I have a C&C 40 and need new winches. Have had a few friends point me towards Andersen, but I don't hear much about them. Anyone with first-hand experience or thoughts on the Andersen products/service or otherwise?
Considering Andersen Winches - any opinions???
- Thread starter WestS
- Start date
- Status
Had Andersens on my last boat and loved them. The stainless was much easier to maintain than aluminum or chrome bronze. At 10 years the winches still looked brand new.
The drum ribs seem to be the perfect balance between good line grip when winching and smooth easing.
The self tailer on my winches were not sprung. This meant that each winch took a fairly small range of line sizes. I didn't mind since I had the right size line and it was the best tailer I've ever used - but I think they may have changed to a sprung design for more line choice. I would check.
As I remember, Practical Sailor rated them best several years ago. They felt that they were the most efficient (e.g. had the lowest internal and line friction). They were also rated the easiest to disassemble for cleaning.
They used to be more expensive. Not sure now.
Carl
The drum ribs seem to be the perfect balance between good line grip when winching and smooth easing.
The self tailer on my winches were not sprung. This meant that each winch took a fairly small range of line sizes. I didn't mind since I had the right size line and it was the best tailer I've ever used - but I think they may have changed to a sprung design for more line choice. I would check.
As I remember, Practical Sailor rated them best several years ago. They felt that they were the most efficient (e.g. had the lowest internal and line friction). They were also rated the easiest to disassemble for cleaning.
They used to be more expensive. Not sure now.
Carl
If I had my choice it would be Anderson. My buddy Tom installed them on his Sabre and they are very, very nice. I have used most brands, and they all tend to work, but the Anderson's seem to grip the line better than my Lewmar's or the newer Harken's. The SS is nice too and much easier to maintain than chromed bronze. I like my Lewmar's but would trade them in a heart beat for Anderson's.
Andersons are the best wiinches i have owned they grab a line quickly and almost never slip unless you want to pay out a line. you can wrap less times and they look and hold up great. I can comment on support, They have work without any problem for years.
A good friend installed them
on his Whitby 42. They're gorgeous and work great. By far they'd be my first choice.
on his Whitby 42. They're gorgeous and work great. By far they'd be my first choice.
I had a long conversation with my rigger who was and technically still is an Anderson dealer. He gave me an earful and I suppose I will have to recant my suggestion above. His take Lewmar 1st choice, Harken 2nd but very close.
Okay the back story. Lewmar & Harken drums are cast bronze or aluminum then finely machined. Because of this they are both very strong and most importantly ROUND. Anderson had many issues with out of round drums. In light winds, when I have used them, or on some smaller boats the issues may have never reared their heads but on bigger boats and in higher winds they could literally cease to operate because of the out of round drum binding in the gears.
Anderson winch drums were made on a mandrel then welded together vertically, ground and polished. The only problem was that because they were welded and then removed from the welding jig they very often cooled to a non-round shape. A very high percentage of Anderson winches he sold came back.
The other problem is that the line actually grips too well on the drum. In order to play the sheet in 25 knots required only one wrap. Even then he claims you often had to shake the line to get it to slip and play out on the drum. The big problem was that instead of tailing smoothly it could literally "JUMP" two + feet at a time, unpredictably. More then once he had reports of crew who were sucked into winch drums, fingers pinched, broken etc. etc..
On top of all these issues Kevin pointed out to me Anderson was near extinction last year and Ronstan stepped in at the last minute and bought them. He just recently received a letter stating that if dealers wanted parts they should order them NOW. Bottom line appears to be that Ronstan may not continue with the Anderson line so parts may become impossible to find.
Just a heads up!!!
The ones I used were fine but we were in light winds. I have heard Tom complain about the line jumping but never thought much of it until Kevin went on a rant. Apparently they were more beautiful to look at then own for many owners. Some apparently do come off the welding jigs round but many did not. If parts and the future of the brand is unknown I would caution buying them at this point. Harken & Lewmar are both solid companies and Harken has some of the best customer support in the industry..
Keep in mind this is one pro riggers experience as an Anderson dealer. This opinion though is one I highly respect and he's never been wrong in the past..
Okay the back story. Lewmar & Harken drums are cast bronze or aluminum then finely machined. Because of this they are both very strong and most importantly ROUND. Anderson had many issues with out of round drums. In light winds, when I have used them, or on some smaller boats the issues may have never reared their heads but on bigger boats and in higher winds they could literally cease to operate because of the out of round drum binding in the gears.
Anderson winch drums were made on a mandrel then welded together vertically, ground and polished. The only problem was that because they were welded and then removed from the welding jig they very often cooled to a non-round shape. A very high percentage of Anderson winches he sold came back.
The other problem is that the line actually grips too well on the drum. In order to play the sheet in 25 knots required only one wrap. Even then he claims you often had to shake the line to get it to slip and play out on the drum. The big problem was that instead of tailing smoothly it could literally "JUMP" two + feet at a time, unpredictably. More then once he had reports of crew who were sucked into winch drums, fingers pinched, broken etc. etc..
On top of all these issues Kevin pointed out to me Anderson was near extinction last year and Ronstan stepped in at the last minute and bought them. He just recently received a letter stating that if dealers wanted parts they should order them NOW. Bottom line appears to be that Ronstan may not continue with the Anderson line so parts may become impossible to find.
Just a heads up!!!
The ones I used were fine but we were in light winds. I have heard Tom complain about the line jumping but never thought much of it until Kevin went on a rant. Apparently they were more beautiful to look at then own for many owners. Some apparently do come off the welding jigs round but many did not. If parts and the future of the brand is unknown I would caution buying them at this point. Harken & Lewmar are both solid companies and Harken has some of the best customer support in the industry..
Keep in mind this is one pro riggers experience as an Anderson dealer. This opinion though is one I highly respect and he's never been wrong in the past..
- Status