What anchor for 30' pontoon boat?

I have a 30' pontoon boat (with top deck - so extra wind surface blows side walls of boat). I use the boat in Lake Chickamauga which is on the Tennessee River by Chattanooga TN. I think the bottom is mostly mud/dirt. My question is this... what type AND size of anchor should I be using to anchor with? Please give me suggestions for both a bow anchor and stern anchor. Thanks!

I have another question on anchoring but I'll make that a separate topic I think.

Re: What anchor for 30' pontoon boat?

I would use a mushroom for muddy bottoms but I would also have a danforth or fortress on board in case you ever anchor on a rocky or grassy bottom.

Connect a six foot heavy chain on the anchor and the rode should be at least seven times the depth of the water.

You should only use a stern anchor with calm waters and wind and only when a bow anchor is also deployed.

Re: What anchor for 30' pontoon boat?

They might be expensive, but everything I read about the box anchor seems to be great. Cant find anything bad about them so far. I do know they are hard to find. You find someplace that sells them(ie Bass Pro), they are usually sold out. When I find a place not out of stock, I am going to order one.

Re: What anchor for 30' pontoon boat?

I have used serveral different kinds of anchors and the one I find that holds the best is a 25# Richter Anchor. I have a 24' Tritoon powered by a M/C 470.

Re: What anchor for 30' pontoon boat?

I'd suggest the heaviest Danforth style you are comfortable with and 4-6' of chain. We use about a 20# Danforth for our 25' Triple tube, and our good friends use the exact same set-up for their 2008 30' Suntracker Party hut down here in the muddy waters of S. Louisiana, and we've never had any problems !!!

Re: What anchor for 30' pontoon boat?

I have never used anchors with my pontoon boat, as they're just a big hassle. You can use a pair of Danforth anchors, however you'd probably have a couple of 100' ropes to get them to dig into the bottom. Then, you've got to go through a procedure going forward and reverse to get them into the bottom. Then, taking them back up is another procedure. You can always use a HomeDepot orange bucket filled up with concrete as an anchor.

Your lake is a very wide open water, and it's in the middle of Chattanooga. I'd be looking for friends with piers/boathouses to tie up to. My best memories are floating for miles down the Tennessee River in the middle of the night listening to music. We start the motor to run upwind to where I started every 1/2 hour or so.

Re: What anchor for 30' pontoon boat?

A 55 Gal drum full of concrete.............If it's windy on a toon, that' what it will take.........

Re: What anchor for 30' pontoon boat?

RIDEPATE said:

A 55 Gal drum full of concrete.............If it's windy on a toon, that' what it will take.........

Click to expand...

I agree pontoons and fence provide a lot of sail area I use a 20# Danforth as bow anchor and 15 ft of heavy chain next to anchor If I want to hold steady and not swing I drop a small mushroom off stern.

Use the formula mentioned above and it will hold in most any bottom.

Re: What anchor for 30' pontoon boat?

This is similar to what i use on my pontoon when fishing for Blue Cats in the winter when the wind is 35-40mph here in North Texas, i made mine looks just like this one but does not collapse and your boat will not move!! http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...e=6890749684&gclid=CJe_qMG7qakCFQ_u7QodIDv8Jw