Horizontal Windlass

A horizontal windlass is an anchor-handling winch with its shaft, gypsy and often a capstan mounted horizontally above the foredeck. It hauls and pays out chain, rope, or a rope-chain combination, allowing crew to raise or lower the anchor under controlled power rather than by hand.

For boaters, the right horizontal windlass reduces strain, speeds recovery, and improves control when anchoring in crowded bays or exposed roadsteads. It must be matched to the vessel’s Anchor Chain, Anchor Rode, anchor weight and locker depth. Loads should be transferred to a Chainstopper or snubber once set, not left on the windlass.

Horizontal units are popular where easy deck access and straightforward maintenance are priorities, though they need adequate foredeck space and fair lead from the bow roller. Before committing to an anchorage, PredictWind wind, gust, wave and tidal information helps assess whether the ground tackle and windlass setup are suitable for the expected conditions.