price when buying a marine electric winch.