Any body got any experience with one of these "babies" ??
or any contacts to purchase one?
Its for my Cole, and not decided on wether to put it on the lid
of anchor locker or slightly behind, or even in it..... Ideas???
thanx Paul.
Not sure which Cole you are referring to but I presume an East Coast 31. Most ones I have seen have the winch behind the anchor locker, certainly would not have it one the lid. The strain would rip out the hinges for sure.
No! put it on the lid for sure 
will provide much entertainment for us 
You can start another thread...
"How to salvage ground tackle and muir anchor winch" 
I have seen one go very cheap on ebay but you have to have patience and look regularly
I bought a VMH500 off ebay a couple of years ago quite cheap but it is missing the chain stripper plate. Parts are available from Muir I believe.
I am not selling it but I am just pointing out the "H". This one has an integrated hawser and needs to be partially mounted over the locker to drop the chain in to it.
For anything up to about a 5 tonne displacement they are an ideal little winch. Definitely would not mount it on the lid.
You could mount it just behind the lid with the hawse projecting over the well with a support bracket under it and a cutout in the lid to accomodate the hawse.
They retail for about $1050 and the only chandlery in Brisbane that I have seen them on the shelf is Muir Marine at Manly. No relation to the winch makers.
Here are the two web site links. http://www.muir.com.au/muir_main.swf
www.muirmarine.com.au/
Muirs in Brisbane is probably the most extensively stocked chandlery in Queensland. Jason is the boss.
The rest including Whitworths are relying heavily on catalogue and web site listings.
It is great to be able to go into a chandlery and pick something up and see it and feel it and say "Yes. That is the size I want."
A friend has one of these winches mounted on his Adams 31 and is very satisfied with it. Cheers Cisco
thanks for the info. yeah i thought on the lid was a bad idea, i just saw a yacht
that had it done that way and thought it might be a "new trend".
the cole is a 43 not a 31. we anchor rarely and only for lunches or o.night if the
forecast is good. i want a manual winch, im not interested in electric worries with
relays batteries etc. etc. if i can get one for $1000 i will get one.
oh yes !!! i agree about these shops that dont stock stuff....... i hate going to one of those big chain stores to find i gotta order everthing..... DOH !!! not good when you live an hour away.
Meant to add:
I'd be interested to hear about your experiences with installing and using one of these. I've occasionally thought about installing one on my boat but I don't anchor enough for it to rise to the top of the wish list.
Well its ordered ! i found a shop that will get me one for $950.
I will let you know how the install and how it works etc. soon.
A few people are suprised that the boat doesnt have an anchor whinch.
But its 43 feet and 7.5 ton widest part is just over 11 feet, so most 38-40
footers would have more pull on an anchor. The previous owner took her around
the world via panama canal, and north atlantic....he didnt need anchor winch.
Im probably just getting it in preparation for old age...lol.
