I have a 424 and I have a
Lewmar V-2 vertical mount with a rope capsan and chain gypsy. I use chain most of the time but the rope capsan comes in handy when I have to kedge off or when I drop a second
anchor. "I cant stress enough a good windless if your single handing. Its saved my bacon more than once. I lost my engine and was sailing home. The wind shifted and I needed a place to
anchor and wait for a east of north wind. I went into a cove I had never been to before and tried to
anchor. I dropped out 100 feet in 7ft of water and dropped my main sail. There was a big rock island behind me down wind. Next I here the
anchor dragging across the smooth rock bottom. Chain does a good job carring noises ffrom the
anchor. The wind is blowing me back twords the rock and the
anchor is dong little to slow the progress. I did a quick and dirty hoist of the main and stood on the button and pulled all 100 ft up in one long pull. Then went to the cockpitlet the sheets go on the main and mizzen dropped the
furling line for the
jib on the floor and turned the rudder to swing the boat so the wind was hitting me on the side pulled in the main mizzen and
jib sheets and sailed out just in time. If It had been a manual windless or a cheep one that couldnt pull against the wind. I would have done some real damage. Hundreds of miles from home. That windless has payed for it self in that one incident. Its not the only time. Save money on a windless at the cost of a boat. Not Me Im also to old for that stuff.