One lesson that I learnt in a long career as a Royal Naval Artificer is that you cannot ignore routine inspection and maintenance. The anchor windlass kept working year on year, no problem. The controller has a plastic case and is mounted under the windlass in a Tupperware box with the lid sealed when not in use. So that's alright then....
While we were in the Canal de Midi there was no need for it, however a precautionary check before we left the canal showed that it was still working. all well and good. Until it stopped. At anchor. Off Ile d'Aix.
We were lucky, it stopped veering but did lift the anchor so I was able to anchor using the clutch and heave with the windlass.
Once the boat was ashore for the winter I dismantled the controller. OOOPS... To my horror it was a hideous nightmare in rust. How it had kept running for so long I have no idea.
New Lewmar controllers are not cheap so I got a 12v reversible contactor, sockets, a waterproof box and a radio control switch on line and built my own for less than £80, and it works! Champion...