i much prefer the anchor floats like the anchor yanka ... ive got a large winch on the front of my tub and i dont use it as its too slow and hard to deal with in sloppy conditions .. not much fun being up the front while rolling around trying to balance and roll ropes into the locker ..

if money was no object id look at one of the drum types as i hear they are ok and controled from the cabin ..

as for chains and ropes .. i run about 1 meter of chain per meter of boat lenth .. and then 200meters of silver rope in the locker (not sure of the mm size of the rope . i also have a spare heavy rope of 100m of about 30mm with 5 meters of heavy chain (just incase)

Have a look round on the net for silver rope, the last coil of 12mm x 200 metres I bought was about $100 delivered via OZ post to Carnarvon. Was quote $120+ for a 100 metre coil from a local supplier.

I think Stressfree (drum type) anchor winches are supplied set up with rope and chain for your boat size.

i've got a lewmar from memory. it's great power wise but make sure you get one that you can disengage the drive , so the anchor can free fall to the bottom. i have to stand there with my finger on the button.

hey russ

i only mentioned the staes for the winch cause you save $500,

you can get it all here for about $1800-$2000 from witworths in leadervile.

mine cost $2500 fitted but you can proberly fit it yourself depending on the hatch set up.

they are a top mount and are full s/steel.

i would stay away from the freefall, they tangle because the chain rope comes out to fast.

as i said before, i looked around for months before getting my lewmar and 99% of the sales men said dont get the free fall, the free fall cost more as well.

but as grayzee said, you have to hold the button until it gets to where you want and in very deep water it could be an issuse.

i never anchor in more than 20mts and i find it not to bad.from memory the lewmar 700 series suits up to a 32ft boat.

Russ, you just need your crew to work harder,leaving you more time to fish

I have a Maxwell on the boat, it's ok does have a free fall feature but you have to use the key on the winch. So I just use the button, not that big a deal but I always make sure engine running when raising and lowering the anchor, they drain some power. Don't normally anchor in much more than 35m but.Rope just falls into the anchor well.

When it comes to your anchor rope, check with your winch manufacturer, as some ropes are far more suited to winches than others.

"99% of the sales men said dont get the free fall"

not saying you're wrong ron , but i wouldn't listen to much to salesmen. they just want to sell what they have in stock

your proberly right there graham, salesmen are the slimyest bunch out there, but the shops that did have both in stock still said no to the free fall.

have you had any issuse with yours?

 do you have the profish model?

also when at rotto and watching al the big boats come in, none of them are freefall, from what i have seen anyway.

but holding the button on when in deep water is a pain,  but it dosnt take long.

90% of my anchoring is at rotto in 3mtrs so there is no probs there.

i also looked at the stresfree drum type, they are quite large, cost more and didnt suit my boat anyway and i got told the line bounds up on 1 side, but that was a salesman again so who knows.

cheers

just get some big musclar crewies

don't know which model i have but the only problem i've had , is when the anchor get's jammed , it shreds the rope.

no. i don't have a free fall winch.

this happens on retrieve

I have a free fall lewmar Profish and they are great.

Setup was around $1500 with rope/anchor chain but it was money well spent if you anchor

i don't know that ron , but may be worth finding out , tho i hardly ever anchor.

just looks like your standard cheap crap rope that comes with a new boat fit out.

I have just been through all this and the drum whinch strees free are the best ,they have them with and without freefall and they dont jam like the others.around $2700-$3000 but well worth it think if you give me a ring I will tell you where to get one for half price ,I was keeping it for myself but I you intrested go for it.

Dont know if a drum Whinch would look good on the front of a 23 Fraser

Russ the boat show is October , you might get a better deal and info when shown the equipment when on display , what happened to the Boys pulling up the anchor ,?? so they can earn their keep on board lol

prior to purchase.  I bought a Muir and was surprised it only came with 50m of rope.   I later purchased a 200m length but was advised the standard 10mm rope wasn't compatible.  About $1,100.00 later. 

C'mon Russ, you've got a couple of strong young lads who fish with you!:)

Paul is your winch like Till's photo? looks good .

when it rolls up the rope does the rope roll to one side as it does not have a guide

a drum winch looked like this on my boat, because it wouldnt fit in the hole.

i think my winch i got now looks pretty as well.

check the line pull as well russ, they differ greatly in strength.

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thanks for all the info guys. will be starting to look at a few soon

I havent bought one yet just checked up on them ,they fit stright into the well on the haines .as far as I know they spread the rope out as it is retreved ,but the drum must be centre to the bow bolard.

hey fisho ron is that 700 the vertical model if it is have you had trouble with the rope twisting and jamming its apain on the arse

My stress free did bunch up a bit on one side, then as I was lowering the anchor a loose coil of chain spilled over the side and got wrapped around the "axle", cant think of the word, and I had to climb up and try to loosen the chain locked around the axle.
not too much fun in rough seas, but I sorted it ok.
If the anchor is snagged on a reef, I doubt the winch will pull it off without tearing the front of the bow open.

Any ideas what to do if it is snagged?

only trouble ron has had is forgettin to pull the anchor ur haha

A goood anchor winch is really only as good as the rope you use. Not all nylon ropes are the same. 

I just refitted a Maxwell winch to the bow of my boat. Very happy with it.

Rod 

haha not so much a retard bloke u just like a drink not that thats a problem,yet,hey and your decky is a good bloke too,

Get your boys to eat their weeties before you leave in the mornings Russ, should solve all the problems, oh and leave the anchor retriever at home as well.

go a lewmar pro700 or profish, i suggest you go more chain as possible to eliminate jams especially if you dont have the fall in your anchorwell. Remember to get a good quality nylon rope otherwise it will shred. Not too hard of a lay and not too soft either, medium lay is what you need. There is nothing wrong with a freefall except in a vertical version as too many bends you might say for the rope to leave quickly. Lewmar pro sells for $1399 and the fish $1549 at All Boat Business in Kingsley, rope will set you back at say $250 for 100m 12mm nylon and say $200 for 20mts chain 6mm short link. Be careful not to get the chinese chain as its not the best and can cause jams also. Fitting cost vary from boat to boat and the expensive part is the wiring as you need heavy guage copper wire to give your winch good power otherwise she will be slow and useles. hope this helps guys?....