Handling and seamanship

Windlass

The winch that raises and lowers the anchor rode so your back does not have to.

A windlass is the powered drum or gypsy at the bow that handles the rode. On bigger boats and serious cruisers it is what makes proper scope painless, and therefore actually used.

It is a winch, not a cleat: once anchored, the load goes onto a snubber line or cleat, because surge loads that would not bother a cleat will eat a windlass gearbox.

← Back to the full glossary

Put the words to work

Vocabulary is easier at the helm.

The free South Carolina boater safety course teaches all of this in twelve chapters with a sixty question practice exam, and when you are ready for the water itself, one form gets you rental quotes from local operators.

Take the Free Safety Course Check Pontoon Availability