Anchorlift windlass

[jim rosenthal]

Yes, get out there and polish the windlass every month or two. None of us have anything else to do.

 

[SeaEric]

After 2 emails and a voice mail message, Anchorlift responded with:
5-year factory warranty applies only to products purchased through authorized ANCHORLIFT dealer.
I bought this windlass on ebay from Gulfstream Marine who says:
This unit was sold discounted and without warranty as described on ebay. I use to represent anchorlift as a dealer before anchorlift decided to import their products directly to the US. Sorry, I couldn't be more help but there is nothing else I can offer you.
The ebay listing said nothing about there being no warranty.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Anchorlift-...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

ANCHORLIFT buyers beware!

 

[lumina]

Hi All,

Eric, you could try ebay buyer protection as one avenue for recourse, and I believe there is an appeals process as well should that not work unfortunately I think there is a cutoff of 45 days to open a claim.

The absolute best and most effective thing I've found to get some resolution is to hit the seller hard by contacting him directly and leverage their rating as a tool. I know many ebay sellers who would give you twice your money back to avoid anything but a 100% overall rating, and one person rating them totally unsatisfactory can really muck things up for them.

 

[SeaEric]

Hi Gene, I already went back in to my ebay account and amended my feedback to that seller in order to add the info about NO WARRANTY. My previous feedback is far enough down the page now that probably no one will see it. My primary heartburn is with ANCHORLIFT and their clap Chinese quarity.

 

[SeaEric]

RUST STAINED Anchorlift windlass

The BEST NEWS of the day is: If you Google "anchorlift windlass" This thread pops up in page one of results. Sure Anchorlift - go ahead - screw with an active internet forum user!

 

[Boatsb]

Re: RUST STAINED Anchorlift windlass

The BEST NEWS of the day is: If you Google "anchorlift windlass" This thread pops up in page one of results. Sure Anchorlift - go ahead - screw with an active internet forum user!

Epawn screws more people than you know. I bet the deal is not so good anymore. Next time your looking for stuff cheap remember you'll probably get cheap stuff.

 

[SeaEric]

Re: RUST STAINED Anchorlift windlass

Epawn screws more people than you know. I bet the deal is not so good anymore. Next time your looking for stuff cheap remember you'll probably get cheap stuff.

Yes, sage advice.

Absent the recommendation from my slip neighbor who was 100% happy with his Anchorlift windlass, I would not have even considered one. He purchased his on the net from Don's Marine Salvage in Clearwater Florida. Luckily for him, he had no problems and no need for a warranty claim.

 

[Boatsb]

Remember that most higher end manufacturers don't allow epawn style sales by their dealers.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I have purchase a bunch of stuff on ebay, even cars. I have never had any problems and I wouldn't blame ebay for this. It is clearly Anchorlift that is the problem.

 

[SeaEric]

Remember that most higher end manufacturers don't allow epawn style sales by their dealers.

The point Scott, is that Anchorlift apparently HAS NO DEALERS. They appear to dump box car loads of product wholesale, and the rats scurry and scoop it up to re-sell. Right now there are at least 6 sellers with Anchorlift windlass units for sale on ebay. AFAIK none of those will have a valid manufacturer's warranty.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Evidently this is their business model; make cheap garbage and dump it out the back door. A great long-term plan for a solid business endeavor.

 

[lumina]

Hi All,

Not to derail but to emphasize how cautious you need to be on eBay...actually of eBay sellers:

I know a bit about fine contemporary glass, I keep an eye out on eBay for work by select artists. In one case the seller listed a vase as blown by David Lindsay. Price was $250. Well one look at it and I knew it was a Satava piece worth $3800. I contacted the seller and needless to say it only took him seconds to correct the listing.

In another instance the seller was listing a Kutch sculpture for $1500, which was a steal, $6000 was its current value. I checked the hallmarks which looked correct but something was bothering me about it. I called the artist which I happen to know and they said it was definitely their work, but something looked odd to them as well. After noodling over it they realized it had been dismantled and re-assembled incorrectly. I contacted the seller, explained all this, offered him $2000 since I had to have it repaired. He said no to my offer, took it off eBay US and put it up on eBay UK without any caveat and at a price of $5000.

In Eric's case he bought in good faith but the seller was crafty enough to specify no returns and not mention a warrantee.

My point is there are a lot of good honest people selling on eBay and a lot of dishonest people, kinda like life.

 

[captddis]

Fifteen minutes with some metal polish and it will look like new again.
I have installed anchorlift units as a replacement for Lewmar windlass. I really think they are the same unit. Have not had any problems.
None of those type windless's last very long as the aluminum gearbox corrodes away and eventually falls into the rope locker. The Anchorlifts I bought were from Port Supply.

