Re: anchor size
First, Chris, you are completely wrong about not needing some chain--and I used to think it was not necessary, too. Chain is an integral part of the anchor rig, at least for a danforth on soft or shell bottoms. Without it, and I've had this happen in a 13' boat in current--the anchor can slide along and not grip. also when you drop it, in current a small anchor without extra chain weight just blows around in the current like a leaf in the wind.
Now, 6' may be too much and I go for short heavy rather than long.
acdc, you are setting yourself up for disaster, because you assume your motor will always be there for you. Anyone with experience with saltwater outboards knows better.
When you break down, you want to stay put. When, not if. This is especially true in coastal waters with currents. And even more important, the smaller the boat. So it may be counterintuitive to the inexperienced, but you need a bigger better anchor rig than a bigger boat does. Especially a tinnie.
You say you know your and your boat's limits but the weather doesn't respect that and neither do the gremlins that conk out your motor. The point you miss--a fatal flaw in your thinking--is that you don't need an anchor to sit in bad weather because you would simply go home. It's not up to you.
Remember this: your anchor rig is your #1 most important piece of safety equipment and that is its primary purpose. The fact that you can also use it for fishing and picnics is merely an added feature. And if a properly rigged anchor is a pain, take along a mushroom on 20' of line, too. That's what I often do even with small boats.
