[strevet]

Just replaced the Maxwell Freedom 500 windlass on my 2006 Tiara 3200 Open. For ease of replacement and minimal cost, I replaced it with a Maxwell RC8-6 for about $1000. This change allowed me to use the same chain, same panel fuse and rode on the boat with very little change to the boat. The Maxwell RC8-6 is a huge upgrade in performance from the Freedom 500. The RC8-6 is all SS with non of the plastic parts of the OEM Freedom 500. I am in the PNW and windlass performance here is much more challenging than in freshwater.