NV16-B, the MZ Electronic anchor windlass that embodies the expertise of Officina Navale Nanni

Power-hungry, powerful, heavy, and essential: on board our vessels, the anchor windlass is by definition the device called upon to tackle the hardest job. All of this, preferably, without drawing attention to itself, even in the most challenging moments. And if we want to talk about particularly tough moments for a windlass, we can only point to those when the anchor is being broken out from the seabed. This doesn’t happen by magic: it is the brute force of the windlass that comes into play, technically expressed by the maximum instantaneous pull value. The NV16-B windlass by MZ Electronic, with its 4,000 W motor, reaches a staggering 6,700 kilograms —roughly the average weight of 4 SUVs lined up, so to speak—in these situations.

The NV Line Anchor Windlasses: Born from the Expertise of Officina Navale Nanni

For years, MZ Electronic has been an essential benchmark in the production of marine windlasses. It is indeed worth remembering that the famous Italwinch brand was launched by this very company from Brianza back in 2008, bringing to the market anchor windlasses for boats up to 16 meters. However, it was in 2017, with the acquisition of the historic Officina Navale Nanni —operating since 1950—that MZ Electronic significantly expanded its windlass offering to cover the needs of vessels up to 90 meters.

And it is precisely within the range of ONN-branded devices that the NV16-B model fits. Specifically, the NV line stands out for its epicyclic gearmotors, designed to meet the demands of those who require continuous use from their windlass.

Features of the NV16-B Windlass, with a Working Load up to 1,700 kg

The NV16-B windlass is the smallest in the NV line. Granted, calling a beast like this “small” feels a bit out of place. We are, after all, talking about an anchor windlass that weighs between 170 and 220 kilograms depending on its configuration, designed for installation on boats up to 42 meters in length. Featuring a vertical axis design and made of AISI 316 stainless steel, it is equipped—like the other anchor windlasses in the same line—with an AC motor and comes standard with an electromagnetic brake.

A distinctive feature of the NV line is maximum customization to meet the build requirements of any shipyard. As a result, the NV16-B can also be configured with a hydraulic or pneumatic motor drive.

As previously mentioned, the model equipped with a 4,000 W motor (230 V/400 V) boasts a maximum instantaneous pull of 6,700 kilograms and a working lifting load of 1,700 kilograms, with a retrieval speed of 12 meters per minute. Of course, the smaller Italwinch anchor windlasses, designed for boats up to 16 meters, boast roughly double that speed; however, their working lifting load does not exceed 120 kilograms. In short, it’s a whole different world. In the hydraulic version, the retrieval speed of the NV16-B remains 12 meters per minute, providing 3,000 kg for both maximum instantaneous pull and continuous working lifting load.

To ensure maximum customization, the NV16-B anchor windlass can be fitted with different gypsies to support a wide range of chains, spanning from 12 mm up to 16 mm stud-link chains.

Other Windlasses in the NV Line

As mentioned, the NV16-B is the least powerful model in the NV line. The product line is completed by even more powerful windlasses designed for chains up to 19, 20, 24, 26, and 28 mm, all the way up to the “monster” NV-32 anchor windlass. We are still talking about a vertical-axis windlass made of AISI 316 stainless steel, but here the maximum instantaneous pull reaches nearly 14,000 kilograms to serve vessels up to 90 meters.

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