I'm going to bite the bullet and have an electric winch installed on my 376. My local Hunter dealer is offering two options. The Lewmar is a one speed electric/two speed manual. The Harken is a two speed electric/two speed manual. The Harken is a little more expensive because of the two speed electric feature. Anyone have experience with either or both of these? Any recommendations on which way to go? Thanks
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Simpson-Lawrence, now Lewmar
We have a S-L Anchorman 1000. It has a 1000 watt motor and was recommended by Hunter for our 40.5. My Hunter dealer tells me that the 375 and the 40.5 are very close in design, so possibly that same unit would work for you as well. Simpson-Lawrence was bought out by Lewman last year, so possibly the Lewmar unit may be the former S-L Anchorman. I don't recall the manual speeds that ours has. We have never used it manually. The electric is one speed only, both directions. It works great!! We haul in 160' of 5/16" G-3 chain and a 45# CQR with no effort at all. Last year we hooked into an old abandoned mooring or anchor and pulled up a good deal of that as well. I installed this windlass myself and can tell you many things about the installation. It was not a difficult job and most of the 2/0 power cable was already installed in the boat by the hunter factory. Email me if you want details. Rich Stidger
We have a S-L Anchorman 1000. It has a 1000 watt motor and was recommended by Hunter for our 40.5. My Hunter dealer tells me that the 375 and the 40.5 are very close in design, so possibly that same unit would work for you as well. Simpson-Lawrence was bought out by Lewman last year, so possibly the Lewmar unit may be the former S-L Anchorman. I don't recall the manual speeds that ours has. We have never used it manually. The electric is one speed only, both directions. It works great!! We haul in 160' of 5/16" G-3 chain and a 45# CQR with no effort at all. Last year we hooked into an old abandoned mooring or anchor and pulled up a good deal of that as well. I installed this windlass myself and can tell you many things about the installation. It was not a difficult job and most of the 2/0 power cable was already installed in the boat by the hunter factory. Email me if you want details. Rich Stidger
Winch
Three years ago I installed the Lewmar. It was a really easy installation--took a very easy 4 hours or so. I debated the decision for a year or so, but decided on the Lewmar, and must admit that it changed everything. Push the button, up goes the sail, smooth and easy. I could also sheet the main with it. Worked great and no problems. One speed was fine for me. Do it--you'll love it!
Three years ago I installed the Lewmar. It was a really easy installation--took a very easy 4 hours or so. I debated the decision for a year or so, but decided on the Lewmar, and must admit that it changed everything. Push the button, up goes the sail, smooth and easy. I could also sheet the main with it. Worked great and no problems. One speed was fine for me. Do it--you'll love it!
winch
I have a Lewmar on my H410. Single speed electric. Its been very reliable. Bryce S/V Spellbinder
I have a Lewmar on my H410. Single speed electric. Its been very reliable. Bryce S/V Spellbinder
I must have been asleep
How could I have read your post and thought that you were asking about a windlass instead of a halyard winch? Could be that I had just been reading about anchoring and suffered a massive brain fart. Oh well, maybe just another senior moment.... I too have a Lewmar OP-2 electric WINCH. Single speed and works great. I wouldn't go to sea without it! It has enough power to handle my mainsail and I've used it to hoist a man aloft too. I also installed this myself and the only difficult part of the job was running the power cables within the walls of the boat. About a 1 day job with about 3 hours of looking and planning and 3-4 hours of actually doing. Rich
How could I have read your post and thought that you were asking about a windlass instead of a halyard winch? Could be that I had just been reading about anchoring and suffered a massive brain fart. Oh well, maybe just another senior moment.... I too have a Lewmar OP-2 electric WINCH. Single speed and works great. I wouldn't go to sea without it! It has enough power to handle my mainsail and I've used it to hoist a man aloft too. I also installed this myself and the only difficult part of the job was running the power cables within the walls of the boat. About a 1 day job with about 3 hours of looking and planning and 3-4 hours of actually doing. Rich
Next Questions
Thanks for the feedback. I've decided on the Lewmar. Next question. Did anyone install extra batteries for this? My current house bank is a 4D. My Hunter dealer is telling me I need to install another separate 4D for this. Until now I was always under the impression that I could just run it off of my existing house bank. I don't really have a problem putting in the extra battery but I'm wondering where the best place to put it would be. My port side settee currently houses my starter battery, house bank and Heart interface so it's completely full. Right now my plan is to make room in the settee on the starboard side if I can. Any other suggestions? Thanks again, Rich Hawkins S/V Marconi Won
Thanks for the feedback. I've decided on the Lewmar. Next question. Did anyone install extra batteries for this? My current house bank is a 4D. My Hunter dealer is telling me I need to install another separate 4D for this. Until now I was always under the impression that I could just run it off of my existing house bank. I don't really have a problem putting in the extra battery but I'm wondering where the best place to put it would be. My port side settee currently houses my starter battery, house bank and Heart interface so it's completely full. Right now my plan is to make room in the settee on the starboard side if I can. Any other suggestions? Thanks again, Rich Hawkins S/V Marconi Won
I Guess I Would Defer to the Dealer..
