Boating, in general, is a relaxing and fun activity. Whether you are fishing, or just cruising around lightly, boating does not really take much work. Except for perhaps docking and lowering down the anchor, the physical exertions involved are not excessive. Fortunately, even in those two parts of boating, there are tools that can make them easier and more efficient. For this review, I will focus on the best hand winches for boat anchors.

There are a wide variety of boats, and there are also a wide variety of winches in the market meant for boat anchors. But since we are tackling hand winches, you should be informed that these tools are meant for light boats only.

Hand Winches – What are they?

Hand winches require human exertion to operate. They are not automated. This means that they are not powerful enough to handle big loads. At most, hand winches can only maybe handle a ton of weight (about 2000 lbs). If you are looking for the best hand winches in the market, why not check out this post dedicated to that?

Since we are only talking about the problem of lowering and drawing the anchor, a hand winch is perfectly capable of doing the job. This is especially true of small boats with small anchors.

How do they Work?

As stated above, hand winches are manually operated – they are not automated. Most hand winches have gears and a crank. The operator will use his own strength to turn the crank. The crank, in turn, turns the gears. The gears then transform the energy applied on the crank, amplify it, and use it as a pulling force.

Hand winches are useful in terms of their portability and usability. They need no power source, so they can be bought anywhere. However, they can’t be really useful to pull extremely heavy loads. But they can easily handle the load of anchors on small boats.

The Best Hand Winches for Boat Anchors

For this review, I will focus on hand winches that can make a significant difference in your boat anchoring experience. These winches vary in prices and pulling capacities. But they all work magnificently in making dropping and drawing anchors so much easier.

TR Industrial 600 lb Trailer Winch  (B0749GHCKH)

This first winch is very affordable. But that does not mean that it comes off as “cheap”. In fact, it is very durable, and powerful. Although this model is technically a trailer winch, it can do the job of dropping and drawing anchors very effectively.

This winch has an all steel construction. It has a high quality zinc and black plating that will be really helpful in terms of protection from weathering and the elements.  The winch is resistant to wear and tear.

The winch can handle loads of up to 600lbs. While an anchor does not usually go near that weight in small boats, the boats themselves can reach that much weight. That 600 lb weight capacity is important in making sure that the winch can hold the boat in place.

Aside from those magnificent performance features, the winch is very easy to install and mount on your boat. It is ready to mount out of the box. Once mounted, just attach the smooth and ergonomic handle and the cable and anchor, and your ready to get cranking. 

The winch features a 3:2:1 gear ratio, that really helps in providing a quick and easy cranking. One drawback is that the cable or rope is not included. They have to be bought separately.

The unit is compatible with up to 36 feet of 1/4 steel cables. If you are using a synthetic rope – which I would guess you are – then you can easily use more than 40 feet of rope with this model. With that said, this winch is not meant for very heavy duty use. But for dropping and drawing the anchor, it performs wonderfully.

However, this unit does not come with its own drawbacks. First off, the rope is not included int he package. It also does not have a braking system. It does have a ratchet locking system, though. This means that if you drop the anchor, the winch will freely spool out unless you engage the ratchet lock.

Aside from those drawbacks, the winch is great for your next boating experience.

PROS

• Weather and tear resistant
• Up to 600 lbs load capacity
• Can be fitted with more than 40 feet of synthetic rope
• Very affordable
• Easy to install
• Ergonomic smooth crank
• Very easy to use

CONS

• No rope included
• No braking system except for a ratchet lock

 

 

Reese Towpower 74337 (B000WZ4KBS)

 

Reese is one of the more reliable brands out there when it comes to hand winches. And fortunately, they don’t let their consumers down. This particular model is very similar to the previous model. This is also not really manufactured for anchoring use, but it can perform the job very well.

Like the previous winch, this hand winch can also take loads that weigh up to 600 lbs. It is zinc plated; it is very resistant to corrosion. The gears are made of carbon steel, which is very tough. You can be very confident that this unit will last a long time.

