I use it mostly for the chain portion usually pulling in the rope by hand. When you do have alot of rode out and the wind is blowing, it's nice to bring that in without any effort. I have an old Ideal vertical.

I'm not set up as well as most and have to help feed the 50' or so of chain into the bow locker Dave. You can set them up much more efficiently.

But it's effortless and allows me to clean the mud off the chain, which takes a bit of time.

I don't use my windlass to lower the anchor (35 cqr) and 50' of 3/8" which weighs quite a bit if all of it is hanging, but it's nice to know I could.