Lewmar Pro-Sport 550G Horizontal Windlass Kit - 12V

The Lewmar Pro-Sport 550G horizontal windlass is the right-sized anchor windlass for 20-28 foot powerboats and small sailboats where you want push-button anchoring without overspending on a yacht-class windlass. Lewmar's reputation as the global leader in marine winches and anchoring hardware brings premium engineering down to an economical price point - the Pro-Sport line delivers reliable rope-and-chain handling for the size of boat most owners actually have, without the cost premium of larger commercial-grade windlasses.

What 550 lb pull means in practice. The 550 lb maximum pull rating is the windlass's absolute peak force, used briefly when breaking the anchor free from heavy bottom holds. The 137 lb working load is the continuous load the windlass is rated to handle during normal anchor retrieval - this is the meaningful number for sizing. For a typical 20-28 foot boat with a 16-22 lb anchor plus 20-30 feet of chain plus rope rode, the actual retrieval load runs well under 100 lb in most conditions - well within the Pro-Sport 550G's working load. If you're running a heavier anchor (over 25 lb) or extended chain (over 40 feet of 1/4 inch chain), step up to the larger Pro-Series windlass models for the appropriate working load margin.

Horizontal mount layout. The Pro-Sport 550G mounts horizontally on the bow deck - the motor and gypsy sit ABOVE deck, with only the rope and chain feed-through hole penetrating the deck below. Compared to vertical windlasses (motor below deck, gypsy above), horizontal mounting has three practical advantages: (1) easier installation since you only need access to the bottom of the deck for the cable connections, not the full motor housing, (2) lower profile on the bow when the motor housing tucks neatly between the bow pulpit rails, and (3) easier service since the motor is accessible from the deck without crawling into the chain locker. The trade-off is that the chain has to make a 90-degree turn to drop into the chain locker - works fine on boats with a reasonably deep chain locker, but on shallow chain lockers the chain can pile and jam without a chain pipe or stripper.

Spur gearbox with permanent magnet motor. The Pro-Sport uses a spur gearbox (more efficient than the worm gears on older windlasses) driven by a permanent magnet motor. Two benefits: lower current draw at the same line speed (less battery drain during long retrievals), and faster line speed for the motor size (98 feet per minute vs typical 60-80 feet per minute on competing economy windlasses). For owners who anchor frequently in deeper water (30-50 feet of rode), the faster line speed shortens the wait at the bow.

Chain and rope compatibility. The 550G gypsy is sized for 1/4 inch G4 chain (the standard high-tensile grade for boats this size), 1/4 inch BBB chain (the older low-strength grade - works but G4 is the better choice for new installations), or 7mm DIN 766 chain (European metric equivalent to 1/4 inch G4). On the rope side, the gypsy handles 1/2 inch 3-strand nylon rope or 1/2 inch 8-plait nylon rope. The gypsy will NOT handle other chain sizes (5/16 inch chain won't seat properly and will slip), so verify your chain size before purchase. For a typical bow anchor rode setup, plan for 20-30 feet of 1/4 inch G4 chain spliced to 150-200 feet of 1/2 inch 3-strand nylon rope - standard sizing for a 20-28 foot boat anchoring in 20-40 feet of water.

Manual freefall lever. Pull the manual freefall lever and the gypsy disengages from the gearbox, letting the anchor and chain freefall under gravity without waiting on the powered drop. Critical feature for two situations: (1) emergency anchoring where you need the anchor down fast (engine failure in current, rapidly deteriorating conditions), and (2) anchoring in current where you need controlled descent rates to keep the anchor positioned correctly. The freefall lever is a manual control on the windlass head, accessible from the bow deck without electrical operation.

Dual-direction powered operation. The Pro-Sport powers both UP (retrieval) AND DOWN (controlled deployment) via the included rocker / toggle switch. Powered down is useful when you want a slower, more controlled anchor descent than the freefall provides - drop the anchor at a controlled rate to stop it from piling on top of itself on the bottom (which prevents proper setting). Most retrieval is done with the up function, but having powered descent available is worth the slight added complexity.

Aluminum center case, composite side covers. The structural center case is cast aluminum - strong, lightweight, and corrosion-resistant when properly maintained. The side covers are heavy-duty marine-grade composite - resistant to salt corrosion, UV degradation, and impact. For coastal saltwater use, rinse the windlass with fresh water periodically to extend service life - even aluminum can pit over years of saltwater exposure without occasional fresh-water rinses.

What's in the kit (complete DIY install ready). Windlass head with motor and gypsy already assembled. Base gasket seal (mounts between the windlass and the deck for a watertight seal). Mounting studs and hardware (the threaded studs go through the deck into the chain locker for through-deck bolting). Installation wrench (sized for the mounting hardware - no need to dig through your toolbox). Circuit breaker (the in-line DC breaker that protects the windlass motor from overload). Contactor / rocker switch (the dash-mount switch you press to operate the windlass). Instruction manual. The only things NOT in the kit are: the cable run from battery to windlass (size for the run length - see install notes below), the chain and rope (sized per your rode setup), and any optional remote control or wireless control (sold separately).

Install. Mount the windlass on the bow deck with the base gasket between the windlass base and the deck surface. The mount location needs: (a) clear access to the chain locker below for the chain to drop into, (b) adequate clearance forward of the windlass for the chain and rope to feed without binding (8-10 inches of clear chain path forward), (c) appropriate deck reinforcement (1/4 inch aluminum or G10 backing plate, or a substantial fiberglass-bonded reinforcement) - the windlass loads concentrate on a small footprint and can crack thin or unreinforced decks under load. Bed the base in marine sealant (3M 5200 or equivalent) plus butyl tape on the through-deck fasteners to prevent leaks. Run 4-6 AWG marine-grade tinned cable from the battery to the windlass through the included 80A circuit breaker - the 12V Pro-Sport pulls 80-100A under heavy load, so the cable gauge and breaker sizing matter. Mount the rocker switch at the helm or bow access location. Total install time: 4-8 hours depending on access to the chain locker and the complexity of the cable run from battery.

Operation. With the boat at the anchoring spot, release the freefall lever (or use the powered down switch) and let the anchor drop to the bottom. Pay out additional rode for 5-to-1 or 7-to-1 scope based on water depth. When ready to retrieve, press the UP rocker switch - the windlass pulls the rode in at 98 feet per minute. Important practice: never let the windlass take the full strain of a set anchor. Idle the boat forward to pull the anchor free, then let the windlass handle the retrieval load. Using the windlass to break a buried anchor free puts loads on the windlass that exceed the working load and can damage the motor or gypsy over time.

Maintenance. Rinse with fresh water after saltwater use. Periodically lubricate the gypsy bearing surfaces with marine grease per the manual. Check the manual freefall lever operation every few months - it can stiffen if not exercised. Inspect the deck seal annually for cracks or leaks. Lewmar publishes a complete service manual for the Pro-Sport line - download from the Lewmar website for detailed service procedures.