A chain stopper locks your anchor chain in place so the windlass never has to hold the boat's full anchoring load -- its gearbox and brake aren't built for that job. MAURIPRO stocks Lewmar and Maxwell chain stoppers in Economy and Levered lines, sized from 5/16 in to 9/16 in chain, so you can match one to your ground tackle. Here's how the two tiers differ and how to size one to your chain.
Chain stoppers at a glance
| Chain stopper | Brand / line | Chain size | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Chain Stopper | Lewmar | 5/16 in (8.0 mm) | LEW66840077 |
| Levered Chain Stopper | Lewmar | 3/8 in (10.0 mm) | LEW66840079 |
| Levered Chain Stopper | Lewmar | 1/2 in (12.0 mm) | LEW66840080 |
| Anchor Stopper (universal bail) | Lewmar | 1/4 - 3/8 in (6.0 - 10.0 mm) | LEW66840069 |
| Economy Chain Stopper | Maxwell | 5/16 - 3/8 in (8.0 - 10.0 mm) | MAXP104335 |
| Levered Chain Stopper | Maxwell | 5/16 in (8.0 mm) | MAXP104372 |
Chain sizes pulled from MAURIPRO's own product data for each SKU above. Browse the full range in MAURIPRO's chain, hooks, pipes & stoppers collection.
This is written for the owner of a 30-45 ft cruiser or performance-cruiser who already has a windlass installed and is adding, or replacing, the chain stopper that should sit between the bow roller and the windlass. If you're still working out whether your gypsy matches your actual chain standard, start with our companion gypsy and chain compatibility guide first -- this guide assumes that part is already settled and focuses on the stopper itself.
What Does a Chain Stopper Actually Do?
A chain stopper is a deck-mounted fitting -- typically two plates on a base with a pivoting bar or pawl -- that drops between two links of your anchor chain to lock it in place. It's installed between the bow roller and the windlass, so once it's engaged, the chain's load transfers to the stopper and the boat's structure underneath it, not to the windlass. It also keeps the anchor from running out if the windlass brake is ever released without the chain otherwise secured.
Why Can't I Just Rely on My Windlass to Hold the Anchor Chain?
Because it isn't built for that. Lewmar states plainly that windlasses are not designed to hold high loads while a boat is at anchor -- the motor, gearbox, and internal clutch are sized for hauling the rode in and out, not for absorbing the snubbing loads of a boat sailing back and forth on its chain overnight. Once the anchor is set, the chain should be transferred to a chain stopper (or the rope portion of a rode cleated off) so the windlass is off duty until you're ready to retrieve.
Economy or Levered: Which Chain Stopper Do You Need?
Both Lewmar and Maxwell sell chain stoppers in two tiers, and the difference that matters most when you're choosing is size coverage, not price. Lewmar's Economy Chain Stopper is a single-size part built for 5/16 in (8 mm) chain -- the most common chain size on this class of boat -- while its Levered line extends up through 3/8 in, 1/2 in, and 9/16 in for boats running heavier ground tackle. Maxwell's Economy stopper covers two adjacent chain sizes (5/16 and 3/8 in) in one part, and its Levered line steps up to 1/2 in and includes windlass-height-matched variants built to sit at the correct height for specific Maxwell RC8, RC10, and RC12 windlass installations. If your chain is 5/16 in and you're not running a height-matched windlass setup, the Economy tier covers you; above that, or if your windlass model calls for a height-matched fitting, move to the Levered line.
How Do You Size a Chain Stopper to Your Anchor Chain?
Measure your chain's actual link diameter -- not the nominal size on the box -- the same way you'd check gypsy compatibility, since chain sold under the same nominal size can be cut to slightly different real dimensions depending on the standard (BBB, G4, DIN766, ISO). MAURIPRO lists each chain stopper's rated chain-size range directly on the product page, pulled from the manufacturer's own spec sheet, so match your measured diameter to that range rather than to the size printed on your chain locker's old inventory tag. If you've already gone through this exercise for your gypsy, use the same measured number here -- the stopper has to grip the same chain the gypsy is turning.
Where Does a Chain Stopper Mount on Your Boat?
