Anchor delimna

[nightvision]

Hi all,<br />I'm in need of an anchor that would hold the boat in place and is easy to pull up. I boat in a lake that has a muddy bottom with vegetation, bushes, and trees that have been submerge by mountain run off water. I have a 17.5 footer runabout and I use an old style anchor with two 12 inch hooker. The anchor works well, but when it's time to pull it up, one can not pull it up by hand. We have it roped to the cleats and have to use the boat to break the anchor lose. It works, but i'm concern that I might ripe out the cleats. Is this a valid concern? Should I use the bow or stern tow eye instead? Is using the boat engine to break an anchor lose the right procedure? Also, would you recomend a 20 lbs river anchor with three penetrating flutes as the solution for easy removal? Should I use a mushroom anchor? Any recommendation would be appreciated.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Anchor delimna

Use a dansforth with sharp flutes. <br />This will help it dig in fast before it pull under a tree or rock.<br /><br />When you set your anchor let anchor settle to the bottom <br />and pay out proper scope before setting anchor.<br />Again this means the anchore sets with out draging under something.<br /><br />When you pull your anchor take up slack as you come up on it <br />but pass it by about 10 percent before you try to pull it up. <br /><br />We have two anchors on my boat a 8 pound danforth and a 4 pound Fortress FX7. <br />We have not used the 8 pounder since we got the Fortress <br />and the wife has no trouble pulling it by hand.<br /><br />Should your anchor get stuck under something then pass anchor by 50 percent <br />and use the stern eye to pull it loose or break your line. <br />Make sure to keep your line out of the motor.<br /><br />If you set and retreive without dragging anchor it will be <br />very rare it will get stuck under anything. <br />If you drag it because not enough scope or flutes not sharp and no chain <br />then anchor will get stuck offten.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Anchor delimna

I have heard of people securing the anchor line to the fluke end of the anchor, then attaching it to the eye with an electrical tie-wrap.<br /><br />The thought was that under normal operations the tie wrap had you pulling the anchor at the proper end, but if you got really stuck the tie wrap would break, and you were pulling up the anchor by the fluke end.<br /><br />Haven't done it, don't have an opinion on whether or not it is wise, just wanted to pass it along.

 

[jim dozier]

Re: Anchor delimna

There are modified Danforth type anchors called slip ring flukes that have a long slotted arm that connects to the anchor rode with a ring that can slide up and down the length of the arm. When you override the anchor location the ring slides up the the top of the anchor and facilitates breaking free the anchor. Try one of these. With this type you must be careful when you set it, don't throw the anchor out, lower it carefully so the ring is at the proper end of the anchor or it won't set properly. Here is an example of a slip ring fluke anchor on Iboats:<br /> http://www.iboats.com/mall/index.cg...>fluke&**********=619255625&*******=282983703

 

[biloxiriver]

Re: Anchor delimna

I purchased an anchor a "Digger Anchor" at Academy Sports; BassPro has them too. It releases when pulled and the flukes straighten out, it is very easy to pull up.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Anchor delimna

My anchors have a light tripping line attached to the head, which runs in parallel to the main anchorline and loops to it at intervals. Heavy-duty plastic tie-downs, just threaded through the main line and zipped up loose, make the loops.<br /><br />When the anchor gets stuck and I can't free it any other way, I have - once only - successfully freed it by pulling on the tripping line.<br /><br />Sailing boats without engine power use this method, which is where I got the idea.

 

[CntrySngr]

Re: Anchor delimna

Originally posted by nightvision:<br /> I have a 17.5 footer runabout...Also, would you recomend a 20 lbs river anchor with three penetrating flutes as the solution for easy removal?

When I got my 17' Maxum I needed an anchor. The only one that Wal*Mart had that fit in the storage under the front seat was a 16 lb "river anchor". I purchased this thinking it wouldn't work too well, but it has done a great job so far. While fishing and while swimming the anchor has held on and been easy to retrieave afterwards...I'm no expert, by any means, so you probably should listen to these other boaters, I'm just saying that this did work for my situation.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Anchor delimna

Tie a line to the end of the anchor opposite where the rode is attached. Use enough line to exceede the water depth and tie a float to the other end. Now if you can't get the anchor loose with the rode, motor over to the float, pick it up and pull the anchor up with this line.

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: Anchor delimna

I am the world chump ion with anchors. 4 in a 50' area. Lots of fish. I now use 12" cement blocks there.