Lewmar H2 Electric Windlass Install
Queen of Hearts came without a windlass. From the start I knew I wanted one: 100 feet of chain, a serious anchor, and no compromises on where we could drop the hook. We had a windlass on our previous boat and it changed how we anchor entirely. Being able to get out in a hurry, or reset until satisfied, is worth the install.
The Windlass
The Lewmar H2 is a horizontal windlass designed for boats in the 20-35 foot range. It handles 5/16" chain and up to 9/16" rope, runs on 12V, and has a compact footprint that made it a realistic fit for the Nor'Sea 27's narrow bow.
| Model | Lewmar H2 Horizontal Windlass |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 12V |
| Chain | 5/16" (G4) |
| Rope | Up to 9/16" |
| Control | Foot switches (up / down) |
Ground Tackle
The anchor is a Rocna Vulcan VLC15GS, a 33 lb (15 kg) galvanized steel anchor. The Rocna Vulcan is a roll-bar style anchor that sets quickly and holds in a wide range of bottom types.
No mystery what's in that box.
Chain is Peerless ACCO Grade 43 (G4) 5/16", with a working load limit of 3,900 lbs and a breaking strength of 11,700 lbs. 100 feet of chain is shackled to 215 feet of 5/8" (16mm) 8-plait New England rope rode with a tensile strength of 10,400 lbs.
The chain-to-swivel connection uses a Mantus swivel and shackle rated to 15,000 lbs breaking / 3,000 lbs working load.
| Anchor | Rocna Vulcan VLC15GS, 33 lbs (15 kg), galvanized |
|---|---|
| Chain | Peerless ACCO G4 5/16", 100 ft |
| Chain WLL | 3,900 lbs |
| Chain breaking | 11,700 lbs |
| Rope rode | New England 8-plait 5/8", 215 ft |
| Rope tensile | 10,400 lbs |
| Swivel / shackle | Mantus, 15,000 lbs breaking |
8-plait rode spliced to chain. Both sized for the H2.
The Problem: Bowsprit Width
The original bowsprit was too narrow to accommodate the windlass mounting footprint. Before any drilling, I measured the windlass base and gasket carefully to understand exactly how much platform was needed.
The original bowsprit. No windlass, narrow platform, chain over a roller.
Planning the layout — the red boxes show where the windlass would need to sit.
Measuring the existing bowsprit width against the windlass requirements.
Measuring the windlass base to confirm the required platform width.
The windlass gasket establishes the minimum platform footprint needed.
New Teak Platform
The solution was new teak support boards that widened the bowsprit base to fit the windlass. The boards were dry-fit first to confirm fit before final installation.
Teak boards dry-fitted, windlass mounting plate positioned to check fit.
Cable Routing
Power cables were drilled through the new teak platform and then through the deck, keeping everything clean and avoiding any external runs along the bowsprit. The cables exit below deck and run to the breaker panel.
Cables routed through the teak and ready for the windlass to be dropped onto the mounting studs.
Results
The windlass is mounted cleanly on the new teak platform with all cables hidden. Two foot switches, one to deploy and one to retrieve, are both mounted on the left side of the unit for hands-free operation at the bow. The new platform gave the windlass a proper home without compromising the bowsprit, and the whole system makes anchoring a different experience: drop, reset if needed, retrieve without effort. Two additional cleats have since been added port and starboard for tie-offs.
At anchor.