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How to size a Muir windlass, and the key specifications of the whole recreational range: Storm vertical windlasses, Lynx, Cougar, Cheetah, Jaguar and Thor horizontals, Easyweigh, capstans, pot haulers, drum winches, chain and rope-chain rodes.

DocumentMuir Recreational Equipment Guide Anchor Winches and Windlasses
FormatPDF · 40 pages · 5.4 MB
LanguageEnglish
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SelectingStorm VerticalCompact HorizontalEasyweigh & CapstansDrum WinchesChain & RodesProducts
Muir Recreational Equipment Guide — Anchor Winches and Windlasses

Selecting a Windlass

Muir recreational windlass selection guide by vessel length with compatible chain sizes

  • Maximum pulling load required = total weight of ground tackle (anchor + rope / chain) × 3.
  • A winch working for long periods typically runs at 33% of its maximum load; when weighing anchor the load is up to 33%-50%, peaking at breakout. Power the boat towards the anchor – do not haul the boat with the windlass.
  • Charter, commercial, extended offshore cruising, or a boat at the upper limit of the displacement range: choose the next size up. All selections assume a chain stopper or snubber.
  • Vertical windlasses need more fall: at least 30cm from the top of the stacked rode (important with nylon line) and give a 180-degree wrap. Horizontals suit shallow lockers.
  • A circuit breaker must be installed to protect motor and wiring and to qualify for warranty.
  • Codes: VR vertical reversing with gypsy; VRC with gypsy and capstan; VFF vertical freefall; HFF horizontal freefall; VC vertical capstan; HR horizontal reversing; VM/VMC vertical manual.
  • MOS (Manual Operating System): a gypsy attachment worked with a winch handle once the capstan or clutch top is removed – standard on most Storm models. MORS (Manual Override System): handle into the windlass top, optional upgrade on the larger windlasses, standard on HR1200 to 4200.

Storm Vertical Windlasses (polished stainless steel, RCMS fitted)

Model Vessel length Power (DC) Motor (W) Amps work load Max load Work load Max line speed Chain / rope Net weight
VFF600 (auto freefall) 5–9m (16–31ft) 12/24V/48V 550 75 369kg (813lb) 123kg (271lb) 21m/min (68ft/min) Rope-chain only: 6 mm (1/4") or 7 mm chain, 12mm (1/2") rope DC 12kg
VR600 5–9m (16–31ft) 12/24V/48V 550 75/40 369kg (813lb) 124kg (271lb) 25m/min (82ft/min) Rope-chain: 6 mm or 7 mm chain, 12mm rope DC VR 12kg
VR/VRC850 8–11m (26–37ft) 12/24V 800 75/40 450kg (992lb) 150kg (330lb) 26m/min (85ft/min) 6, 8 or 10 mm chain; rope/chain 12/6, 14/8, 16/10 mm VR 15kg, VRC 16.5kg
VR/VRC1250 10–13m (32–44ft) 12/24/48V; HYD 8MPa, 15L/min 1200 125/60 621kg (1369lb) 207kg (456lb) 30m/min (98ft/min) 6, 8 or 10 mm chain; rope/chain 12/6, 14/8, 16/10 mm DC VR 20kg, VRC 22kg; HYD 15.5 / 17kg
VR/VRC2200 12–15m (38–50ft) 12/24V/48V; HYD 10MPa, 15L/min 1500 150/70 1101kg (2427lb) 367kg (809lb) 30m/min (98ft/min) 6, 8 or 10 mm chain; rope/chain 12/6, 14/8, 16/10 mm DC VR 23.5kg, VRC 25kg; HYD 22.5 / 24kg
VR/VRC2500 14–20m (45–66ft) 12/24V/48V (AC or HYD); HYD 10MPa, 20L/min 1500 150/70 1200kg (2645lb) 400kg (881lb) 28m/min (91ft/min) 8 or 10 mm, 13 mm chain only; rope/chain 14/8, 16/10, 20/13 mm DC VR 40kg, VRC 44kg; HYD 38 / 42kg
VR/VRC3500 15–24m (48–79ft) 12/24V/48V (AC or HYD); HYD 10MPa, 28L/min 1700 185/90 1650kg (3637lb) 550kg (1212lb) 28m/min (91ft/min) 8 or 10 mm, 13 mm chain only; rope/chain 14/8, 16/10, 20/13 mm DC VR 42kg, VRC 46kg; HYD 38 / 42kg
VR/VRC4000 18–25m (58–84ft) 24/48V (AC or HYD); HYD 200 bar, 22L/min 2200 110 (24V) 2100kg (4629lb) 700kg (1543lb) 17m/min (55ft/min) 8 or 10 mm, 13 mm chain only; rope/chain 14/8, 16/10, 20/13 mm DC VR 54kg, VRC 58kg; HYD 50 / 55kg
  • Manual operation: MOS standard on most gypsy sizes of the 850, 1250 and 2200; MORS optional upgrade on the 2500, 3500 and 4000.
  • Maximum deck thickness: 75mm (3") standard, 155mm (6.1") with 6" extension on the 850/1250/2200; 50mm (2") standard and 116mm, 133mm or 159mm with 6", 7" or 8" extensions on the 2500/3500/4000.
  • Quick fit adaptor standard on the 850 / 1250 / 2200: motor and gearbox slide onto the shaft in any radial position (360°) and come off by removing 1 bolt and the retaining clip.
  • Manual Vertical VM/VMC 500: 6–12m (19–40ft), max load 227kg (500lb), recovery 36cm/revolution (14.5"), chain 6, 8 or 10 mm, rope 12, 14 or 16mm; VM 5.5kg, VMC 6.5kg; ratchet operation with a standard sheet winch handle.

