Re: Attaching / Using an Anchor
I don't know if you're still interested, but the Danforth, in my opinion, gives you the most holding power for the least amount of weight to carry around in your boat. Agree on the chain and problems with mud.
On where to tie, if you use a deck cleat you need to know how it is attached to the boat. Thru bolted with backup material (for added strength) is best. I wouldn't trust a screw period.....would only use that if temporarily tieing up to a dock in a marina.
If it must hold, I only use the bow eye.
On "fetching", I go down the length of the anchor rope (line in nautical terms) the distance I would have to pull the line to get at it if I were standing in the cockpit, plus the distance for the line to be fully extended when anchored. I attach a snag line to the anchor line there and secure it to a cleat handy to the cockpit.
To retrieve, just drive over the anchor as you are pulling on the snag line and retrieving the anchor line; then store all in the cockpit with the lines lieing along the deck around the end of the windshield.
Also, the best Danforth is one with a slip ring that works normally, but upon retrieving, you can drive past the anchor and as you do the ring will slide to the crown and you pull it out butt first.....really hard to get one of those hung up.
Mark