Will It Fit? Windlass Dimensions and Locker Depth by Model
Four measurements decide whether a windlass fits: how much sits above deck, how deep it hangs below, how wide it is below, and the hole you cut. The one that catches people out is width, because the motor lies across the boat rather than pointing down.
- Above deck, a Storm vertical is never more than 5.2 in (133 mm) across the whole range, 600 through 4000. The machine hides below.
- Below deck you need 6.8 to 12.3 in of depth and 9.2 to 15.4 in of width, depending on model.
- Sizing up rarely changes the fit. A VR1250 needs exactly the same space as a VR850.
All figures below are taken from Muir’s own drawings.
The four numbers
Every dimension question about a vertical windlass reduces to these. Measure them in this order.
Owners measure depth, find they have plenty, and order. Then the motor arrives lying sideways and fouls a stringer or a bulkhead that was never in the way of anything before. Measure the width first.
Vertical windlass dimensions
These are the gypsy-only models. Every figure is from Muir’s catalogue drawings, which give both millimetres and inches.
| VR600 | VR850 | VR1250 | VR2200 | VR2500 | VR3500 | VR4000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A · above deck | 58 mm 2.3 in |
119 mm 4.7 in |
119 mm 4.7 in |
116 mm 4.6 in |
133 mm 5.2 in |
133 mm 5.2 in |
129 mm 5.1 in |
| B · below-deck depth | 173 mm 6.8 in |
215 mm 8.5 in |
215 mm 8.5 in |
255 mm 10.0 in |
269 mm 10.6 in |
276 mm 10.9 in |
313 mm 12.3 in |
| C · below-deck width | 233 mm 9.2 in |
234 mm 9.2 in |
234 mm 9.2 in |
271 mm 10.7 in |
271 mm 10.7 in |
326 mm 12.8 in |
390 mm 15.4 in |
| D · deck cut | Ø48 mm 1.9 in |
Ø60 mm 2.4 in |
Ø60 mm 2.4 in |
Ø60 mm 2.4 in |
Ø76 mm 3.0 in |
Ø76 mm 3.0 in |
Ø76 mm 3.0 in |
| Deck plan | 13.7 × 5.6 in | 15.0 × 6.8 in | 15.0 × 6.7 in | 16.5 × 6.7 in | 18.7 × 8.4 in | 20.9 × 8.4 in | 23.4 × 8.4 in |
| Topworks cap | Ø3.8 in | Ø5.1 in | Ø5.1 in | Ø5.1 in | Ø6.3 in | Ø6.3 in | Ø6.3 in |
| Rated boat length | 30 ft | 36 ft | 43 ft | 49 ft | 66 ft | 79 ft | 82 ft |
Millimetres are exactly as dimensioned on Muir’s catalogue drawings. Inches are converted from those figures at one decimal place, because Muir’s own drawings round the imperial column inconsistently. The VR2200 figures come from the hydraulic-build catalogue drawing, the only one issued for that model.
What a capstan costs you in height
The VRC models add a warping drum on top of the gypsy. It buys you a powered winch for docklines and it costs you above-deck height, which on a boat with a low foredeck can be the deciding factor.
| Gypsy only | With capstan | Extra height | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm 850 | 4.7 in | 6.8 in | 2.1 in |
| Storm 1250 | 4.7 in | 6.9 in | 2.2 in |
| Storm 2200 | 4.6 in | 6.9 in | 2.4 in |
| Storm 2500 | 5.2 in | 9.6 in | 4.4 in |
| Storm 3500 | 5.2 in | 9.6 in | 4.4 in |
| Storm 4000 | 5.1 in | 9.6 in | 4.5 in |
Below deck the capstan versions are much the same, within an inch either way. It is purely a question of what you are prepared to have standing on the foredeck.
Drum winch dimensions
A drum winch asks nothing of the space below your deck, because there is none. What it asks for is a clear rectangle of foredeck and enough height for the drum.
| DW 06 | DW 08 | DFF 08 | DW 10 | DW 12 | DW 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 8.8 in | 10.2 in | 10.2 in | 13.8 in | 13.8 in | 13.8 in |
| Width across, incl. motor | 12.6 in | 14.9 in | 13.9 in | 18.8 in | 18.8 in | 18.8 in |
| Fore and aft | — | 14.0 in | — | 16.9 in | 17.3 in | 19.4 in |
| Drum flange | Ø8.3 in | Ø9.6 in | Ø9.6 in | Ø13.0 in | Ø13.0 in | Ø13.0 in |
| Between flanges | 5.9 in | 5.9 in | 5.9 in | 7.9 in | 7.9 in | 7.9 in |
| Rated boat length | 23 ft | 26 ft | 26 ft | 33 ft | 39 ft | 46 ft |
In millimetres: height 222, 259, 259, 352, 352, 352. Width 321, 378, 352, 478, 478, 478. Fore and aft 355 on the DW 08, then 429, 439 and 492. Flange Ø210, 245, 245, 330, 330, 330. Drum drawings are Muir quotation drawings, confirmed by Muir for publication.