Compact Horizontal Windlasses

Model Vessel length Power (DC) Motor (W) Amps work load Max load Work load Max line speed Chain / rope Net weight
HR/HC650 Lynx 5–9m (16–30ft) 12V 550 60 369kg (813lb) 123kg (271lb) 21m/min (68ft/min) 6mm (1/4") chain; 12, 14 or 16mm rope HR 12kg, HC 13kg
HR/HC950 Lynx 7–11m (23–37ft) 12V 750 70 464kg (1020.8lb) 154.7kg (340lb) 21m/min (68ft/min) 8mm (5/16") chain; 12, 14 or 16mm rope HR 12kg, HC 13kg
HR1200 Cougar 8-12m (26-39ft) 12/24V 800 75/40 500kg (1102lb) 166kg (366lb) 26m/min (85ft/min) 6, 8 or 10 mm chain DC 25kg, HYD 24kg
HR1600 Cougar 10–14m (33–46ft) 12/24/48V 1200 (1000) 125/60 621kg (1369lb) 207kg (456lb) 30m/min (98ft/min) 6, 8 or 10 mm chain DC 25kg, HYD 24kg
HR2500 Cheetah 13–17m (42–57ft) 12/24V/48V; HYD 10MPA, 20L/min 1500 (1200) 150/75 1200kg (2645lb) 400kg (881lb) 28m/min (91ft/min) 8, 10 or 13mm chain (chain only) DC 36kg, HYD 35kg
HR3500 Jaguar 14–20m (45–67ft) 12/24V/48V; HYD 10MPa, 28L/min 1700 185/90 1650kg (3637lb) 550kg (1212lb) 28m/min (91ft/min) 8, 10 or 13mm chain DC 58kg, HYD 57kg
HR4000 Thor 18–24m (58–79ft) 24V/48V; HYD 12MPa max, 28L/min 1700 90 1800kg (3968lb) 600kg (1322lb) 17m/min (55ft/min) 8, 10, 13 or 16mm chain DC64kg, HYD63kg
HR4200 Thor 18–25m (58–82ft) 24/48V; HYD 12MPa max, 28L/min 2200 110 2100kg (4629lb) 700kg (1543lb) 17m/min (55ft/min) 8, 10, 13 or 16mm chain DC64kg, HYD63kg
  • HR/HC650 and 950: brushed 316 stainless housing, bronze worm wheel in oil bath; RCMS standard on the HR/C 650. HR1200 and HR1600 stainless: brushed 316 housing; HR1600 composite, HR2500, HR3500 and HR4000/4200: white gloss composite or marine alloy housing.
  • MORS manual override standard from HR1200 to 4200; twin gypsy/twin capstan options; AC and hydraulic versions.
  • Rope can also be used on the HR3500 and HR4000/4200 but is not recommended for larger vessels; the HR1600/2500 composite page is marked for use with chain only.

Easyweigh & Pot Haulers

Model Key data
H900 (horizontal) 6–11m (20–39ft), 12V, 900W, 100 A work load, max load 510kg (1124lb), work load 170kg (375lb), 23m/min (75ft/min), 6 or 8mm chain, 12 or 14mm rope, 13kg
V900 (vertical) 6–11m (20–39ft), 12V, 900W, 80 A, max load 300kg (660lb), work load 100kg (220lb), 23m/min, 6 or 8mm chain, 12mm rope, 9kg
VC800 capstan / pot hauler Up to 11m (38ft), 12V, 80A breaker, 900W (as printed), 60 A, max load 135kg (297lb), work load 80kg (176lb), 25m/min, rope up to 12mm, 8.5kg; clockwise rotation, auto action clutch prevents rollback
MH200 pot hauler Up to 11m (38ft), 12V, 100A breaker, 900W, 120 A, max load 90kg (198lb), work load 18kg (37lb), 35m/min (115ft/min), rope 4-10mm, 13.7Kg; folding arm, fully dismountable

