Anchor line

[chads]

Everytime we put the anchor out on our 18' Starcraft SS I dread having to retrieve it. When the retrieving begins I always tell myself there has to be a better way. Ive saw the electric anchor mates and the hand crank line retrievers but don't know how they would mount with our bowmoynted trolling motor. I also think it would add a lot of "clutter on the bow. Is the pain of retrieving the line and anchor by hand just a fact of life or am I missing the obvious? Any pictures on easier setups would be appriceated. Thanks

 

[poconojoe]

I'm in the same predicament. I actually bought one of those electric anchor mate devices, but it was too large to mount on my bow. So I usually put my gloves on and pull it manually. I also interested in any alternative ideas.

 

[Chris1956]

Electric winches do not retrieve an anchor. Electric winches are only powerful enough to retrieve the anchor line and lift the weight of the anchor. You must idle the boat forward, while the electric winch retrieves the line. After the line is retrieved, hopefully the anchor brakes loose and can be retrieved.

 

[Fed]

Google anchor yanker

 

[chads]

I guess it's more of me being lazy, it just seems like there should be a better way to deal with all the line and the anchor while retrieving. My scenario- get to spot, drop anchor for fishing or relaxing, tie anchor line to one of the bow cleats, cool remains line up and feed under bow rail. Time to leave, feed excess line under bow rail. Start pulling in anchor line and anchor hand over hand while also trying to coil up line coming in, once anchor is up stow it and go.

 

[Elkins45]

It sounds like you and I have similar problems (see http://forums.iboats.com/forum/gener...e-anchor-winch) we are trying to solve. I'm thinking about mounting a couple of simple eye bolts in the gunwale rather than using the shroud and pulley that came with the Anchor Mate and mounting the winch back near the console. Or maybe using one eye bolt as a guide and using a forward cleat as the point where the anchor goes over.

 

[airshot]

Don't work so hard, I have a 22' StarCraft so I understand how hard it can be. I am rarely by myself so either I or the fishing buddy slowly motors toward the anchor while we pull the line into the boat. No hard work there as the boat moves toward the anchor, once on top of the anchor it should release quite easily, if not I have a cleat on the side to make a wrap with the anchor line and a rock of the boat breaks the anchor free once your right above it. Don't waste your time coiling that line it will never play out the same way next time you use it. Instead get a 5 gal plastic bucket and loosely put the line in the bucket and than the anchor on top. Next time out the line will come out without tangling. Trying to coil the line puts a twist into the line but just loosely putting in the bucket keeps the line contained but no twists.
Been doing it this way for years without any issues. I have two buckets with lines in them, each one has 100' of anchor line, if I need more line I have a loop on each end and use a simple shackle to connect them quickly and then have another 100' of line. If I find I need even more line than that I shouldn't be out there!! I am on Lake Erie where avg depth is 35' or less.

 

[wahlejim]

I 2nd the not coiling the line.

I use a milk crate instead of a 5 gallon bucket. I don't like my ropes sitting in water and not drying if I can avoid it. The crate allows it to dry quicker.

Also look into different types of anchors. Depending on where you are anchoring, a lighter anchor may be feasible. I have had good luck with a Richter anchor with a 6 foot anchor chain. Idle over the anchor and it pops right up.