Odd for me to read about brakes and pawls. When I was installing windlasses the one thing we made SURE of was our customers were told to NEVER use the windlass to hold the boat, once she was set switch to a snubber. We are clear that a torn-up windlass used that way was not going to be fixed for free. Obviously past a certain size that no longer holds true. You also have the issue of a windlass on a boat not originally designed to have one holding onto the chain, but departing the boat with a section of deck attached to it 
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