Vertical Powered Capstans

Model Key data
VC500 5–9m, 12V, 550W, 75 A, max load 150kg (330lb), 25m/min, rope 10 or 12mm, DC 9kg
VC650 8–11m, 12/24V, 800W, 75/40 A, max load 330kg (727lb), 20m/min, rope 10 or 12mm, DC 12kg
VC850 9–14m, 12/24V, 1200W, 125/60 A, max load 447kg (985lb), 24m/min, rope 10 or 14mm, DC 16kg
VC2500 14–22m, 12/24V/48V or HYD (10MPa, 20L/min), 1500W, 150/70 A, max load 1185kg (2612lb), 15m/min, rope 12 or 19mm, DC 25kg / HYD 23kg
VC3500 16–27m, 12/24V/48V or HYD (11MPa, 28L/min), 1700W, 185/90 A, max load 1530kg (3373lb), 16m/min, rope 14 or 25mm, DC 27kg / HYD 19kg

Capstan dimension tables (A–M) are on catalogue page 26. Motor ratings here are the catalogue figures; the capstan manuals list some different motor sizes.

Drum Winches DW (power up/down) and DFF (free fall)

Model Vessel length Power (DC) Motor (W) Max load Work load Rope Drum capacity Net weight (kg)
DW06 4–7m (12–16ft) 12V 550 120kg at 6m/min 40kg at 33m/min 6mm (1/4") 50m of 6mm line, 5m of 6mm chain 15/16
DW/DFF08 5–8m (16–28ft) 12/24V 800 180kg at 7m/min 60kg at 33m/min 8mm (5/16") 100m of 6mm line or 80m of 8mm line, 5m of 8mm chain 15/16
DW/DFF10 8–10m (26–36ft) 12/24V 1200 261kg at 7m/min 87kg at 33m/min 10mm (3/8") 120m of 6mm line or 80m of 8mm line, 5m of 8mm chain 30/31
DW/DFF12 10–12m (34–42ft) 12/24V/48V 1500 312kg at 7m/min 104kg at 33m/min 10mm (3/8") 120m of 6mm line or 80m of 8mm line, 5m of 8mm chain 32/34
DW/DFF15 12–14m (40–49ft) 12/24V/48V 1700 390kg at 8m/min 130kg at 25m/min 12mm (1/2") 120m of 6mm line or 80m of 8mm line, 5m of 8mm chain 35/37

316 stainless drum; supplied with circuit breaker, reversing solenoid pack and helm rocker switch. DFF models switch between auto free fall, manual release free fall and power up/power down in a 30 second adjustment. Dimension tables are on catalogue pages 31–32.

Grade L G50 Short Link Chain

Size mm MBL (tonne) D (mm) P (mm) W (mm) Links/m Metres/100kg
6 3.6 6.3 18.8 21.6 53 110
8 5.8 8 23.8 27.8 42 69.9
10 7.2 10 29.8 34 33.6 43.9
13 12.2 12.5 38 42 26.5 28.9
Chain Australian HDG kg/m European HDG kg/m American HDG lbs/ft (kg/m)
6 mm / 1/4 0.9 0.8 0.7 (1.1)
8 mm / 5/16 1.5 1.4 1.1 (1.6)
10 mm / 3/8 2.3 2.3 1.5 (2.2)
13 mm / 1/2 3.6 3.9 2.6 (3.8)

Rope-Chain Kits

Chain Chain length Rope Rope length
6mm (1/4") 10m (32ft) or 20m (65ft) 12mm (1/2") 100m (328ft)
8mm (5/16") 10m (32ft) or 20m (65ft) 14mm (9/16") 100m (328ft)
10mm (3/8") 10m (32ft) or 20m (65ft) 16mm (5/8") 100m (328ft)
  • 3 strand nylon rope with Grade L short link chain; the windlass must be fitted with an RCMS unit.
  • Snubber line kits: 12mm line, 2m for 6mm chain; 14mm, 3m for 8mm; 16mm, 3m for 10mm; 19mm, 3m for 13mm; 22mm, 4m for 16mm chain.
  • Drum winch rope-chain kits from DW06 (5m of 6mm chain + 50m of 6mm rope) to DW/DFF 10, 12, 15 (6m of 8mm chain + 150m of 8mm, 90m of 10mm or 70m of 12mm rope).

This document covers the Muir models named above, as printed in the PDF. The Muir windlasses we stock today are listed below; motor ratings and parts can differ between generations, so check the model plate and ask us before ordering spares.

Need a part that isn't listed? Ask us to source it and quote the part number from the PDF.

Products in this Selection Guide