Windlass

[mibeaulieu]

I just bought a 1992 Santiago 638 this past fall and I'm looking at a few things that need upgrading.

1. Windlass - I was thinking about the Maxwell RC8-8.
Anyone use the Maxwell? The boat is all wrapped and I don't have access to the bow to measure anything. Anyone know if this will fit the Santego? Thoughts on the quality. Right now the boat has a "Good" all rope windlass but it won't accommodate any chain so I was thinking I would swap them out.

2. Looking at adding Radar and the Simard GO9 XSE seems to offer a ton of value for an 3 in 1 solution. I would potentially fish off this boat a couple times per year. Most likely in Long Island Sound. In addition, I can see a few trips to Block Island. The boat has a GO7 right now.

Although this will be my third boat - it's my first yacht per se and just trying to get a few things out of the way for the winter.

Thanks

[bud37]

Welcome to the forum........Just a suggestion, but why not stick with Good, they are a family outfit, make real good stuff and all in the USA ( New Jersey) unlike a lot of others ( motors etc) ....I had one in the last boat and was quite pleased with the quality ......perhaps they could recommend how to retrofit your existing....well just a thought considering what you already have.........

[Viper]

The RC series is an upgrade from the popular Freedom series that Maxwell had much success with for years. I find them pretty reliable, well made, easy to install and work on, and parts are readily available, even for the discontinued Freedom units. Like all others, they require some periodic maintenance which is usually neglected but if you look after it and use it properly, it should last for years.

Remember that if you don't already have one, install a chain stopper so that your anchor doesn't deploy accidentally and so that the load when on anchor is on the stopper and not the windlass itself.

[mibeaulieu]

Welcome to the forum........Just a suggestion, but why not stick with Good, they are a family outfit, make real good stuff and all in the USA ( New Jersey) unlike a lot of others ( motors etc) ....I had one in the last boat and was quite pleased with the quality ......perhaps they could recommend how to retrofit your existing....well just a thought considering what you already have.........

My first thought was to get the Good retrofitted to accommodate for a chain. Good is a fantastic company but this windlass can't be upgraded for any length of chain.. so I think its better to replace and sell the Good. I was going to buy a couple things over the winter to get the boat ready for spring.

[Viper]

Oooops,forgot to mention; Welcome Aboard!

[Viper]

What you need to keep in mind when switching to a different unit is that the current wiring may not be up to spec for the new unit. You'll need to check the gauge/wire size that you have now, and compare it to what you'll need for the RC model you're thinking of. On the Maxwell site;

http://www.maxwellmarine.com/support_manuals.php

click Power and Sail, then RC Series, then RC8, and scroll down to the cable size selection chart on page 15 and you'll see the requirement for the RC8-8 is a minimum 4 AWG wire for a maximum 35' run of cable, on a 12 volt unit. That length is the total of both the positive and negative wire together, from the source to the windlass and back to the source. If the breaker is going to be installed in an easily accessible area like the electrical panel, then your positive wire will be much longer than your negative one. That's okay, you just need to take the total length of both wire runs to determine the wire size that you'll need.