Muir VR2200 Windlass Upgrade: A Real-World Install Story

When the Windlass Quits at Anchor

Few moments test a cruiser quite like the one the crew of Mathers On The Map faced recently: the motor labouring, the chain refusing to move, and a heavy anchor still firmly on the seabed. Their windlass had seized while they were on the hook — and the only way out was to bring the ground tackle up by hand. Anyone who has wrestled a heavy anchor and a locker full of chain over the bow roller knows it is a job you only ever want to do once.

That experience became the catalyst for an upgrade we were proud to be part of: retiring a tired, 23-year-old vertical windlass and fitting a brand-new Muir Storm VR2200 in its place.

Right-Sizing the Windlass to the Boat

The boat had been running a Muir VR1250 — a capable unit in its day, but undersized for the heavier anchor and 10mm (3/8″) chain the crew now rely on for serious cruising. Stepping up to the Storm VR2200 brought the hauling power back into line with the ground tackle, with a stronger motor and gearbox built to lift without straining.

It is a point worth dwelling on: a windlass should be matched to your vessel and your ground tackle, not simply bolted on and hoped for. The Storm VR2200 is designed for vessels from 12–15m (38–48ft), with a 1500W motor, a maximum load of 1101kg (2427lb) and line speeds up to 30m/min. If you are not sure where your boat sits, our Windlass Selection Guide and Chain Selection Guide are built to take the guesswork out of it.

A Surprisingly Straightforward Swap

One of the reasons this upgrade went so smoothly is something Muir owners often appreciate at refit time: the Storm VR2200 shares the same deck footprint and bolt pattern as the VR1250 it replaced. That meant no major glasswork to relocate the unit — the new windlass dropped into essentially the same position.

The install itself offered a few lessons worth passing on to anyone planning a similar job:

• Plan for a seized unit. Because the old gearbox had locked solid, the top housing could not simply be separated and had to be cut away. Old windlasses don’t always come quietly.
• Inspect the deck core. With the unit out, the crew found a small patch of soft core where the chain drops into the locker. They dug it back, let it dry, and re-filled with thickened epoxy before mounting — the right way to keep a deck strong and dry for the next twenty years.
• Upgrade the cabling. The original 6 AWG motor cable was on the light side, so it was replaced with heavier 2 AWG for a stronger, more reliable feed to the motor.
• Seal it properly. A marine adhesive sealant (3M 4000-series) was run under the gasket, around the perimeter, around the deck shaft and at the chain pipe — cheap insurance against water ingress.
• Two fitting tips. Marine grease on the shaft, and dropping the drive key in before fitting the motor and gearbox, made final assembly painless. A wrap of anti-corrosion tape around the lower unit also helps protect it from a swinging anchor.

The Payoff: Smooth, Easy Anchoring

After a couple of weeks and several nights at anchor, the verdict was exactly what you want to hear. The new Storm VR2200 brings the anchor up easily and without the jerkiness of the old unit — the crew described the difference as buttery smooth.

That is the Storm series doing precisely what it was designed to do. Built in Tasmania from polished stainless steel, the Storm VR2200 pairs a rope-and-chain combination gypsy and Muir’s Rope Chain Management System (RCMS) with the kind of finish and reliability that stands up to the harshest conditions. And because every Muir windlass includes a manual override, you are never completely without options if the power goes down.

The Gear You Want to Trust at 2am

We will add one piece of advice we give every owner: always take the load off the windlass once you are anchored. A chain stopper, devil’s claw or snubber protects the gear drive and keeps the strain where it belongs, not on the motor. Look after it, and a Muir windlass will look after you for decades.

A big thank you to Mathers On The Map for sharing their upgrade — and for the kind words about our team. Helping cruisers get back to the anchorage with confidence is exactly why we do what we do.

Ready to size the right windlass for your boat? Start with our Windlass Selection Guide, or get in touch — wherever you are in the world, we are happy to help.

Explore our Anchoring Guide & Resource Centre.