As for performance, the winch is very easy to use. It has a one way ratchet that ensures that you have full control of your anchor’s comings and goings. The gears have a 3:1:1 ratio, which works extremely well in the purposes of anchor dropping and drawing. This model needs very little maintenance, which is a nice feature.

As for the rope, like the previous model, it does not come with one. Also like the previous model, it can be fitted with about 40 feet of synthetic rope.

For the purposes of anchoring your small boat, the Reese Towpower 74337 works great. Though it may be a little bit more pricey than the previous model, this one can really hold its own – durability wise.

PROS

• Extremely tough
• Up to 600 lbs load capacity
• Can be fitted with more than 40 feet of synthetic rope
• Easy to install
• Ergonomic smooth crank
• Very easy to use

CONS

• No rope included
• No braking system except for a ratchet lock
• A bit pricey

 

 

Scotty Anchor Lock #276 (B001M4HTNY)

Okay, technically, this is not a hand winch. But I seriously think that this is a very wonderful concept in terms of anchoring your boat. It is borne out of a very innovative idea and I feel like that there would be readers who will find this product very handy.

This is essentially a device that holds your winch cable. It can be easily mounted on the deck of a small boat. Its main features are an easy lock and easy anchor release system. This model is very easy to use and anyone can operate it with one hand.

As emphasized above, this product is not a hand winch. All the pulling will be done directly by the operator. For you to better understand how it functions, here is a short clip:

 

 

The unit is very durable. It works very smoothly too. It is easy to install and is very well made. However, it may be really pricey because aside from the initial price (which is quite steep), the rope must also be bought separately. The good news is that it can be fitted with an unlimited length of rope as long as it only has a maximum diameter of half an inch.

PROS

• Extremely tough
• Perfect for small boats
• Can be fitted with an unlimited amount of rope
• Easy to install
• Very easy to use

CONS

• No rope included
• A bit pricey

 

 

Worth American Crafts 3001.1560 (B001BW8M9W)

Unlike the other models discussed here, this winch is for bigger boats. This unit is a bigger version of the Anchor mate – featuring the same ease of use and safety tech.

This unit can endure the harshness of the environment of the sea. It is made of heavy gauge steel and is electrostatic-ally powder coated. It features self lubricating nylon rollers which makes it very easy to maintain. It also has a line capacity of 150 feet of 3/16 inch nylon braided rope.

As mentioned above, this is a bigger version of the original Anchor mate. It features the same box fixture that pivots for a safe and easy anchoring. For more safety measures, a safety chain is included in the package. However, the rope and mounting hardware are not included.

PROS

• Extremely tough
• Perfect for bigger boats
• Can be fitted with 150 feet of 3/16 inch nylon braided rope
• Very safe to use
• Very easy to use

CONS

• No rope included
• No installation gear included

 

 

SeaSense Locking Anchor Control (B0025VZQ2Y)

Of all the products listed here, this is the only hand winch made for anchors on small boats. This particular model can hold anchors weighing up to 20 lbs, either a mushroom or river anchor.

This is perfect for small freshwater fishing boats. It is easy to use. It is tough. It is made of zinc plated steel. It can accommodate ropes that have a maximum diameter of 7/16 inches. Like most of the products here, the rope and anchor are not part of the package.

For its price, this is a very good quality and impressive anchor lock. It performs well in pulling and dropping the anchor. It is tough and very easy to use. Though it is cheap, it does its job amazingly well.

PROS

• Highly durable
• Perfect for small fishing boats
• Can be fitted with ropes up to 7/16 inches in diameter
• Very easy to use

CONS

• No rope included

 

 

Conclusion

Not all of the items in the list above are technically made to be used for boat anchors. But based on what I have seen, they might as well be. Those items are very functional in terms of anchor control. And they are very well-made – you can rely on them for your boating trips for years.

Depending on your type of boat, on your preferences, and your budget, there is a hand winch above that is the best hand winch for your boat anchor.

To better help you make a decision, you might want to check out our guides on:

Endurance Marine Winches

Winch Using Guides for Beginners

And What are the Types of Winches

Do you have any other questions? Or are there more items that you think are better options as winch boat anchors? Comment down below, I’d like to here your thoughts.