What are people using for Anchors. On Sandy's green BB I see a GardenTractor Transmission hanging from the anchor sprit. What other options have been tried? I see allot t of pyramid styles. Mushrooms look nice and one worked well on my old canoe.
I'm considering Portland concrete cast with and chain eye protruding. A gallon of concrete weighs 21-22lbs.
How much should an anchor weigh?

That BBoat anchor is the differential ring gear from a 3/4 ton truck. From the junk yard. It's almost heavy enough. The ring gear from a big flatbed truck is bigger but harder to find. Fly wheels make good anchors too. They're easier to find. Many are too big. i have an anchor I like that was the fly wheel from a Japanese car. Can't remember which one.

Huge heavy anchors with spikes are popular. I see a lot of 28 pounders hanging off the rear end of molded fiberglass boats. That's too heavy. It's a mistake to ever try to anchor up in current so you can fish. Well, if you do you'd better have a razor sharp knife close at hand, so you can cut the anchor rope if it snags.

I like a lighter anchor. I only use them to keep the boat from drifting off after rowing over to slow shallow water. If you want to have lunch and you had to stop in current use a bow line instead of an anchor.

White water people don't use anchors at all. They're far too dangerous. If the anchor mechanism lets go in big water you might lose your boat. I'm getting more used to not using an anchor at all. When I do use an anchor I only drop it down in slow shallow water. So I don't need one of those big heavy spike jobs. Actual weight? I'd have to weigh what I have. I don't really know.

As a former saltwater sailor and fisher dude I've come to realize that most boaters don't understand or don't practice the rules of calculating scope. a very small anchor will secure a surprisingly large boat at a 12/1 ratio ( and yes that includes the height above the water). I think, but am not sure, from reading other posts that scope is not even considered but rather the oarsman wants to stop on a dime irregardless of current and scope. Some Drift boaters are using up to 50lb anchors. How much taping and bracing does it take to lift that anchor without tearing off your transom, lol?

At my barn I found three Steel bricks. They are +/- 2 1/2 x 4 x 10" and, by use of an internet calculator, should weight btwn 28 and 35 lbs. I think Half of one of them, with some flanges welded, would be an awesome moderate water anchor. Something like below from Green Anchors.

Actually I thought a round 6" dia. x 1/2" thick plate welded onto the end peakes my interest.


I rather agree that anchoring in heavy current by the uphill end of the boat is not a scenario in want to consider for me. I do however want to be able to hold tight in Eddies to fish the seams for Channel Cats, bass and so forth.

Very dense, heavy, with sharp edges.

I don't have pictures of mine, but I have 3- 6 lb sledge hammer heads bolted together in a alternating direction held together with a large eyebolt and grade 5 fender washers and nuts. It was made in a pinch just to get my boat on the water but I've found it works perfect for my freestone skiff.

That sounds unique Erik. 18+/- lbs. A practical use of three sledges. If you get a chance send some photos To Sandy and he'll post it. By using your anchor you have time to hammer away at the fish:-)

Most people get their anchor hardware from Dierks in Oregon. http://www.dierksanchors.com/products.html

For a foot release system I like the one made by Regal the best. But I couldn't find it online a minute ago. Do they still make it?

I've often admired Dierk's products. They seem well thought out.

My goal is to get on the water soon and figure out how much I like it and what areas are worth improving on. Where I go boating and where you go boating are very incomparable. My areas are so calm that a canoe paddle would work to get you to a safe place.

For now I plan to cleat off the anchor.

I've experimented with pyramid-shaped concrete anchors. They work well and are very cheap, but they only last season or two. Adding hardware cloth or chicken wire makes them last a bit better.

I was hoping someone would bring up Concrete. I was thinking pure Portland cement with hardware cloth. Greg have you weighed them?

RE> "Do you still sell Regal anchor release foot pedals"

"Yes, we do. Please call."

Cassie LaBelle

Regal Vise

100 Prentiss Street

Orange, MA 01364

978-544-6571

Thanks for sharing.
Not for this old boat. Hopefully the next.

You can get a concrete one to weigh 20 lbs, but it's pretty good sized at that weight. The size seems to help a bit with "grab" on some freestone rivers. Ultimately, I gave up on them and went back to steel.

Concrete is so easy to work with. I'm using an old river anchor for now. 10lbs. the Delaware is so low, almost historically low, this area is impassable in some stretches. sad.
But in another month or two I'll be cursing the rains.