Your Questions, Answered Straight.

The main factor is anchor weight, but boat size, rode length, and water depth all play a part. Try our SavMatch™ tool for a quick recommendation, or if you're unsure, call us. We’d rather spend five minutes getting you the right winch than have you land a unit that’s under-spec.

All three series share the same 316 stainless steel drum, and differ in motor housing and gearbox construction.

• CS™ (Classic Series): powder-coated steel motor housing, powder-coated aluminium gearbox. 3-year AU/NZ warranty.
• SS™ (Signature Series): 316 stainless steel motor housing, powder-coated aluminium gearbox. 5-year AU/NZ warranty.
• SSS™ (Stainless Steel Series): full 316 stainless steel construction throughout, including the gearbox. The world’s first complete 316 SS drum winch. 7-year AU/NZ warranty.

Yes. All three series work in freshwater. The CS™ already includes a 316 stainless steel drum as standard; its main difference from SS™ is a powder-coated steel motor housing instead of 316 stainless, making it a practical, lower-cost choice for freshwater or light use.

Standard Savwinch drum winches run on 12V DC, with 24V available on selected models across the range. Check the individual product page or contact us if you’re running a 24V system.

Yes. Our drum winches are used on trailer boats, half-cabin runabouts, and aluminium tinnies all across Australia. Call us and we'll walk you through the setup for your hull.

We recommend installation by a trained marine mechanic or electrician, for safety and reliability. A confident DIYer comfortable with 12V wiring can also fit it themselves, full documentation is included with every kit. A bad connection is the most common cause of winch issues, so get an electrician involved if you’re unsure.

Most Savwinch kits include a solenoid, circuit breaker, and switch. You need to run appropriately sized cable from your battery to the winch. Minimum cable size is specified in the installation manual.

Short-link chain only on drum winches. Long-link chain will not spool correctly and can cause a jam or damage the drum.

EFF™ stands for Electronic Fast Fall. It lets you deploy your anchor rapidly on compatible models, without a manual clutch, protected by patented design. The world’s first clutch-free electronic fast fall system on a drum winch. Available on selected drum winch models.

True free fall is purely mechanical: you disengage a clutch and gravity does the work. EFF™ is electronically controlled, so the rate of fall is managed and consistent. There’s no separate clutch mechanism to wear or fail. For most boaties, EFF™ is the cleaner and more reliable option. True free fall is available on the Commercial Series only.

IP68 is an ingress protection rating. The 6 means fully sealed against dust. The 8 means it can withstand continuous water immersion. For a winch mounted on the bow of a boat, IP68 is the standard you want.

Retrieval speed varies by model and load, and slows further under load depending on depth and anchor weight. Contact us for the spec on your specific model.

The Digital Winch Counter (SKU 9620) displays rope and chain length as it deploys and retrieves. It is retro-fit compatible with all major drum winch brands. Check the product page or contact us to confirm compatibility with your specific model.

• SSS™ (Stainless Steel Series): 7-year warranty (AU/NZ)
• SS™ (Signature Series): 5-year warranty (AU/NZ)
• CS™ (Classic Series): 3-year warranty (AU/NZ)
• Commercial Series: 1-year warranty as standard, unless otherwise specified for your custom build

Electrical, accessories, and international coverage also apply. See the Warranty page for full terms and how to make a claim.

Email info@savwinch.com or call +61 3 8361 8841. Do not return goods without authorisation. We will try to diagnose the problem remotely before asking you to send anything in. See the Warranty page for full terms and to start your claim.

Savwinch has been in business for over two decades. The business is Australian designed, owned, and engineered, with facilities in Tullamarine (Melbourne) and Upper Coomera (Gold Coast), both open for showroom visits.

You can also buy online from our Replacement Motors collection. For anything else, contact our Head Office. We keep parts for current and recent models. Tell us your winch model and what you need, or use our contact form.

Yes. We have stockists worldwide, across the United States, Canada, New Zealand, China, the Middle East, Europe, and beyond. Lead times and freight costs vary by destination. Contact us for a freight quote on large orders.

Both. You can order directly through our website, or buy through one of our stockists.

Yes. Contact info@savwinch.com or call +61 3 8361 8841.

We accept returns within 10 days of delivery for unused, uninstalled items in original packaging. A 20% restocking fee applies and return freight is at your cost. Contact us before sending anything back.