Anchor

[db01]

I am new at fishing on lake Erie, This past weekend was the second time I've had my 20' Thompson Cuddy there.

I can not stay anchored, I'm using a sand anchor from my pontoon boat it probably weighs about 10 to 15 pounds; we had 150' rope. With three foot waves and wind 10 to 15mph we kept drifting over 1mph while all the other boats in the area seemed to be anchored solid.

Can someone please tell me what weight anchor is right for my boat and what type would be best for lake Erie? Thanks, db

 

[oops!]

Re: Anchor

hi welcome to i boats....this is a really good site for everything boating......

im not really an anchor guru....i rarely use mine.....but it is a really heavy large one, im sorry i dont know the name of the type......

but im gonna bump this thread so more of our guys see it

cheers
oops

(bump)

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Anchor

Here's another thread that may help as well

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=272170

 

[rndn]

Re: Anchor

You need a fluke style anchor designed to dig into the sand. Once the points dig into the sand your boat will not drift. I assume you are referring to the mushroom style anchor as a sand anchor, and they really can't hold much weight unless you can get them to sink into some mud.

 

[Hitech]

Re: Anchor

The mushroom anchor is worthless. For the conditions you describe you should also have some chain in addition to the rope (one end of the chain attaches to the anchor and the other to the rope). Chain can make a big difference.

 

[haskindm]

Re: Anchor

How deep was the water in which you were trying to anchor? Your anchor scope should be 7 to 1. For every 1' of water depth, you should have 7' of anchor line. The final connection to your anchor should also be a length of chain, this will also add to the holding power of your anchor. 150' of rope would only be good for 21' - 25' water depth. As others have said a "Danforth" or fluke type anchor will work well in sand. The design of the anchor is much more important than the weight. Most anchors (other than mushroom anchors or the "cinder block" anchor) get their holding power by digging into the bottom, not from their weight.

 

[db01]

Re: Anchor

Thanks for the info, my anchor is a fluke type but there is no chain attached I'll give that a try. Can you advise me on how heavy the chain should be and how long? db

 

[Nandy]

Re: Anchor

Well, I wouldn't say a mushroom anchor is useless. The anchor has it uses and it works well is used in the intended circumstances.

db01, haskindm advise is solid. You can use around 6 feet of 5/16 or 3/8 chain from any of those home improvement stores. If you want to keep your deck from scratches you can get the marine "grade" chain that has the pvc coat on it but get ready to pay... My advise is to get the galvanized one and be careful when taking the anchor aboard.
In a lake with no wind action you can drop a cinder block as an anchor straight down and it will work. Once you start talking about waves and wind it is quite another game. Sounds like you have a good anchor for your area. You need to figure out how much line you need for the dept. That chain will make a world of difference. It works by adding weight to the anchor and keeping the pull angle in the anchor low. You see, it is harder to get an anchor loose if you are pulling the line at 5 degrees from the bottom as if you are pulling it 90 degrees, just an example... Good luck, let us know how it works.

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Anchor

I have a 24' deck boat and I use a fluke style anchor from Walmart; this style of anchor is the best I have owned and holds my boat rock solid. The key, I have found, is I also use 5-6' of 3/8 chain on the front of the anchor. This adds weight, but also allows the chain to absorb some of the initial shock from waves and keeps the anchor at the proper attitude and scope.

 

[Draven1772]

Re: Anchor

Like others have said, get no less the 2' of chain on there. The chain will help your anchor dig down that much deeper. I also use 2 anchors to control swaying.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Anchor

For your boat no better anchor than a 4 lb Fortress FX-7.
If your useing a short scope less than 7 to 1 then chain will help in light conditions.
In strong winds and current 7 to 1 scope will do better than short scope with all chain.
Fortress is not a cheap anchor but it has sharp flutes a narrow shank and digs in faster and deeper than any anchor I have seen.
It has been rated best in over 23 test including the Coast Guard, Navy, and power boat Mag.

http://www.fortressanchors.com/

Check out the test on the left side.

They are sokd here at Iboats.