I'm looking at electric anchor winches. This one http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/p ... leOptOut=1 or this one http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/20511014?w ... 90&veh=sem
Any experience with these brands or similar models?

I've had the Minn Kota DeckHands. They work fine. Just remember to use the supplied pins and take the weight of the anchor off the winch while running on plane or trailering. The gears are plastic and you will tear them up if you don't. (Unfortunately I speak from experience).

I use the Minn Kota deckhand pontoon 40. A friend of mine has also used one for quite awhile. We use them a lot in a river, and have never experienced any problem with them. While traveling, or running the river, the anchor is always kept in the boat until needed.

Doesn't the davit suplied in the kit prevent damage to the winch.

Kinda, sorta. You cannot run the boat hard or trailer with all the weight of the anchor on the winch. You can either pin the anchor to the davit or put the anchor in the boat, like overboard (and I did also for that matter), or you will tear the gears up in the winch.

Got it, now I see the pin you're referring to. Thanks for the tip.