Electric Anchor

[Capt Sully]

I looking to installing one on my pontoon. Don't know much about which are good or bad. I've read that the Tech brand has plastic gears which they are replacing with metal, but how would you know which has what type of gear ? Also because of the length of wire to run to the battery, what do you think of mounting at the rear of the boat ? You input please, Thanks

 

[WaterDR]

Re: Electric Anchor

For sure, don't buy junk. I had one on my last boat, and I have one for my current toon, but it is not installed. I had it on the bow on the previous toon, but on this one, I think I would prefer to installed in the stern so it is not in the way.

You can anchor off the back w/o any problems just need to make sure you don't get the linbe caught in the prop.

We beach a lot which sort of sucks because I would prefer to have the anchor off the bow in those cases.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Electric Anchor

I think the plastic(nylon) gear is to protect the motor so it is actually needed.

I have a Minn Kota for my fishing boat and it has the nylon gear and was far from cheap, I have stripped one putting in a dash switch, kept stopping it and reversing with the full weight of the anchor but I have never stripped one since in 3 years.

The replacement was cheap and took just a few minutes to put in, I do keep an extra just in case but so far haven't needed it.

As far as putting the anchor on the back just know that that is the direction the boat will go in any wind or current so if you want to fish off the back that may not work so well, I think with big enough wire you could make the run to the front though.

There used to be just the Minn Kotas but now there are several brands, I normally shoot the middle, don't get the most expensive or the cheapest.

From experience, get a breaker of the correct size and get it where it is accesible, mine came with a single use fuse that I smoked right away so I put in a breaker on the dash so it is accesible.

 

[Capt Sully]

Re: Electric Anchor

5150abf, sounds good and some good info, Thanks. We have a Bass Pro in town, I'm going to see what they stock. The Minn Kota may be the one for me.

 

[muskiemike12]

Re: Electric Anchor

I have the MinnKota Deckhand 40, the pontoon model and run it off the bow with a 26# navy anchor. The pontoon model gives you the remote switch and quick release plate. Saves you about $50 if I remember right. I run mine off the same battery as the TM and I fit both the deckhand and the TM in the bow gate. It was a tight squeeze, but they both fit just fine.

 

[Capt Sully]

Re: Electric Anchor

I was looking at Minn Kota 40 also, it does come with the remote and wiring. the others it's an opition. Does the drag really work when you drop it down ? Thanks for the info

 

[muskiemike12]

Re: Electric Anchor

I comes with about 5 feet of 8 gague wire. I think it came witha quick connect plug, but I opted to buy a rig-rite plug that matched the factory installed plug for the TM. The wire for the remote switch was 15 feet I think. The drag does work good for getting your anchor to hold. When you have enough line out just hit the switch to the off position.

 

[Capt Sully]

Re: Electric Anchor

I'm thinking of mounting it on the rear deck, closer to the battery. it doesn't matter to me which direction I'm facing while anchored the view is the same from my chair. Don't fish that much, just want to anchor for a few hours without drifting in case I fall asleep.

 

[muskiemike12]

Re: Electric Anchor

I saw this ad on CL when I was trying to decide how I was going to set mine up. It is a platform to mount your winch on the stern of your pontoon. Looks like a great product.
Pontoon Anchor Mount Winch

 

[Capt Sully]

Re: Electric Anchor

muskiemike, Thanks for the info, but I have almost a 3' rear deck so I have a lot of room to work with. Both my batteries are in the rear so this would be a short run for the wires. Most of my loading is from the front and side of the boat, that's why I'm looking at mounting on rear deck. So far I cant think of any reason why not ???

 

[gpfishingdude]

Re: Electric Anchor

The thing I dislike about our electric anchor winch is the noise it makes going up and down. If I bought another it would have to have some type of free falling system on it so that it doesn't grind going down as well as up. I don't think I would want it to be completely free falling but some type of controlled fall and a heck of a lot quieter.

 

[muskiemike12]

Re: Electric Anchor

The only noise my Minn Kota makes is when the clutch disengages, when deploying the anchor or on drift.

 

[Capt Sully]

Re: Electric Anchor

Muskiemike, does the anchor drop free or does it have some drag to it ? can you control the speed ?

 

[gpfishingdude]

Re: Electric Anchor

Yes! I am interested to know more about the Minn Kota. Does it just free fall when you disengage the clutch? And what do you mean about it making a noise "on drift"?

 

[sccatfish]

Re: Electric Anchor

The thing I dislike about our electric anchor winch is the noise it makes going up and down. If I bought another it would have to have some type of free falling system on it so that it doesn't grind going down as well as up. I don't think I would want it to be completely free falling but some type of controlled fall and a heck of a lot quieter.

I've seen a pontoon on a lake we fish a lot with a very noisy anchor winch. You always know when he's getting ready to move because you hear the winch. Hear that thing darn near a half mile away.

 

[Malibu Rudder]

Re: Electric Anchor

I have the Minn Kota on my boat and I absolutely love it. GPFishingDude it does not free fall and is controlled. I do not find it noisey at all. You do hear when the anchor is being placed in the cradle but it really is not bad at all and could not be heard "a half mile away". In fact with the music on no one even notices it except the captain(I listen to it to know when it is getting close to the top). It is the best thing I ever purchased for my boat. It is easy and operated by the captain's chair position. I do not have to rely on anyone to assist me and possibly do damage to the boat while throwing an anchor out or bringing one in. Mine does not have a speed adjustment but it can be stopped at any point. I have never wished for a speed adjustment on the Minn Kota but I have regretted not putting a 150 and hydraulic steering on my boat.

 

[Malibu Rudder]

Re: Electric Anchor

The Minn Kota produces a slight hum and a small clank when it hits the cradle. I love it and will always have one on any future boats.

 

[muskiemike12]

Re: Electric Anchor

Malibu is right on. The anchor falls at a speed of about 2 or 3 feet per second. The noise I'm speaking of is the clutch and not the winch. You can hear when the clutch disengages. This lets you know if you are on drift mode. When the anchor is being winched up the only sound you hear is when the chain gets up to the davit.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Electric Anchor

Not meaning to hijack Sully's thread. I too want to put one on the back of the pontoon boat. My concern is pulling away with the anchor down. Is there any way to interface with the ignition so that the motor won't start if the anchor is out? Does it have a switch that can tie into the lanyard switch?

 

[gpfishingdude]

Re: Electric Anchor

Thanks Mike! looks like I need to go with the Minn Kota. I have the cheaper brand that Bass Pro sells and I gotta tell you that I am disappointed in it because of the loud rumble it makes going up and down.