Not only does the windlass have rust on it but the chain shows corrosion as well. To me it looks like sea water was not rinsed off after a use.

 

[jmoritz]

Hi All,

We installed a new Maxwell RC10 rope/chain (3/8 & 5/8 respectively) on our 48YF in Jan 2008. Awesome. Extremely well made, powerful, never failed us. I believe it was appx $2k at the time but a very worthwhile investment.

This might be a stupid question but is relevant coming from one shopping for a Hatteras. The Maxwell RC 10 is available in 12V and 24V versions. A lot of the convertibles I have been looking at have 32V.

What then? Look for a different model made for 32V or install some kind of step down transformer? I have been trying to imagine what challenges would exist when installing electronics and so forth if I had a 32V system...

 

[MikeP]

"What then? Look for a different model made for 32V or install some kind of step down transformer? I have been trying to imagine what challenges would exist when installing electronics and so forth if I had a 32V system..."

Ideal has 32V windlasses. I don't know if converters exist that can deal with the amperage of a different voltage windlass but maybe...

In 9 years of owning a 32V Hatteras, I have yet to find any problem with obtaining whatever I needed in 32V OR being able to add a converter. Hatts came with 32-12V converters installed to operate certain 12V systems that were oem on the boat so that's not a big deal to either tap into one of them - if sufficient amperage is available or add another one. I added one to power a new 12V Garmin radar a couple of years ago when I replaced the 32V Raytheon. But our chartplotters run from the oem Hatt 32-12 converters.

Items like bilge pumps, the various light bulbs, 8V batteries to make up the 32V system, Heads from several suppliers, etc are all readily available from internet providers though not usually on the shelf at West Marine (though I was surprised see a 32v bilge pump there a few months ago).

Additionally, quite a few of these boats have replacement gennys that have a 12v starter so those boats also have a 12V system available for other items if you want to use it.

 

[jmoritz]

Thanks!

I just have no experience with 32V systems. It seems like any barriers to adding electronics can be easily overcome. Thanks again.

 

[Walter P]

I've been following this thread and am a bit disturbed, but not surprised at some of the comments. About 3 or 4 years ago I bought the large Anchorlift windlass through Lewis Marine supply in Ft. Lauderdale. I didn't get around to installing it yet, but am close. I removed the old Galley Maid (rope only) unit and put it into my storage container along with lots of other boat "stuff" in there, including 4 sets of props, shafts and so on. Well this was the year that I was going to finally dig out the Anchorlift and install it. Several problems became evident some time ago with the main one being that I can't get a hold of anyone from Anchorlift by phone or email to ask a technical question. The approx 1" dia shaft (it's actually a metric size) is not long enough to allow installing on my Series 1, 1982 48 MY because of the thickness of the bow pulpit plus the deck itself. Well I figure, no problem since I owned a firearms manufacturing plant some years back and did almost all of the R & D work myself. As such I was a pretty competent machinist and figured that I would just make a new shaft using Aquamet 22 shaft material. That alloy was developed to withstand torsion so it makes sence to me as a good choice of material for a windlass shaft. Problem is that I can't figure out how to remove the original shaft and I needed to talk to tech support. No joy with all of my efforts. No responses to my phone messages or emails. My last attempt will be to call the manufacturer which by the way is in Norway, not China.. hope they have someone who speaks English on staff. After reading all the comments on this thread, I'm thinking that maybe the best thing to do is try to sell it off and buy a more known product from a reputable company. Thankfully, I have not cut any holes in my newly recored deck but I did to the bow pulpit..no problem it's still in my shop and I can close up all the openings and repaint the fiberglass....

Does anyone have any recomendations as to how I should proceed........

Walt

 

[SeaEric]

Hi Walt, My first thought is to call Lewis Marine and see if they have any wisdom. Otherwise, cut your loss and sell the darned thing for whatever you can get for it and buy a better quality product that the manufacturer will support.

 

[Walter P]

Thanks Eric... I pretty much decided that would be my best move. (Anybody want a brand new Anchorlift Mako model cheap). Now to figure which new unit to buy. From the comments on this forum, it seems like Maxwell looks good. Recommendations? My boat is a 1982 Series I, Hatteras MY which is pretty heavy with a pretty good amount of sail area...

Walt

 

[bobk]

Thanks Eric... I pretty much decided that would be my best move. (Anybody want a brand new Anchorlift Mako model cheap). Now to figure which new unit to buy. From the comments on this forum, it seems like Maxwell looks good. Recommendations? My boat is a 1982 Series I, Hatteras MY which is pretty heavy with a pretty good amount of sail area...

Walt

Walt, boat weight and sail area should not be in consideration because you will use a snubber or bridle when anchoring. You do need to lift the anchor, 3/8 chain and mud.

Bobk