Lewmar Pro-Fish 700
The Lewmar for offshore fishing boats up to 38 ft: the auto free fall puts the anchor down fast from the helm.
Amazon $1,035.82$1,035.82
An electric anchor winch or windlass raises and lowers the anchor at the push of a button, so nobody has to haul a wet rode by hand at the bow. These rankings compare what the makers publish on the same terms: how hard it pulls, how fast it brings the line in, what it costs for that pull, which useful features it has and how long it’s covered.
Style is the first choice. A drum anchor winch winds rope onto a spool on deck and suits fishing boats, bass boats and pontoons with a light anchor. A windlass grips a rope and chain rode on a gypsy and drops it into an anchor locker, for bigger boats and heavier anchors. A vertical windlass puts the motor below deck; a horizontal one sits mostly or wholly on deck.
Boat size and anchor is the second. Drum winches are rated by anchor weight, from 25 to 40 lb, and suit boats up to about 26 ft. Windlasses are rated by pull and boat length; a windlass’s working load, not its maximum pull, should comfortably exceed the weight of the anchor and chain.
Saltwater is the third. For a saltwater boat, look for stainless deck parts and a maker that allows saltwater use; some rope winches are for fresh water only.
Top Picks
VEVOR Vertical Windlass 700 lb
A budget vertical windlass for a fishing boat from 20 to 36 ft. Fine for the money, but there is no published warranty to fall back on.
Amazon $472.72$472.72
Shop by Style
Drum anchor winches
5 rankedRope on a spool, mounted on deck: the easy fit for fishing boats, bass boats and pontoons.
Top rated: Minn Kota DeckHand 40 $340.73
Vertical windlasses
5 rankedA gypsy on deck with the motor below: clean and strong, but it needs room under the deck.
Top rated: VEVOR Vertical Windlass 700 lb $472.72
Horizontal windlasses
6 rankedThe whole unit sits on deck: for boats with no room below or a shallow anchor locker.
Top rated: Lewmar Pro-Fish 700 $1,035.82
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Prices were last checked November 2, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.
Best Electric Anchor Winches
- Minn Kota DeckHand 40#1 of 5Full review
A proven freshwater anchor winch for walleye and bass boats with a 20 to 40 lb anchor. Saltwater boaters should look elsewhere.
Amazon $340.73$340.73--40 lb - TRAC Deckboat 40 AutoDeploy-G3#2 of 5Full review
The TRAC to buy for a deck boat or pontoon with a heavy anchor and an owner who wants to anchor from the helm.
Amazon $280.30$280.30-65 ft/min40 lb - TRAC Pontoon 35-G3#3 of 5Full review
The budget pick for a pontoon or deck boat up to about 24 ft. Those who want to drop anchor from the helm should look at the AutoDeploy models with a remote.
Amazon $199.97$199.97-65 ft/min35 lb - TRAC Angler 30 AutoDeploy-G3#4 of 5Full review
For a fishing boat up to about 22 ft whose owner wants to anchor from the console. The remote and auto deploy save trips to the bow.
Amazon $240$240-65 ft/min30 lb - TRAC Fisherman 25-G3#5 of 5Full review
A low cost winch for a small fishing boat with a light river or mushroom anchor. Buyers with a bigger boat or anchor should step up to the Pontoon 35.
Amazon $177.63$177.63-65 ft/min25 lb
Best Vertical Anchor Windlasses
- VEVOR Vertical Windlass 700 lb#1 of 5Full review
A budget vertical windlass for a fishing boat from 20 to 36 ft. Fine for the money, but there is no published warranty to fall back on.
Amazon $472.72$472.72700 lb65 ft/min- - Excalibur C612 Vertical Windlass#2 of 5Full review
A strong, low cost vertical windlass for boats up to about 40 ft. Buyers trade the long warranty of Lewmar or Maxwell for much more pull per dollar.
Amazon $949.99$949.99990 lb85 ft/min- - Five Oceans Pacific 900#3 of 5Full review
For a boat in the 35 to 45 ft range that needs more pull than a 600 W windlass gives, at a lower price than the premium brands.
Amazon $1,890$1,8901,455 lb-- - Lewmar V700#4 of 5Full review
A compact, well supported vertical windlass for a cruiser or center console up to about 30 ft with room under the bow.
Amazon $1,125$1,125700 lb82 ft/min- - Five Oceans Pacific 600#5 of 5Full review
A complete vertical windlass kit, rode included, for boats from 20 to about 45 ft. A good fit when the old rode needs replacing too.
Amazon $1,220$1,220992 lb--
Best Horizontal Anchor Windlasses
- Lewmar Pro-Fish 700#1 of 6Full review
The Lewmar for offshore fishing boats up to 38 ft: the auto free fall puts the anchor down fast from the helm.
Amazon $1,035.82$1,035.82700 lb105 ft/min- - Powerwinch Class 41 Free-Fall#2 of 6Full review
For a 35 to 41 ft power boat owner who wants to anchor from the helm without walking to the bow.
Amazon $955.58$955.58875 lb75 ft/min- - Excalibur S612 Horizontal Windlass#3 of 6Full review
A lot of pull for the money on boats up to about 40 ft with no room below deck. The lack of a stated warranty is the catch.
Amazon $949.99$949.991,200 lb-- - Lewmar Pro-Series 700#4 of 6Full review
A proven, fast horizontal windlass for power boats from 20 to 38 ft. Worth the premium for owners who value parts support and a three year warranty.
Amazon $1,159.86$1,159.86700 lb105 ft/min- - Five Oceans Atlantic 600#5 of 6Full review
A complete on deck windlass kit for boats from 20 to about 45 ft, a good choice when the rode needs replacing too.
Amazon $1,318.50$1,318.501,200 lb--
How We Rank
Each unit is ranked against others of the same style, and scored on its maximum pull (for drum winches, the heaviest anchor it is rated for), its line speed, its price per pound of that rating, whether it has free fall, a wireless remote and stainless deck parts, and its warranty.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Pull | maximum pull (drum winches: heaviest anchor) | 20% |
| Line speed | maximum retrieval speed | 15% |
| Value | price per pound of pull (drum winches: of anchor) | 30% |
| Features | free fall, wireless remote and stainless deck parts | 10% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 25% |
How we rank explains each factor in full.