Windless free fall or not 2510

[Pipedream]

Hi everybody, I purchased a leftover 2009 2510 xl a couple months ago. I will take delivery in April. The dealer will be fitting out the boat over the winter. One of the items i chose was a Lemar 700 Profish windless , when I talked to him last he said that he had a few that he had sold that he had to replace. He suggested I consider the 700 pro seiries that you power down to lower the anchor. The pro fish is free fall. I wil be fishing in the Delaware Bay and off the coast of Cape May NJ usually in less than 150 ft of water . I was wondering if anyone had any experience with these models and what you prefer.I will try to remember to take pictures of the new boat and post them. I am getting excited about the fitout. Some of the other options I chose were RM e120w mfd with RM digital radar dsm 30 sounder, cock pit bolsters and some extra rod holders.

Thanks Chris

 

[Bryan 2530]

I don't have a windlass yet, I have my cousin Mike. :mrgreen:

But general consensus is free fall.

 

[jeffnick]

What are the suggested advantages of power down vs freefall?

 

[miky2884]

I don't have a windlass yet, I have my cousin Mike. :mrgreen:

But general consensus is free fall.

:roll:

 

[TheOtherLine]

What are the suggested advantages of power down vs freefall?

This is an excellent question to ask your dealer. If he starts hemming and hawing, that tells you he just has some manuals in inventory he wants to dump (on you).

I've had both. Personally, I like the free fall. Why? Because if I am trying to anchor on a spot and the current/wind is ripping, I want the anchor down as quickly as possible. I don't want to have to add distance to the X spot trying to figure out how long it's going to take before my anchor hits bottom.

The biggest reason people have issues with their windlass is because they don't tie off at anchor. They allow the windlass to "hold" the line. That will burn out clutches real fast. But that's not unique to the free falls. People with manuals do that as well.

 

[Pipedream]

The only adavantage the dealer suggested were that the power down model were trouble free and that he had replaced 3 or 4 free fall style recently. I assume he ment under warranty. Agree the free fall sounds more desireable for fishing and thats what i would use it for , mostly wondering if others experianced any problems.
Thanks Chris

 

[SOUTHWINS]

i have a pro fish my boat now, had a power down replaced it with the pro fish free fall is faster

 

[GoodChance]

I've had both as well and I must admit, the power down models seem to be a bit more trouble free. The rope used in the free-fall model would occassionally "knot-up" upon deployment despite my best efforts to ensure the line had no kinks.

 

[grouperjim]

don't see how one can be more reliable than the other. both are the same unit. for $180, in about a minute and half, you can convert a regular 700 into a the proseries freefall.

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... &id=855720

have used both style units on Parkers. the only thing i can add is that if you are deploying the rode with the freefall clutch and a hockle of some other hiccup occurs then you need to quickly get to the bow to fix problem. i personally have the non freefall clutch on my 700. when i deploy the anchor, i don't power it down. standing at the bow, i lift the chain off the gypsy and deploy it manually through my hands exactly the way a freefall would do. both go out the same speed, but i'm "johnny on the spot" if a hiccup occurs, and you have to be up there anyway to tie it off to a cleat.

for recovery, i untie from the cleat. loop the line around the gypsy, and then hit the "in" switch. piece of cake.

 

[TheOtherLine]

I've had both as well and I must admit, the power down models seem to be a bit more trouble free. The rope used in the free-fall model would occassionally "knot-up" upon deployment despite my best efforts to ensure the line had no kinks.

Were you using 8 plait line?

 

[Pipedream]

Thanks for the replies. It doesnt sound like you guys had any big problems with the units. The dealer did say the unit came with the 8 plait rope. I will probably go with the Pro Fish.


Thanks again
chris

 

[mildew2]

If you fish the Delaware Bay ,I assume that you fish some reef sites . The freefall is what is needed to be able to get that anchor down quick enough to stay on the reef once it shows up in your FFinder. I fish the Del. Bay all the time I have a freefall winch and would not be without it. You should use it according to the manufactors instructions. Never stop the anchor on it's way to the bottom, if you set it in the wrong spot, wait for it to hit bottom then winch it back in and try again. I never pull my anchor up real tight on the pulpit roller either I always leave some slack in the chain and pin it there before the ride home or transporting the boat. That keeps the spin-off gear in the windlass from binding up and not wanting to release next time you try to drop the anchor. A windlass is not always 100% labor free. There are small things to do to keep it working properly. But what a fantastic addition to any boat. I lost my young anchor puller to college a few years back and me and my fishing buddies are in our 60s and 70s and pulling the anchor got impossible. But now we can move anywhere on the bay with just a push of a button.

 

[GoodChance]

I've had both as well and I must admit, the power down models seem to be a bit more trouble free. The rope used in the free-fall model would occassionally "knot-up" upon deployment despite my best efforts to ensure the line had no kinks.

Were you using 8 plait line?

No. 3 strand.

 

[ReelyNauti]

I've had three(3) Lewmar Profish 700FF on two different boats , I am sure to be able to explain every up n down so better Pm me and ill leave u my cell # ....

There are better was to go unless you you it in a prescribed manner.........

I have picture of my fabrication and installation