Every anchor windlass and winch gets a score from 0 to 100% built from five factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Units are grouped by style: drum anchor winches, vertical windlasses and horizontal windlasses. Drum winches are rated by the heaviest anchor they lift rather than by pull, so their pull and value factors use the anchor rating instead.
| 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% |
Where the numbers come from
Pull, working load, line speed, motor power, current draw, anchor and boat ratings, features and warranty come from the maker’s manual, spec sheet or product page, or the maker’s own listing copy. Metric figures are converted. Prices are checked at Amazon, the maker’s own store and marine retailers, and the lowest is used.
The factors
Value is the current price divided by the maximum pull (for drum winches, by the heaviest anchor), on a log scale, so halving the price per pound always counts the same. For windlasses, $2.50 per lb of pull scores zero and $0.50 full marks; for drum winches, $16 per lb of anchor scores zero and $4 full marks.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty: 1 year scores zero and 5 years full marks. A lifetime warranty scores full marks.
Pull is the maker’s maximum pull, on a log scale: for vertical and horizontal windlasses, 400 lb scores zero and 1,500 lb full marks. For drum winches it is the heaviest anchor the maker rates the winch for: 15 lb scores zero and 50 lb full marks.
Line speed is the maker’s maximum retrieval speed, how fast the unit brings the rode in: 40 ft a minute scores zero and 120 ft a minute full marks. A drop or free fall speed doesn’t count.
Features is 35% for free fall, which lets the anchor drop without power, 30% for a wireless remote in the box and 35% for stainless steel deck parts.
What isn’t scored
Working load, motor power, current draw, the heaviest anchor a windlass is rated for, the longest boat, the rode it handles, voltage and weight are listed but not scored.
Missing data
If a figure isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. The exception is warranty: a maker that doesn’t publish one gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero, the same as the shortest warranty on the scale, and is marked estimated.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.