Did you know that windlasses can use a lot of power, but most professionals who size batteries for boats rarely even consider their draw. Why is this? Because while the amp usage is high, it is for a short duration of time and you should have your boats motor running, and therefore the alternator will handle most of the load.
On the other hand windlass professionals do consider amp draw when sizing the wire running from the windlass to the batteries. The larger the wire the better the windlass will perform. Typical windlass installations use 1/0 or 2/0 tinned and stranded wire, tinned to help prevent corrosion creeping along the wire and stranded because stranded wire is less likely to break in the moving and bouncing environment of a boat.
