My old windlass was an old model Maxwell RC8, but it's becoming apparent that no matter which windlass I pickup, I'm going to have to fill and re-drill holes in the deck, and it doesn't appear that any windlass is going to fully cover all of my former holes. I'm looking at the Maxwell RC8, the RC10, and Lewmar options. (willing to hear other suggestions)

Lewmar has quite a bit of negative reviews on Amazon and otherwise. Maxwell windlasses seem more reliable, but I shouldn't need the greatest windlass made. I boat in shallow water, 12'-30' max, with a light anchor (fortress, great holding power, doesn't weigh much), and I generally anchor in waist deep water.

Lewmar VX 1 accepts a 1" rode. ($650) (further research suggests that this windlass may only accept a 5/8" rode, and that the website claiming a 1" rode, may have been wrong.)

The Maxwell RC8 accepts a 5/8 rode. ($1200)
The Maxwell RC10 accepts a 3/4 rode. ($1500)

The Lewmar windlass is more than 1/2 the cost of the Maxwell windlass, and I see a lot of people using them in my area. A lot of the complaints I see against Lewmar, are from ocean going boats, that boat in deep water. I don't have those issues.

I have a 3/4" rode on the boat currently. How exact does the rode have to fit? Would the 3/4" rode work with the VX1, which nominally accepts a 1"? Would the 3/4" rode pass through the RC8, that nominally accepts a 5/8" rode? Are Lewmar windlasses so crappy that I shouldn't consider them? I've been told that I can get a different gypsy to install in the windlass to accommodate different rodes. I'm sure I'll be on the phone with Lewmar customer service tomorrow morning, they were closed yesterday and today.