On Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:02:45 -0700, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:

Would it be common for a 40' sailboat to have a power winch? All we saw had
them as options... but I suppose you could add one yourself.

They are an expensive add on. If shopping used boats, better to find
one properly equipped.

I would say that all well equipped 40 foot cruising boats have a
windlass, usually electrically powered, sometimes manual. Properly
sized ground tackle on a boat that large, typically a 45 lb anchor
with a substantial amount of chain, needs a windlass of some sort.