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- Windlasses with tradition -
Making winches requires paying particular attention to material selection, where low weight, high strength and corrosion resistance are important. In addtion, the surface is specially coated by chemical and electrical processes. Components used should also be suited for heavy duty, marine use, e.g. motor and transmission. Commercially available parts (starter motor) would be quite useful and cost effective, but not very suitable due to the strenous requirements on board.
The mechanically highly efficient transmissions of LOFRANS winches have been designed specifically for the marine sector. The ratio of 1/50 to 1/75 is a good compromise between efficiency and speed. The long-lasting lubricating oil protects the internal components of the transmission against wear and reduces operating noise.
The electric motors have also been developed for the marine sector. They have specific features: axles, screws, nut and sleeve are made of stainless steel. Most LOFRANS electric motors are connected in series. This has, in comparison with less expensive permanent magnet motors, the advantage of a very high starting torque.
There are two main reasons to choose a manual windlass. They are easy to install with no electrical work needed. Manual windlasses are also somewhat cheaper.
The energy required to operate an electric motor winch on board your vessel shouldn't be a major concern nowadays. Modern boats are equipped with suitable batteries and electric windlass only run for a few minutes. The advantages of electric windlasses are safety, less physical effort and quick hauling. Meanwhile, 95% of all anchor winches are electrically operated.
There are two different types of windlasses: vertical and horizontal windlasses. Pay attention to which design meets your specific needs. Vertical windlasses. The main advantage of vertical windlasses lies in the compact design, since the electric motor and the gearbox are mounted below deck. Another advantage is the lower weight and price. Their attractive design makes these windlasses suitable for every type of boat. A popular model is the vertical Project windlass (X1 / X2 / X3 / X4). Horizontal windlasses. These are the classic anchor winches: practical and functional. Usually, they are completely assembled on deck. Typical horizontal windlasses from Lofrans include the models Dorado, Cobra, Cayman, Tigres and Falkon. All the mechanical components, the transmission and the electric motor are protected by the body. The windlass can also be installed in the anchor locker.
Lofrans spare parts are in great demand all over the world. SVB carries a large stock of various Lofrans parts such as sprockets, spare parts kits, hand held remotes, relay boxes and much more. Not all are displayed in our online shop. Talk to us, we will gladly assist you!