MAURIPRO stocks Lewmar's own manual-override handle and recovery kits, so you can bring an anchor up by hand if your windlass ever loses electrical power. Every Lewmar windlass except the V700 series accepts a standard bi-square winch handle for manual operation, while V1-V3 and CPX-series units also take a dedicated manual-recovery kit matched to whether your windlass is gypsy-only or gypsy-and-drum. Match the option to your model before you order, and it drops straight onto the unit you already have.
This is written for the cruiser (~30-45 ft) whose Lewmar windlass is working fine today but who wants a backup plan aboard before a dead battery, a tripped breaker, or a wiring fault leaves the anchor down and the motor silent. A manual override is a planning purchase, not a repair — it only helps if it's already in the anchor locker when you need it.
Lewmar manual override options at a glance
| Part | Fits | What it's for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handle for Windlass Manual Recovery | Any Lewmar windlass except the V700 series | 200mm handle with a standard bi-square socket to manually operate the windlass | $45.99 |
| Manual Override (Gypsy Only) | Gypsy-only Lewmar windlasses | Backup manual-operation attachment for units without a drum | $233.00 |
| Manual Override (Gypsy Drum) | Gypsy/drum Lewmar windlasses | Backup manual-operation attachment for combined gypsy/drum units | $330.00 |
| V1/2/3 F/Fit Gypsy Drum Man Recovery Kit | Lewmar V1, V2, V3 | Manual recovery kit that fits both gypsy-only and gypsy/drum configurations | $420.00 |
| Emergency Recovery Kit CPX 1/2/3 Go | Lewmar CPX 1, CPX 2, CPX 3 Go | Emergency recovery spare-parts kit for the CPX Go range | $203.00 |
| Manual Recovery Pawl Kit | Lewmar V1 to V3 | Spare pawl kit for the manual-recovery mechanism | $18.99 |
| V700 Fall Safe Kit | Lewmar V700 only | The V700's own fall-safe spare — it does not take the standard handle | $13.99 |
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Which manual override fits your Lewmar windlass?
Start with your gypsy configuration. If your windlass is gypsy-only (no drum for a separate rode), you need the Gypsy Only manual override; if it's a combined gypsy/drum unit, you need the Gypsy Drum version. Lewmar's V1/2/3 F/Fit kit is the exception — it's built to fit both configurations on the V1-V3 range, which is useful if you're not certain which gypsy style your unit has. The CPX 1/2/3 Go range uses its own Emergency Recovery Kit rather than the V-series parts, so match the kit to the windlass family first, then to the gypsy style.
What's the difference between the handle and a manual override kit?
The $45.99 handle is the tool itself — a bi-square winch handle sized to the socket already built into most Lewmar windlasses. The Manual Override kits ($233-$420) are the hardware that gives your specific gypsy configuration a manual-recovery interface for that handle to turn. In practice, keep the handle aboard as your go-to backup tool, and confirm with your windlass's documentation or MAURIPRO's parts desk whether your model already has the manual-recovery interface built in or needs the separate override kit added.
Why would a Lewmar windlass need a manual backup at all?
An electric windlass is only as reliable as the battery, breaker, and wiring feeding it — a dead house bank, a tripped breaker, or a chafed wire at the motor can all leave the gypsy silent with the anchor still on the bottom. None of that is a defect in the windlass itself; it's exactly why Lewmar builds manual-recovery capability into most of its range rather than relying on the motor alone.
Do I need the pawl kit too?
The Manual Recovery Pawl Kit is a spare part for the pawl inside the V1-V3 manual-recovery mechanism, not a substitute for the handle or the override kit. Keep one aboard as a service spare if your windlass already has manual recovery fitted — it's the small, inexpensive part most likely to wear or need replacing after repeated use, and at under $20 it's cheap insurance against being unable to use the manual system when you actually need it.
What about the Lewmar V700?
The V700 is the one model in the current Lewmar range that does not take the standard bi-square handle — it uses its own V700 Fall Safe Kit instead. If you own a V700, don't order the general-purpose handle expecting it to fit; check with MAURIPRO's parts desk to confirm the Fall Safe Kit matches your unit before you buy.
How do I identify which Lewmar windlass I have before ordering?
Check the model markings on the windlass deck unit itself (V1, V2, V3, V700, or the CPX series) and note whether it's gypsy-only or gypsy/drum before ordering any manual-recovery part — every part in this range is keyed to that combination, not sold as one universal fit. If the markings are worn or missing, a photo of the deck unit and the below-deck motor housing is usually enough for MAURIPRO's team to confirm the model for you.
Expert notes
From our parts desk: most calls about manual override kits come in after the windlass has already failed at anchor, when the customer really just needs the anchor up that day. Buying the handle (or kit) ahead of time, and confirming it fits your exact gypsy configuration while you're at the dock, is what turns a stressful afternoon into a five-minute fix.
On boats that anchor out regularly, we recommend testing the manual system at least once when the windlass is working normally — it's much easier to learn how your specific unit's manual recovery behaves in a calm anchorage than to figure it out for the first time during a real power failure.
Common mistakes
- Ordering the standard handle for a V700. The V700 doesn't use it — it needs its own Fall Safe Kit.
- Not knowing your gypsy configuration before ordering. Gypsy-only and gypsy/drum manual override kits are not interchangeable.
- Leaving the handle ashore or in a dockbox. It only helps if it's aboard when the power fails.
- Never testing the manual system until an emergency. Confirm it works, and that you know how to use it, while the windlass is still operating normally.
Frequently asked questions
Does every Lewmar windlass accept the same manual handle?
No. The standard 200mm bi-square handle fits any Lewmar windlass except the V700, which uses its own separate Fall Safe Kit.
What's the difference between the Gypsy Only and Gypsy Drum manual override kits?
They match your windlass's gypsy configuration — Gypsy Only fits units without a drum, Gypsy Drum fits combined gypsy/drum units. The V1/2/3 F/Fit kit is the one exception that covers both configurations on the V1-V3 range.
Can I bring the anchor up by hand if my Lewmar windlass loses power?
Yes, on any model with the correct manual-recovery handle or kit fitted for your gypsy configuration — except the V700, which uses its own Fall Safe Kit instead of the standard handle.
Where can I buy a manual override handle for a Lewmar windlass?
MAURIPRO stocks the genuine Lewmar handle and manual override kits, sized to your windlass's model and gypsy configuration.
Do I need to keep the handle aboard even if my windlass has never failed?
Yes — a manual override only works if it's already in the anchor locker when the power fails. It's a planning purchase, not something to order after the fact.
Recommended gear
Lewmar Handle for Windlass Manual Recovery — the standard bi-square handle for any Lewmar windlass except the V700.
Lewmar V1/2/3 F/Fit Gypsy Drum Man Recovery Kit — one part that fits both gypsy-only and gypsy/drum V-series windlasses.
Lewmar Emergency Recovery Kit CPX 1/2/3 Go — the manual-backup kit for the CPX Go range.
Lewmar V700 Fall Safe Kit — the V700's own manual-backup spare.
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