What is a Power Winch/Windlass?

Windlasses are a critical component for your boat’s anchoring system, responsible for ensuring the anchor rode/anchor cable operates smoothly and tangle-free. A standard windlass acts as a mechanical guide, giving cables a channel to operate freely. A power winch adds muscle to your windlass, allowing you to drop/raise anchor or retract mooring lines with the press of a button.

A basic power winch has direction control and wind/unwind capabilities. Smarter power winch windlasses can support additional power options for more precise anchoring, like anchor free-fall.