Maxwell VWC2500 Capstan

[ChrisReam]

My question is the effectiveness of the capstan drum on the Maxwell VWC2500 windlass.

I am selecting a windlass for a new catamaran and had settled on the Maxwell VWC2500 because my primary anchor rode will be all 7/16" chain while the rode for the occasional secondary will be 3/4" (19mm) nylon 3-strand. Then I noticed that Maxwell calls out "Working height of drum for rope warping" as 33mm (1-5/16") for the VWC2500 (the while the smaller 1000 and 1500 were taller at 44mm and the much larger 3500 was even taller at 55mm).

At only 33mm, it appears I will only be able to get 2 wraps of my rope anchor rode on the capstan. Does anyone have experience with this?

(1) Will just 2 wraps be enough to haul in the rope rode?

(2) Has anyone with a VWC2500 been able to get more than 2 wraps despite the specified 33mm?

[ChrisReam]

Correction --- I was looking at the wrong table with regard to the 3500 model: The capstan drum on the VWC3500 is actually shorter at 29mm, while the capstan drum on the VW3500 is taller at the 55mm I called out before.

BTW, I am looking at the VWC series instead of the VW series because my primary will be all chain and the VWC gypsy handles all chain better than the VW which is designed to handle rope spliced to chain.

Same two questions though: Will I be able to haul in my rope secondary with this 33mm capstan drum?

[CAELESTIS]

I would look at the RC10 or 12 from Maxwell. The gypsy can take both chain and rope.

http://www.maxwellmarine.com/gen_rc.php

[ChrisReam]

Caelestis,

Thank you for your suggestion. I had looked at the RC12 series, but I like the VWC better because my primary will be all chain. Maxwell confirmed to me that the gypsy on the VWC will handle all chain better than the gypsy on the RC12 which is designed to handle both rope and chain.