Identify your windlass
Often customers call our office with questions about their windlasses having no idea what model they own. Usually by asking a series of questions we can identify the model. Below are steps to identify your windlass model and once identified a list of the information available, such as parts lists, instructions, maintenance, wiring, etc. We group windlasses into three categories, vertical capstans, vertical windlasses with a chain wildcat and capstan, and finally horizontal. Verticals have a vertical main shaft with the motor and gearbox below deck while the horizontals are completely above deck with the shaft horizontal to the deck. All windlasses have a model # & serial #. Vertical windlasses have a tag attached to the gearbox below deck, horizontal windlasses have a tag usually on top.
Vertical Capstan:
The capstan is a simple drum around which rope is wrapped . Starting in the 1940’s until the early 1990’s there were only three sizes of capstans. In the early 1990’s the line was expanded to five sizes utilizing the same capstans. While there are five capstan models there are only three capstan, or drum, sizes.
To identify your capstan check the deck plate diameter, the diameter
of the top lip of the capstan, the number of bolts holding it in the
deck and the shape of the gearbox.
Model MM and later Model V1A:
Diameter of deck plate: 7 ¼”
Diameter of top lip of capstan: 3 7/8”
Number of bolts: 3
Gearbox: Bronze casting
Typical boat size: 26 -38 ft
Model V2A:
Diameter of deck plate: 7 ¼”
Diameter of top lip of capstan: 3 7/8”
Number of bolts: 3
Gearbox: Rectangular steel, 3” thick
Typical boat size: 36 -42 ft
Model V4A:
Diameter of deck plate: 11”
Diameter of top lip of capstan: 5 ¾”
Number of bolts: 4
Gearbox: Rectangular steel, 4 5/8” thick
Typical boat size: 45 -54 ft
Model A and later V3A:
Diameter of deck plate: 10 1/4”
Diameter of top lip of capstan: 5 ¾”
Number of bolts: 4
Gearbox: Rectangular steel, 3” thick
Typical boat size: 38 -48 ft
Model B and later V5A:
Diameter of deck plate: 11”
Diameter of top lip of capstan: 6 5/8”
Number of bolts: 4
Gearbox: Rectangular steel, 4 5/8” thick
Typical boat size: 48 -70 ft
Vertical Windlass with Wildcat:
The vertical windlass with a wildcat has a capstan, or drum, that rope is wrapped around on top and a wildcat, or chain gypsy below the capstan. Starting in the 1940’s until the early 1990’s there were only three sizes. In the early 1990’s the line was expanded to five sizes utilizing the same above deck parts. While there are five models there are only three sizes of capstans and wildcats.
To identify your windlass check the deck plate diameter, the diameter of the top lip of the capstan, the diameter of the wildcat, the number of bolts holding it in the deck and the shape of the gearbox.
Model MCW and later Model V1C:
Diameter of deck plate: 7 ¼”
Diameter of top lip of capstan: 3 7/8”
Diameter of wildcat: 5”
Number of bolts: 3
Shape of gearbox: Bronze casting
Typical boat size: 26 -38 ft
Model V2C:
Diameter of deck plate: 7 ¼”
Diameter of top lip of capstan: 3 7/8”
Diameter of wildcat: 5”
Number of bolts: 3
Gearbox: Rectangular steel, 4” thick
Typical boat size: 36 -42 ft
Model V4C:
Diameter of deck plate: 11”
Diameter of top lip of capstan: 5 3/4”
Diameter of wildcat: 7 1/8”
Number of bolts: 4
Gearbox: Rectangular steel, 4 1/2” thick
Typical boat size: 45 - 54 ft
Model ACW and later V3C:
Diameter of deck plate: 10 ¼”
Diameter of top lip of capstan: 5 ¾”
Diameter of wildcat: 7 1/8”
Number of bolts: 4
Gearbox: Rectangular steel,
3” thick - ACW, 4” thick-V3C
Typical boat size: 38 - 48 ft
Model BHW later V5C:
Diameter of deck plate: 13”
Diameter of top lip of capstan: 6 5/8”
Diameter of wildcat: 8”
Number of bolts: 6
Gearbox: Rectangular steel, 4 1/2” thick
Typical boat size: 48 - 70 ft
Horizontal Windlasses
Horizontal windlasses are mounted completely above deck with the main shaft horizontal to the deck. Ideal has never made a horizontal windlass with a motor that mounts below deck, or a gearbox made of aluminum. Starting in the 1940’s until the early 1990’s there were three sizes of horizontal windlasses. In the early 1990’s the line was completely redesigned and expanded to five sizes. There are too many variations of horizontal windlasses to list them all. The most popular versions have a rope capstan to port and a chain wildcat to starboard.
Model CWM, later H1F. There is a model with 2 rope capstans, Model CAM. Typical boat size: 26 -38 ft See drawing to the left
Model CHWSO There are other versions, chain wildcat port, rope
capstan starboard, Model CHWPO. Dual capstans, no wildcats,
Model C2HCO. Later models were built with a smaller base with a
separate chain stripper and hawse pipe.
Typical boat size: 36 -48 ft
See drawing to the right
Model GHWSC There are other versions, chain wildcat port, rope capstan starboard, Model GHWPC. Dual capstans, no wildcats, Model G2HC. Later models were built with a smaller base with a separate chain stripper and hawse pipe. Typical boat size: 48 -70 ft See drawing to left
In the mid 90’s the horizontal windlasses were redesigned. Cases were changed to stainless with the motor inside. There are 4 basic sizes with variations in each size. For the most common use the drawing to the left & the chart below.
3 7/8 5 6 3/8 8 17 3/4 H2F
5 11/16 7 1/8 7 7/8 8 1/4 19 1/2 H3F
5 11/16 7 1/8 10 11 1/2 24 1/2 H4F
6 5/8 8 10 11 1/2 24 1/2 H5F
