Lewmar Windlasses

[BryanOnTheBay]

I have the original Lofrans Marlin windlass on my boat. The spring and the bolt for the finger has given up the ghost. I bought a new spring, but it did not fit. Now that the boat show is running, there are sales everywhere.

I am am interested in purchasing a Lewmar CPX0 Vertical Gypsy Windlass. It seems like a good replacement, and Lewmar has been around a long time. However, I can find nothing on the quality and reliability of this windlass. My boat is 16 years old, so I don't want to drop a ton of money on a windlass.

Anyone have any experience or recommendations? Thanks!

Bryan

 

[MonacoMike]

I have the slightly smaller Lewmar V700 on my boat and it has been trouble free for 5 years. It may be all you need. I have 50 feet of chain, 200 feet of line and a 22 pound Delta plow.

MM

 

[BryanOnTheBay]

I have the slightly smaller Lewmar V700 on my boat and it has been trouble free for 5 years. It may be all you need. I have 50 feet of chain, 200 feet of line and a 22 pound Delta plow.

MM

Mike,

I was looking at the V700 as well. Defender has the V700 for $565 and the CPX0 for $600, which is why I was looking at the CPX0. I am glad that it has served you well. Does it have the same basic footprint as the Marlin?

i like the idea of 50 feet of chain.

Bryan

 

[MonacoMike]

Mike,

I was looking at the V700 as well. Defender has the V700 for $565 and the CPX0 for $600, which is why I was looking at the CPX0. I am glad that it has served you well. Does it have the same basic footprint as the Marlin?

i like the idea of 50 feet of chain.

Bryan

I did a virgin install as the boat did not have one when I purchased it, so I cannot answer the footprint question. The pattern for drilling the holes for the Lewmar is online and you may be able to measure it off to see if it fits close. Good luck,

MM

 

[BryanOnTheBay]

Thanks for the info! I was planning on filling and redrilling to prevent water incursion, anyway, so I can glass over what holes I don't use. Just thinking about whether I will need to gelcoat or not.

Bryan

 

[DanW65]

Great info here, thanks everyone. I see that this is an older post, hope I can still get some feedback.
I just purchased a 1998 Sundancer 270 in April of this year which has the Lofrans Marlin and same exact problem. The windlass seems to work fine except the pressure finger is worn and jamming under the chain upon lowering. After doing all my research and searching for a new finger that is discontinued, I am realizing that the previous owner installed a different finger which could be the reason for jamming.
Since the parts seems to be unobtainable, I am now looking into putting one of the Lewmar's on and wanted to know how your installation went. Which one did you go with and was it a direct fit? I am thinking it to be a good idea to also install the control box that the new Lewmar will come with, from what I have been reading that is a wear item? Since everything seems to be working fine, can I just install the new Lewmar and control switch still using my same chain and rope?
I am new to this and any help or feedback will be greatly appreciated.

 

[BryanOnTheBay]

​

I just purchased a 1998 Sundancer 270 in April of this year which has the Lofrans Marlin and same exact problem. The windlass seems to work fine except the pressure finger is worn and jamming under the chain upon lowering. After doing all my research and searching for a new finger that is discontinued, I am realizing that the previous owner installed a different finger which could be the reason for jamming.
Since the parts seems to be unobtainable, I am now looking into putting one of the Lewmar's on and wanted to know how your installation went. Which one did you go with and was it a direct fit? I am thinking it to be a good idea to also install the control box that the new Lewmar will come with, from what I have been reading that is a wear item? Since everything seems to be working fine, can I just install the new Lewmar and control switch still using my same chain and rope?
I am new to this and any help or feedback will be greatly appreciated.

For the continuity of the thread, I will post my response to your PM:

"The install itself went fine. You have to switch out all components up forward with the components in the box, but the wiring is sufficient. If you use the Lewmar windlass, you will have to fill and redrill a couple of holes as they don't perfectly line up. I would also make the fall through slightly larger as I get rope hanging up on occasion.

The windlass itself is great and has plenty of power. I used the old controls on the boat for it.

The issue I did run into was that SeaRay had done a piss poor job of sealing things up there, and I had to replace a bunch of the core of the deck due to rot. THAT was a PITA."

While I indicated that you need to replace all components, I want to make it clear that this does include the control box. I tried testing the new windlass with the old box, and it didn't work. Once I had replaced the control box, as I had already planned, it ran well. Everything you need except the control switches came in the box, including a new breaker. It is slightly higher rated than the Loran's breaker, but I remember I was well within tolerance with the run of the power wire att the gauge of the wire. That had had me concerned.

I also replaced the foot control switches with new, stainless ones from Lewmar. The old ones looked like crap. The Lewmar switches use smaller holes, so you will need to fill the holes for the old switches. This wasn't a problem for me, since I already had to replace the core.

Bryan