In order to select the right windlass for your boat, you need to answer three questions:

(i)  Follow a guidance from a known Windlass Manufacturer for choosing the suitable Windlass according to the length of your boat.

(ii) Choose the suitable windlass, by calculating its pulling power: usually as a rule of thumb, you use the following formula:

(iii) How long is the anchor rope you wish to use and will you put the entire rope into your locker. Here you basically have to choose between a horizontal or a vertical windlass.

Horizontal Windlass	Vertical Windlass
Most of the windlass Unit is on the deck	More of the unit is hidden below deck
Easy Installation	Suitable for large anchor lockers
Good for boats with small anchor lockers	Anchor rope makes 180ο wrap around the gypsy and then 90ο turn into the anchor locker
Anchor rope enters the gypsy and makes 90° turn and feeds into the anchor locker	A minimum of 406mm(16in) fall is recommended
Minimum fall of 304mm (12in) is recommended