How to anchor 'toon at the sand bar?

Lurch77

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 10, 2013
Messages
129
As the picture attached to this post shows, many boats in tight proximity. 2'-4' of water, sand bottom. The bow is no problem, but what is the best technique for preventing stern swing, especially when the wind changes direction often? My stern anchor is a river anchor, the bow is a Digger. I have heard people say to let out excess slope on the bow, then back up, drop the stern, then reel in the excess bow slope to get more stern slope. But what about this kind of situation where you don't have a lot of space to move around?

2013-08-31 15.53.04.jpg
 

WaterDR

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 8, 2012
Messages
730
Re: How to anchor 'toon at the sand bar?

I use beach stakes. Have you seen them?
 

MinUph

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 5, 2011
Messages
466
Re: How to anchor 'toon at the sand bar?

Get to where you want to be jump in and set anchors where you want them. In tight quarters its the safest way.
 

Bifflefan

Commander
Joined
May 27, 2009
Messages
2,933
Re: How to anchor 'toon at the sand bar?

Some people take a length (3 feet or so) of 3" pvc pipe with an angle cut on the bottom end, then put a cross bar of some sort about a foot from the top. Then they just push in into the sand right by the boat and use it for to tie to.
I have 2 steel bars that have an auger on the bottom and just screw them into the sand and tie to them.
It takes awhile so I use floats and just leave them in the water the whole weekend.

40847597.jpg
 
Last edited:

Lurch77

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 10, 2013
Messages
129
Re: How to anchor 'toon at the sand bar?

That's some good ideas everyone. I guess I wasn't thinking outside of the box at all on this one. Thank you.
 

WaterDR

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 8, 2012
Messages
730
Re: How to anchor 'toon at the sand bar?

Some people take a length (3 feet or so) of 3" pvc pipe with an angle cut on the bottom end, then put a cross bar of some sort about a foot from the top. Then they just push in into the sand right by the boat and use it for to tie to.
I have 2 steel bars that have an auger on the bottom and just screw them into the sand and tie to them.
It takes awhile so I use floats and just leave them in the water the whole weekend.

View attachment 210242


That's what I use.

One think you need to watch is how much is exposed so people don't fall or step on them.
 

Bifflefan

Commander
Joined
May 27, 2009
Messages
2,933
Re: How to anchor 'toon at the sand bar?

One think you need to watch is how much is exposed so people don't fall or step on them.

That is why you use a float to mark it, and so you can find it again.
 

Silver Eagle

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 16, 2010
Messages
852
Re: How to anchor 'toon at the sand bar?

My biggest problem is where to tie the line to on my boat. I can't reach the clevests on the end of the toons. So I have to use the railing Near the rear and throw the anchor to the side rearend of the boat.
 

The Woo Woo Kid

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 10, 2013
Messages
123
Re: How to anchor 'toon at the sand bar?

Railings aren't very strong. Be careful a wave doesn't trash the railing when the anchor is tied to it.
 

MinUph

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 5, 2011
Messages
466
Re: How to anchor 'toon at the sand bar?

My biggest problem is where to tie the line to on my boat. I can't reach the clevests on the end of the toons. So I have to use the railing Near the rear and throw the anchor to the side rearend of the boat.

I had the same problem, hanging over the rail to tie to an eye on the end of my deck. So... I tied a short line to the eye and on the other end is a loop. This stays attached and rides on the deck when not in use. When I anchor I tie off to this loop. It works great. Not obtrusive and I don't have to hang over any more.
 

The Woo Woo Kid

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 10, 2013
Messages
123
Re: How to anchor 'toon at the sand bar?

Good idea. ^^^

I use the air head dock lines quite a bit. They're strong, stretchy, come in different lengths and are cheap. I use them to tie up at moorings, docks, even stretched across the sides of the bimini's frame for towels to dry on....all sorts of uses.

So, in MinUph's suggestion above, you could hook one end of a stretchy dock line to your cleat and the other end to the rail, or some such place where it would snug up, stay out of the water and be easy to reach when you need it to anchor.

I really like these dock lines. When used at moorings, at anchor or at docks, their stretchiness takes out the shocking jolt that waves can put on your boat. Nice stuff.

I put carabiners on mine, quick to hook on with.
 
Last edited:

Old Screwball

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 20, 2012
Messages
240
Re: How to anchor 'toon at the sand bar?

Kind of did the same thing with the augers, except I cut off the loop and welded them inside a 3/4" X 10' rigid conduit A short piece of chain is attached about a foot above he auger. I can screw the auger in from the boat, send my kid in the water to attach a line to the chain and I'm set. I can also slide a foam 'noodle' over the conduit to make it visable. Augers store over the pontoons when underway.
 

calamus

Cadet
Joined
Sep 6, 2013
Messages
22
Re: How to anchor 'toon at the sand bar?

would love to see some pictures of your set up
 

Old Screwball

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 20, 2012
Messages
240
Re: How to anchor 'toon at the sand bar?

We are in Cal right now, won't be back to Arizona (where the 'toon is) until the end of the month. I'll take some pix when we get there. I stole the idea from a neighbor that used the 'sticks' to anchor his Seadoos. Seemed like a good idea. I've never pulled an auger out of the sand, and with the foam noodle over the metal conduit they are very easy to see.
 

workerbee606

Seaman
Joined
Jun 24, 2012
Messages
60
Re: How to anchor 'toon at the sand bar?

I beach the boat gently, get out on the bar and Cary the danforth anchor out about 50 feet and plant it as deep as I can. This holds my toon solid even when the current picks up when the locks are ran, this is on the river that makes up the southern boundary of Alabama and Georgia.
 

workerbee606

Seaman
Joined
Jun 24, 2012
Messages
60
Re: How to anchor 'toon at the sand bar?

The anchor is planted in dry sand , on the bar and it has always held even on strong current.
 

L.R.Fulmer

Recruit
Joined
Aug 31, 2013
Messages
3
Re: How to anchor 'toon at the sand bar?

I adapted the same trick I used to use in my kayaks.
I run a golf ball retrieval rod down through scupper holes. (cut off the ball holder and sand to a point)
I made the same holes reinforced with PVC to make them on my 'toon. They work great in 6' or less water.
 
Top