BUT, if this is do it yourself, you may want to wait and see. Yes, it draws a lot of power, but for raising the main, you will be under power generally, and the short bursts for those few times you use it to snug the jib sheets, the draw would seem to be nominal. A larger battery bank is probably worth it anyway, but I'd consider carefully the merits for just this application. IMHO, Rick D.
BUT, if this is do it yourself, you may want to wait and see. Yes, it draws a lot of power, but for raising the main, you will be under power generally, and the short bursts for those few times you use it to snug the jib sheets, the draw would seem to be nominal. A larger battery bank is probably worth it anyway, but I'd consider carefully the merits for just this application. IMHO, Rick D.
More Power
Rich, I am using (4) GC-5 golf cart batteries for my house bank(s). I normally use them in a series/parallel configuration - that is two pairs in series to get 12V and then the two series pairs in parallel to get double the AH capacity. I believe that the 4D is about equivalent to just 2 of my GC-5 in series or 12V @ 235AH. This would be 1/2 of my normal house bank. The Lewmar OP-2 draws about 100-125A peak for the short periods of time to raise the mainsail. It may draw 75-100A for even shorter bursts of time to trim any sheets. I run my winch from my house batteries under power or sail as required. I never run low on power. I would expect that the 4D house battery that you have is entirely adequate. If your 4D is adequate now for everything else that you have, why not just install the winch and see how it performs. You can always add a second battery later if you feel the need. The is no cost advantage to doing it now. BTW, when and if you add another battery, why don't you consider adding 2 smaller GC-5s instead of 1 larger 4D? My GC-5s are each 6V @ 235AH and they weigh 70#. I can handle 70#, but if I had to handle a 4D I would need to get either trade in some of my brains for more brawn (not a lot of buying power there) or get help. Rich
Rich, I am using (4) GC-5 golf cart batteries for my house bank(s). I normally use them in a series/parallel configuration - that is two pairs in series to get 12V and then the two series pairs in parallel to get double the AH capacity. I believe that the 4D is about equivalent to just 2 of my GC-5 in series or 12V @ 235AH. This would be 1/2 of my normal house bank. The Lewmar OP-2 draws about 100-125A peak for the short periods of time to raise the mainsail. It may draw 75-100A for even shorter bursts of time to trim any sheets. I run my winch from my house batteries under power or sail as required. I never run low on power. I would expect that the 4D house battery that you have is entirely adequate. If your 4D is adequate now for everything else that you have, why not just install the winch and see how it performs. You can always add a second battery later if you feel the need. The is no cost advantage to doing it now. BTW, when and if you add another battery, why don't you consider adding 2 smaller GC-5s instead of 1 larger 4D? My GC-5s are each 6V @ 235AH and they weigh 70#. I can handle 70#, but if I had to handle a 4D I would need to get either trade in some of my brains for more brawn (not a lot of buying power there) or get help. Rich
Lewmar is indispensable
I have the Lewmar, single speed electric and 2 speed manual....that I can not do without. Not only can you use it to raise the main but other tasks like trimming the mainsheet, hauling aloft, and raising the dinghy. Best piece of equipment on the boat. And....I only have 2 group 27 batteries and they do just fine
I have the Lewmar, single speed electric and 2 speed manual....that I can not do without. Not only can you use it to raise the main but other tasks like trimming the mainsheet, hauling aloft, and raising the dinghy. Best piece of equipment on the boat. And....I only have 2 group 27 batteries and they do just fine
OP 2 V 2Speed Lewmar
I have a 97 376, Had an OP2 installed on purchasing the boat, It never did perform for me, tried with diff. motors but still would not raise the main or me very well at all. Lewmar tested the winch on my boat with a load meter and the winch could not attain its rated pull. Lewmar replaced the OP2 with a 2 speed 44st at their cost and it works wonderfuly. Makes putting up the main a breeze, I woudn't be without it. Top marks to Lewmar for rectifying my problem, I noticed the OP2 was withdrawn from their sales literature the year following. I note someone else has an OP2 that is working fine, that is certainly interesting. Tony Wilcox "Innovator"
I have a 97 376, Had an OP2 installed on purchasing the boat, It never did perform for me, tried with diff. motors but still would not raise the main or me very well at all. Lewmar tested the winch on my boat with a load meter and the winch could not attain its rated pull. Lewmar replaced the OP2 with a 2 speed 44st at their cost and it works wonderfuly. Makes putting up the main a breeze, I woudn't be without it. Top marks to Lewmar for rectifying my problem, I noticed the OP2 was withdrawn from their sales literature the year following. I note someone else has an OP2 that is working fine, that is certainly interesting. Tony Wilcox "Innovator"
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