Height tracks the drum, exactly
On every drum winch in the range, overall height is the flange diameter plus 12 to 22 mm. A Ø210 mm flange gives 222 mm of height; Ø330 mm gives 352 mm.
So if you know the drum size you already know the height, and the base sits nearly flush under it.
Sizing up rarely changes the fit
This is the finding that should take the anxiety out of the decision. Across both ranges, the next model up usually needs the same hole.
- The VR850 and VR1250 are dimensionally identical. Same 4.7 in above deck, same 8.5 in below, same 9.2 in wide, same 2.4 in deck cut. The 1250 is rated to 43 ft against 36 ft and pulls 456 lb against 331 lb, and it fits the same hole.
- The DW 10, DW 12 and DW 15 share a drum, a base and a height. Only the motor gets longer: 16.9 in, 17.3 in, then 19.4 in fore and aft. Going from a DW 10 to a DW 15 costs you two and a half inches of deck.
- The Storm 2500 and 3500 share their topworks and above-deck height. Below deck the 3500 is 2.2 in wider.
The practical upshot: if you are between two models, check whether the larger one actually asks for more room. Often it does not, and the price difference is the only thing to weigh.
The locker fall is separate, and it is not optional
Everything above describes the machine. None of it includes the space the chain needs to fall into, which is measured from the underside of the gypsy down to the top of the piled chain.
Chain that cannot fall away piles into a cone, the cone reaches the gypsy and the windlass jams. If your locker cannot give you both the machine depth and the fall, that is what drum winches exist for.
How to measure your boat
- Width, under the deck, first. Reach in and measure clear beam where the motor will lie. Watch for stringers, bulkheads and pipework that only intrude at that level.
- Then depth, from the underside of the deck straight down to the first obstruction.
- Then the fall, which is a separate measurement from the gypsy underside to where chain will pile.
- Then the deck itself. A cored deck needs the core sealed at every penetration. Our installation guide covers that.
- Print the template. Every product page carries a downloadable deck template under Downloads. Tape it to the foredeck before you commit to anything.
Frequently asked questions
How much space does a vertical windlass need below deck?
Between 6.8 and 12.3 in of depth and 9.2 to 15.4 in of width, depending on model. A Storm VR600 needs 6.8 in deep and 9.2 in wide; a VR4000 needs 12.3 in and 15.4 in. The chain’s locker fall is on top of that.
How tall is a vertical windlass above deck?
Very little. Across the whole Storm range, gypsy-only models stand between 2.3 and 5.2 in above deck. Adding a capstan raises that to between 6.8 and 9.6 in.
What size hole do I cut in the deck?
The shaft needs Ø1.9 in on a VR600, Ø2.4 in on the 850 to 2200, and Ø3.0 in on the 2500 and up. Use the printable deck template from the product page rather than working from the shaft diameter alone, because the mounting bolts have to land correctly too.
Does a bigger windlass need a bigger hole?
Often not. The VR850 and VR1250 are dimensionally identical, so stepping up from a 36 ft rating to a 43 ft rating changes nothing about the installation. The same is true of the DW 10, 12 and 15, which differ only in how far the motor projects.
How much room does a drum winch need?
Deck space rather than locker space. A DW 06 is 8.8 in tall and 12.6 in across; a DW 15 is 13.8 in tall and 18.8 in across. Nothing goes below deck at all.
Is the below-deck depth the same as the locker fall?
No, and confusing the two is the expensive mistake. Below-deck depth is the machine. Locker fall is the space the chain drops into, 16 in for a vertical and about 12 in for a horizontal, and it is measured separately.
Where do these dimensions come from?
Muir’s own drawings. The vertical figures are from catalogue drawings dimensioned in both millimetres and inches; the drum figures are from Muir’s quotation drawings, confirmed by Muir for publication.
Can you check whether a model fits my boat?
Yes. Send us the clear width and depth under your foredeck and the fall in your locker, and we will tell you which models fit and which do not.
Measure the width under your foredeck, the depth, and the fall in your locker. Send us those three numbers and we will tell you exactly which models work on your boat.
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