AutoAnchor wins SAIL Award

by Sail-World Cruising on 22 Sep 2006 AutoAnchor has just won the SAIL Magazine Freeman K Pittman Innovation Award for 2006, which is a pretty good reason to at least look at their product.

If you ever anchor at night, you’ll know that seeing the chain markings can be difficult, particularly if your tired after a long journey, and just want to get that anchor down quickly but safely. This is where a good chain counter can make a difference, and on AutoAnchor, the adjustable LCD display shows exactly how much rode has been released.

For the single handed or short handed sailor, it is even more valuable. The models in the AutoAnchor 500 Series have a one-touch automatic function to deploy or retrieve a preset length of anchor rode.

There are several models to choose from each with its own advantages for cost vs you particular requirements. Some of the features are, for instance, a docking alarm, a preset stopping point or automatic slowing feature, then there’s a safety lock which will prevent accidental deployment of the windlass. They can be fitted to any brand of windlass, and of course can be used for rope or chain.

It’s not the first award that AutoAnchor has won. The previous year, in 2005, their chain counters won the IBEX 2005 Innovation Award for Hardware Fittings – these awards are for benefit to the marine industry, practicality and cost effectiveness.

The AA is compatible with any brand of windlass. It is available in 3 different models which range from a panel mount rode counter to a PC integrated 'black box'.

The panel-mounted AA150 rode counter monitors the length of rode deployed through the windlass and displays it on the LCD. It is suitable for DC electric windlasses using either a rope/chain or an all-chain rode and for hydraulic or AC powered windlasses using an all-chain rode. It also includes a docking alarm that warns the skipper that the anchor is close to docking.

Models in the AutoAnchor 500 series have a one touch automatic function to deploy or retrieve a present length of anchor rode. The AA 575 performs all the features of the original AA500 with the addition of automatic windlass slow down for the final manually controlled docking of the anchor. It is suitable for dual speed hydraulic or AC powered windlasses.

The newest addition to the AutoAnchor family is the AA601 - a 'black box' module that is integrated into an onboard computer. It monitors and displays the length of rode deployed on a PC.


To ask more questions, contact the World Wide Suppliers