best anchor?

[brs517]

What is your opinion on the best anchor to get for a 16' bowrider? I think most of the lakes I frequent have muddy bottoms. I currently have a mushroom type anchor, but it doesn't hold very well at all.<br /><br />Thanks<br />Brian

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: best anchor?

I would recommend a 5 to 10 lb danforth stlye anchor with 8 to 10 feet of 1/4 inch chain and swivel. Rode length should be applicable to water depth where you will be anchoring. 3/8 rode is sufficient with 6 to 8 feet of 1/4 chain for shallow water or beaching. For deep water 8 to 10 feet of 1/4 inch chain and 1/2 inch rode. In deep water 1/2 inch rode is easier to haul in than 3/8. The 1/2 inch rode fits your hands better.

 

[ebsworj]

Re: best anchor?

What is the weight of your current mushroom anchor?

 

[jim dozier]

Re: best anchor?

Any outboard with a poorly maintained cooling or fuel system will make a very good anchor.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: best anchor?

BRS, Reelpoor gave the textbook answer. His method is overkill INHO for your boat. A 5 lb "fluke" type anchor with 3/8 nylon line will be plenty to hold your boat in the mud bottom you described. Chain will only "ding" up your boat. Make sure your anchor line is at least 5 times the depth of the water you will anchor in.

 

[jim dozier]

Re: best anchor?

I will respectfully disagree a little with Chris on the chain. Although 8-10 feet of chain is probably overkill addition of as little as 4 feet will vastly improve the holding power of danforth type anchors. 4-6 feet of chain is easy to handle and if you are the clumsy type get the vinyl covered chain to protect your boat. I have a 17 ft runabout and I usually use 2 anchors in crowded shallow water areas where boats congregate. I used to not have chain on my smaller anchor on the stern until a thunderstorm came up last summer and the wind switched around to the stern too late to pull up anchor. I had to stand there and hold the boat. I added 4 feet of chain and have been in worse storms since with no problem. ALL anchors on any boat over 14 feet should have at least 4 feet of chain in my opinion. I would bet a 4lb anchor with 6 feet of chain will hold better than a 6lb anchor without chain.

 

[ebsworj]

Re: best anchor?

Does the chain allow the boat to swivel over the anchor? Is that the issue?

 

[ufm82]

Re: best anchor?

The chain helps the anchor bite into the bottom as it is heavy. Simple physics. That's the reason for the chain. <br /><br />UFM82

 

[jim dozier]

Re: best anchor?

As UFM82 suggests its not just the extra weight but also the angle. The chain helps keeps the angle of the line low and lessens the tendency of the anchor to pull up and lose its grip. As I suggested above adding several pounds of chain to a given anchor size is more efficient than just adding the same weight to the anchor itself. Although not an issue in all areas, another benefit is chafe resistance on the ground.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: best anchor?

even more important than type and chain is the scope. navy recommends 5-7 times depth of anchor. so if you're anchoring in 20 ft of water, you should have 100' out. sometimes a bit overkill, but will keep you secure.

 

[noelm]

Re: best anchor?

been around boats for more years than I should own up to, and an anchor should always have chain and in heavy weather the longer the better, has nothing to do with weight (although I guess it must help slightly) just the angle the rope pulls at is better with chain attatched and the more rope out the better! but sometimes you must use common sense!

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: best anchor?

Originally posted by noelm:<br /> has nothing to do with weight (although I guess it must help slightly) just the angle the rope pulls at is better with chain attatched

What do you think keeps the angle of the rope lower - the WEIGHT of the chain. The weight also acts a shock absorber which helps to stop jarring in rough water.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[Boatist]

Re: best anchor?

I have at least 5 anchors for my two boats and by far the best is a Fortress FX-7. It is not the cheapest anchor but the best I have ever seen. <br /><br />On my 21 foot Runabout I carry two anchors a 8 pound Danforth with 6 feet of chain and 300 foot of line.<br /><br />Second one and the only one I have used in the last 10 years is a Fortress FX-7 4 pound anchor with 4 feet of chain and 400 feet of line. Coast Guard rated it best and many boating mags.<br /> <br />I have never had either anchor fail to set or pull loose in any condition. Three things make the fortress Better. 1: Flutes are sharp so on a hard bottom it diggs in faster. Other anchor sometimes drag before digging in and this can mean it drags until it catches rocks or a tree root and pulls under it and makes it hard to retreive. <br />2: It is very light, even the wife can pull it very easy. Our 8 pound anchor plus chain she can hardly get in.<br />3: You can adjust the Flutes angle for different types of bottoms. I have never changed ours but it is very easy to change. <br /><br />It has one disadvantage. It is very light so if you pull up to your spot and kick the engine in reverse and start paying out line it may never get to the bottom. Instead you go to your spot kick the engine in reverse and pay our some line then stop the boat in the water and continue to pay out line until anchor hits bottom. Then pay out to proper scope and tie off and set anchor.<br />Some do not like this and sould not buy this anchor.<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com <br /><br />Then search for Fortress anchor.<br />Then click on 16 to 27 foot boat.

 

[John Carpenter]

Re: best anchor?

Never had a mushroom anchor that held worth a flip in anything. For inland lakes with muddy bottoms, a small Danforth style with a few feet of chain will take care of 95% of your needs. It's the other 5% that gets you. I would recommend the largest Danforth that you can store easily with 6' of chain and enough rode for your lake. If boating in a river I would avoid the Fortress or other aluminum Danforth style anchors as they tend to "sail" in the current and can be difficult to set.

 

[brs517]

Re: best anchor?

Thank you all for your advice. I got a 6# danforth with 6' of 1/4" chain, and it holds beautifully. Anyone want a free mushroom anchor?