Best anchor for my boat

K

kenny26

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 16, 2009
Messages
111
I just bit the bullet and bought a brand new Tahoe 195 deck boat.

I'm looking for a anchor for it. Something economical that will work well. The boat is 20' and close to 3000lbs. I'm boating in wisconsin lakes (mud bottom, weeds, 0 - 50 ft of water mostly). Looks like the anchor locker is sized for a fluke style.

What anchor? size rode? amount of chain?

Also, what backup anchor to control the stern from swinging? Small mushroom?
 
commander315

commander315

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
286
Re: Best anchor for my boat

Idk if your need a fluke anchor. (They skate in mud bottoms and are also horrible in heavy weed cover.). Go for a plow or bruce style anchor. Lead it with 2 feet of chain and then rope from there on. A medium mushroom should work for the back, or even a collapsible claw anchor.
 
R

robert graham

Admiral
Joined
Apr 16, 2009
Messages
6,908
Re: Best anchor for my boat

I has to depend on boat size, water depth, currents, tides, wind, weather, etc. If you're mostly in a lake with a soft bottom, without much wind or currents, then a 20lb. mushroom would probably work, most of the time. That's what I use and it's good, most of the time. If I'm going into the ocean or fast moving river then I'll use a different anchor, so it all depends on your boating/water conditions. You may need a couple of different anchors. Good Luck!
 
C

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,073
Re: Best anchor for my boat

Kenny, Fluke anchors are superior to mushroom anchors, for temporary (non-mooring) anchoring. An 8 or 9# fluke anchor, 5 or 6 foot of chain and a couple of shackles to attach the anchor to the chain and the chain to the anchor line is the best idea. 3/8" twisted nylon line of 200' or so, should cover most of your shallow-medium deep water anchoring needs.

A stern anchor could be anything, however, a small fluke anchor is still the best.
 
JimKW

JimKW

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 10, 2009
Messages
397
Re: Best anchor for my boat

My anchor does not hold well and I was going to get some chain, but nowhere do I see what size chain to use. I almost got 3' of 3/8" chain, but that is some big stuff. So decided to check on here before getting anything.

Right now I just have about 100' of rode with a small flute type anchor. It says Hooker E10 on it and that's all it says. Looks like a really cheap anchor.
 
Stachi

Stachi

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 14, 2009
Messages
1,671
Re: Best anchor for my boat

my previous boat , came with a Danforth anchor with three foot of doubled 3/8" chain , twisted and also had three lead weights from a diving belt bolted through the chain to keep it twisted.... this anchor and chain set-up never failed in a tidal river .. Delaware River....
 
Boatist

Boatist

Rear Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2002
Messages
4,552
Re: Best anchor for my boat

Best anchor is a Fortress 4 pound anchor for boats to 27 feet. Digs in faster without dragging on the bottom. I have this anchor and a 8 pound Danforth but the Fortress digs in faster and holds better the the Danforth that is twice as heavy.

Even with no chain it diggs in faster with out dragging. The Danforth works ok also but is so heavy the wife has trouble pulling it up. Also in one lake where the bottom is hard it sometimes drags a lot before it digs in. This means it can drag until it hits a rock or log. When caught on a rock or log very hard to pull.
Check out the anchor test on the Fortress site. It is high priced but well worth it to us.

http://www.fortressanchors.com/

http://www.iboats.com/Fortress-Anchors/dm/*******.089918619--**********.549149598--view_id.4943
 
B

buckhorn237

Cadet
Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Messages
10
Re: Best anchor for my boat

I have a richter anchor it holds in so many different conditions I can't list
 
JimKW

JimKW

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 10, 2009
Messages
397
Re: Best anchor for my boat

Think I'll just get a different anchor. I really don't like the idea of pulling five or six feet of chain into my boat. Don't have time to order one, so I think I'll just see what West Marine has in the store.
 
JimKW

JimKW

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 10, 2009
Messages
397
Re: Best anchor for my boat

Well here's what I did: I went to West Marine and looked at what they had and what he wanted to sell me was pretty much what I have only smaller. They had the 4 lb Fortress, but for all the more often I anchor I could not see paying $132. What I have is a 10 lb Hooker, so I bought 4' of vinyl coated 1/4" chain and some of those things you use to fasten it to the rode and to the anchor.

Then I came home and went out all by myself, went back in a cove, sat there and unhooked the rode from the anchor, put the chain in between the anchor and rope, then threw it into the lake. Put the boat in reverse and let out rope until it grabbed, and it grabbed pretty quick and held good. Pretty sure that's all I'll need. Then when I was pulling it in, sure enough I touched the boat a little with the chain. Glad I went the extra $20 for the vinyl coating.
 
redone4x4

redone4x4

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Feb 28, 2009
Messages
1,548
Re: Best anchor for my boat

I have a 20# navy anchor and i love it. plus the shank slides up and down when not in use so its easy to store. a little heavy, yes but it works great. dont ask the wife to retrieve it though :D
 
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