It mounts on deck in the short run between the bow roller and the windlass, in line with the chain's path, so the chain passes through it before it ever reaches the gypsy. That placement is what lets it take the anchoring load off the windlass: the chain locks at the stopper, well forward of the windlass, and the structural mounting point underneath the stopper -- not the windlass housing -- carries the load. Leave enough straight chain run for the pivoting bar or pawl to seat cleanly between two links without binding against the bow roller or the deck pipe.
Which Should You Choose for Your Boat?
Start by measuring your chain's real diameter, then check it against the size range printed on each product page above. If you're on 5/16 in chain and don't have a height-matched windlass requirement, an Economy stopper from either brand does the job. If your chain runs 3/8 in or larger, or your windlass calls for a specific mounting height, move to the Levered line and match it to your brand of windlass for the cleanest fit. Either way, MAURIPRO carries both tiers from Lewmar and Maxwell sized to your chain, so the choice comes down to your actual ground tackle, not what happens to be in stock elsewhere.
Expert notes
From our anchoring and docking bench: the most common mismatch we see isn't the wrong stopper, it's a stopper sized to the nominal chain spec rather than the chain actually on the boat -- always measure the link before ordering, especially on older chain that may have been re-galvanized or replaced piecemeal over the years.
On boats running a windlass-height-matched Maxwell installation, don't substitute a generic levered stopper for the height-matched part -- the mounting height is what keeps the chain lead fair between the bow roller and the gypsy, and getting it wrong strains both the stopper and the chain run.
Common mistakes when choosing a chain stopper
- Sizing to the nominal chain spec instead of the measured link. Chain sold under the same nominal size can differ slightly by standard -- measure before you order.
- Treating the chain stopper as optional. Leaving the windlass to hold the boat at anchor overnight puts a load on the gearbox and brake it isn't built to carry.
- Ignoring windlass-height-matched requirements. On Maxwell RC-series installations in particular, a generic levered stopper can sit at the wrong height and throw off the chain lead.
- Mounting it out of line with the chain path. The stopper needs a straight run from the bow roller so the pivoting bar or pawl can seat between links without binding.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a chain stopper if I already have a windlass?
Yes. A windlass is built to haul the rode in and out, not to hold the boat's full anchoring load overnight -- Lewmar's own guidance states plainly that windlasses aren't designed for that. A chain stopper takes that load off the windlass and onto the deck structure underneath it.
What size chain stopper do I need?
Measure your chain's actual link diameter and match it to the chain-size range listed on the product page. Lewmar's Economy stopper covers 5/16 in chain; its Levered line covers 3/8 in through 9/16 in. Maxwell's Economy stopper covers 5/16-3/8 in combined, and its Levered line runs up to 1/2 in, with windlass-height-matched variants for RC8, RC10, and RC12 installations.
Where does a chain stopper mount?
On deck, between the bow roller and the windlass, in a straight line with the chain's path, so the chain passes through it before reaching the gypsy.
What's the difference between an Economy and a Levered chain stopper?
Mainly size and application coverage. Economy stoppers are single- or dual-size parts built for the most common chain sizes on a mid-size cruiser. Levered stoppers extend coverage to larger chain diameters and, in Maxwell's case, include variants height-matched to specific windlass models.
Can I use a chain stopper with a combination chain-and-rope rode?
Yes -- the chain stopper only engages the chain portion of the rode. Once you've paid out enough chain to reach the rope splice, transfer the load to the chain stopper on the chain side, the same as with an all-chain rode.
Recommended chain stoppers
- Lewmar Economy Chain Stopper (5/16 in) -- the standard fit for 8 mm chain on a mid-size cruiser.
- Lewmar Levered Chain Stopper (1/2 in) -- for boats running heavier 12 mm chain.
- Maxwell Economy Chain Stopper (5/16-3/8 in) -- one part covering two common chain sizes.
- Maxwell Height-Matched Levered Chain Stopper (RC10/RC12) -- for boats running a Maxwell RC10 or RC12 windlass.
You may also be interested in
- Gypsy & Chain Compatibility: Matching a Windlass to Your Rode
- Windlass Sizing: How Much Pulling Power Do You Actually Need?
- How to Install and Wire a Sailboat Windlass: A Planning Guide
Author: MAURIPRO Systems Team -- MAURIPRO Sailing, founded 2003, competitive sailors and sailing & marine specialists. Last updated: September 11, 2026.