Windlass Options - Lewmar good/bad?

[390Express]

My old windlass was an old model Maxwell RC8, but it's becoming apparent that no matter which windlass I pickup, I'm going to have to fill and re-drill holes in the deck, and it doesn't appear that any windlass is going to fully cover all of my former holes. I'm looking at the Maxwell RC8, the RC10, and Lewmar options. (willing to hear other suggestions)

Lewmar has quite a bit of negative reviews on Amazon and otherwise. Maxwell windlasses seem more reliable, but I shouldn't need the greatest windlass made. I boat in shallow water, 12'-30' max, with a light anchor (fortress, great holding power, doesn't weigh much), and I generally anchor in waist deep water.

Lewmar VX 1 accepts a 1" rode. ($650) (further research suggests that this windlass may only accept a 5/8" rode, and that the website claiming a 1" rode, may have been wrong.)

The Maxwell RC8 accepts a 5/8 rode. ($1200)
The Maxwell RC10 accepts a 3/4 rode. ($1500)

The Lewmar windlass is more than 1/2 the cost of the Maxwell windlass, and I see a lot of people using them in my area. A lot of the complaints I see against Lewmar, are from ocean going boats, that boat in deep water. I don't have those issues.

I have a 3/4" rode on the boat currently. How exact does the rode have to fit? Would the 3/4" rode work with the VX1, which nominally accepts a 1"? Would the 3/4" rode pass through the RC8, that nominally accepts a 5/8" rode? Are Lewmar windlasses so crappy that I shouldn't consider them? I've been told that I can get a different gypsy to install in the windlass to accommodate different rodes. I'm sure I'll be on the phone with Lewmar customer service tomorrow morning, they were closed yesterday and today.

[mjk1040]

Interesting, I thought the newer Maxwell's sat on the same foot print of the older Maxwell's. Or very close there to!

[g36]

since you anchor in shallow water you could save some money and just have the wife pull up the anchor oh wait that my not be a good idea and actually cost you more aggravation and money later.

[390Express]

QR_BBPOST Interesting, I thought the newer Maxwell's sat on the same foot print of the older Maxwell's. Or very close there to!

I wish, if that were the case, it’d be a no-brainer. But if I have to fill holes and re-drill anyhow, I may as well save $1,000 doing it.

Here’s the best case scenario, Maxwell RC8,new template, laid over the old RC8: (to be clear, the outside of the white template, is the outside of the new windlass.)

[390Express]

Looks like it's going to be a Maxwell RC10 in my future... I wasn't too fond of Lewmar's customer service, and the footprint of the VX1 is considerably smaller, creating more gel work for me.

If I got an RC8 the passthrough hole for the rode would need a little attention, as would two additional screw holes. The RC10 eliminates the visibility of the repair for the rode passthrough hole. I may have to fill a small portion of the rode passthrough hole, but it won't be visible outside the windlass cover.

I will have to fill and gel match two holes from the prior windlass, that are well outside the dimensions of the new windlass cover, regardless as to which windlass I use. Not looking forward to that, but it is what it is...