What type of anchor...

[Jimmy Jam]

Hey fellars,

What type of anchor is best suited for a mucky, muddy bottomed lake? Tried using a FLUEK today, but the anchor wouldn't grab onto the mucky/muddy bottom.

 

[thunder219]

Re: What type of anchor...

That is the kind that I use and someone told me to let more rope out so it would drag at more of an angle instead of pretty much straight up. Up until two years ago the only anchors I remember useing where coffee cans of concrete or old window weights.

 

[Mark42]

Re: What type of anchor...

Yep, the Fluke (aka Danforth) anchors are not the best for mud. I think for soft bottom, the mushroom anchors are better.

I'm sure some lake boaters will post their favorite anchors.

 

[Jimmy Jam]

Re: What type of anchor...

Yep, the Fluke (aka Danforth) anchors are not the best for mud. I think for soft bottom, the mushroom anchors are better.

I'm sure some lake boaters will post their favorite anchors.

Hmmm. The Fluke I have is the slip ring type. Excuse my french, but what a P.O.S.

We found a nice spot to drop anchor today, and wanted to try our luck at a little fishing. So, I dropped anchor, and about 10 minutes late I noticed we were about 50 yards from where we started!

So, you think the mushroom type eh???

 

[bigmacfan]

Re: What type of anchor...

How exactly did you drop the anchor? That is often as big a problem as the anchor type itself. If you drop the anchor, but don't give it enough line, you will drift with the wind!

I only boat on lakes with muddy bottoms and I use the slip ring or danforth anchor and it never lets me down. A couple of months ago we were anchored in a cove on a windy day. We sat for hours in the same place while we watched boat after boat (usually pontoons) pull up and toss off their mushroom anchor and then drift with the wind. Their main problem was they had their anchor line at a set length and just dropped it off rather than dropping it and then allowing the proper amount of excess line.

I used to have issues with drifting myself until I read a good article on anchor logic. I also bought a quality anchor with a chain...the chain does make a tremendous difference!

Here is a link to the article that helped me

http://powerboat.about.com/od/seamanship/l/aa031303a.htm

 

[thunder219]

Re: What type of anchor...

How exactly did you drop the anchor? That is often as big a problem as the anchor type itself. If you drop the anchor, but don't give it enough line, you will drift with the wind!


This was my problem becuase I always just drop the anchor straight down and tied the line tight. I even used two and still drifted until someone told me to throw it out front and either drift back or motor back and tighten the line. I have had good luck so far.

 

[ziggy]

Re: What type of anchor...

get a fortress anchor, ya'll never look back. do let out enough scope though. 7:1 is average. i had me a bummer holdin with a muchroom. worthless pos. had me a #10 navy anchor too. not much better. get a fortress. real pricey, but it'll stop ya. and an anchor really is a safety item too. if ya need to stop. that's what ya need or.......

 

[Scaaty]

Re: What type of anchor...

Pick up a Wset Marine Catalog...they have a couple excellent pages on what ya need..

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: What type of anchor...

Fortress all the way. I anchor up on a muddy bottom with a big current (the potomac) and it holds me all night without moving an inch.

 

[Jimmy Jam]

Re: What type of anchor...

All right now we're gettin' somewhere, or should I say no where! Thanks for all the replies fellas.

 

[MikDee]

Re: What type of anchor...

Wait, I guess that's why you need a short piece of chain on the anchor ahead of the rope, to help "Set" the anchor,,, Yes, or No???

 

[Jimmy Jam]

Re: What type of anchor...

Wait, I guess that's why you need a short piece of chain on the anchor ahead of the rope, to help "Set" the anchor,,, Yes, or No???

MikDee,

You talkin' to me? If so, I think adding a good length of chain before the rope as you stated would definitely help my FLUKE to hook-up better.

I did a comparison between the FLUKE & the FORTRESS anchors mentioned above, but there really isn't that much of a difference between the two. Except the FORTRESS anchors are adjustable and they have a length of chain attached, or am I missing something?

So, I'm thinking that the FLUKE I have will work fine if I add maybe ten feet of good heavy chain before my rope.

 

[MikDee]

Re: What type of anchor...

Hey Jimmy Jam, you gave me food for thought, I'll probably add chain to the anchor of my boat also, to help it lay down and "set". Usually, any boat I had before already came with an anchor with a short length of chain already attached, ahead of the anchor line.

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: What type of anchor...

Funny, I have two fluke style anchors and I have been having problems setting the anchor this year for some reason, never had a problem before. Yesterday, I took the one that I was using as a second and used it as my primary, no problem. Had the problem on Saturday and when I pulled the anchor out I noticed that it had not set properly, the ring was stuck at the bottom of the shank. Don't know if that is your problem or not, my guess is that it is a rope length problem, how big is your boat? What size fluke anchor do you have? On a small boat with enough rope length, the chain will definately help, but you should be just fine with the rope in most cases.

 

[ziggy]

Re: What type of anchor...

do a search on this iboats forum on anchors. ya'll find a lot of info.
when i got my anchor, my new fortress. i searched iboats for info. i think ya'll find that the fortress gets a real good rating. the danforth right behind it. google anchors. i think ya'll find fortress wins again. i have no idea why one anchor is better than another for holding. but it does appear that there is a difference. i'm guessin the design of the anchor has much to do with the fortress being better. it sure can't be weight. i got the fx7 i think is the number. #4. it held me and my buddy in some big wind the other day for us. his anchor, with the ring on it. well, it was slack. mine was doing all the holding.
certainly a chain helps, proper scope helps. there's a whole lot more to anchoring than just tossin in the ol anchor and think yer gonna stay put. most of which i don't know....

 

[Mark42]

Re: What type of anchor...

Yes, fluke anchors need a chain, about 2 to 3 feet to be effective, and they need to have at least 7 times the depth in line to work.

The fluke/Danforth anchors are designed to be pulled from the side. If there is not enough line (rode) then the anchor will not set.

Believe me, a Danforth holds my boat in constant shore winds and changes in tide and current on sandy and sandy/stoney bottoms.

90% of anchoring is knowing HOW to anchor. Did you take a boat course?

 

[dbaggette]

Re: What type of anchor...

I have a fluke, and anchor mostly in muddy lakes. I find that after throwing it off the bow, I put the throttle in reverse quickly for about 5 seconds. This causes the throat of the anchor to rise, and digs the claw into the muck. If I just throw it out, I have trouble as well.