anchor system

[junkman41]

hello, what type of anchor systems are you using on your pontoon? I have a danforth style anchor and it just lays on the deck. I am wondering how others store there anchor ? pictures would be great. I would like to mount mine under the front of the deck, with a hand crank some place on the deck. and release it when needed. sugestions, pictures, and ideas please
thanks Jack

 

[Malibu Rudder]

Re: anchor system

I secured a Minn Kota electric winch to the bow of my pontoon boat. I love it and would not have a boat without one. I did not purchase it from this site but here is an example. Reds Gear - Minn Kota Deckhand 40 Electric Anchor Winch (40 Lbs. Capacity) 1810140 I also installed a remote switch near the steering wheel so I can operate it when I am in the captains chair. I attached a mushroom style anchor and I have never had a problem drifting. It is always of course very important to use proper anchoring techniques.

 

[richard.prince]

Re: anchor system

Google "pontoon anchor wizard" I do not have one so I cannot give a review but it looks like what you described. The youtube video shoild give you some ideas for a cheaper self designed one

 

[MinUph]

Re: anchor system

I also use a Danforth style anchor, chain and rode. Its all stored in a cabinet up front.

 

[Todd4]

Re: anchor system

I secured a Minn Kota electric winch to the bow of my pontoon boat. I love it and would not have a boat without one. Minn Kota Deckhand 40 Electric Anchor Winch (40 Lbs. Capacity) [/url] I also installed a remote switch near the steering wheel so I can operate it when I am in the captains chair.

I'll second that (I don't want to haul up 100' of line with a heavy anchor anymore). I use a box anchor though. I've had good luck so far.

Todd

 

[Grandad]

Re: anchor system

Google "pontoon anchor wizard" I do not have one so I cannot give a review but it looks like what you described. The youtube video shoild give you some ideas for a cheaper self designed one

Interesting idea, thugh I'd recommend stronger hardware than what was described in the video that I watched. The shot was taken under the pontoon floor showing mounting an anchor line pulley to the structure using only a pair of self-tapping screws. The stresses put on any anchor system can be extreme. The storage roller structure was certainly more adequate than the pulley support and your anchoring system is only as strong as its weakest link. - Grandad

 

[gpfishingdude]

Re: anchor system

I have the same setup, now, as Malibu Rudder- Deck hand 40 that comes with the wired remote control. I have a 25# Richter anchor from the bow. I just took the Trac pontoon winch off because I couldn't stand to hear it groan and scream every time I lowered or raised the anchor. I always swing the anchor up onto the deck while towing and let it hang on the safety chain going down the lake. The deckhand could be a lot easier to set up than the way you have to do it now. I bought my own screws for mounting the winch to the plate and the base to the deck. The cover is supposed to be removable with 2 screws for mounting the winch to the plate--- better try 4 screws and 4 wires. The cover gets in the way of the thumb screw that locks the sliding plate to the base so I had to cut some clearance in the cover. I changed the connectors on the wire ends that attach to the battery so I loosen the wing nuts on the battery terminals and slip the wire connectors on and retighten the wing nuts. The remote control has to be mounted flat but the wire comes out the back of it instead of under it to cover the hole I cut in the console to run the wire through the console. At first I was saying "What the HECK were they thinking" but then I realized that they just MAKE them and probably have never mounted one on a boat to use it. But it looks like it will be a good winch now that it is on the boat. I just hang anchors off the back of the boat with a rope to help keep it from swinging too fast. I would love to have the same set up on the stern that I have on the bow but Uncle Joe hasn't left me any money yet.

 

[Old Screwball]

Re: anchor system

I carry a pair of Danforths, chain, and 100 feet of rope under the front seat in a plastic container. We normally run the river in the current, so a bow and stern anchor hold the boat and stop it swinging. Never had a problem deploying them by hand.

 

[junkman41]

Re: anchor system

I have 2 dansforth anchors, one I keep in the storage box at the stern, and the other just laying on the deck at the bow, I want to get a power anchor system, but not sure what kind yet. I seen the video for anchor wizard, I like that setup but did you see the cost of it.

 

[muskiemike12]

Re: anchor system

I have the Minn kota Deckhand 40 pontoon and I am very happy with it!

 

[Malibu Rudder]

Re: anchor system

Love my Minnkota Deckhand!!! It keeps my boat clean as well and that is a huge benefit for me.

 

[gpfishingdude]

Re: anchor system

I have the kind of anchor that is shown on the anchor wizard video but I have it hooked on the Deckhand 40. That anchor wizard looks like a pretty good unit for that type of set up but it is kind of hard to tell how much power it takes to crank the anchor up because that is a big strong looking young guy advertising it.

 

[MrMikeTN]

Re: anchor system

I have a 30ft+ Pontoon with a canvas cabin and it is heavly loaded.
I mainly fish the main channel (75ft) where the water is always moving faster, and usually a 5mph+ wind.
I had huge problems with keeping it where I wanted it. I tried 2, 3, 4 25lb-30lb naval type and Mushroom river anchors and still had no luck.
I took 3 empty Heiniken kegs opend the tops, ran a huge Stainless Eye bolt thru it, filled it 10% with concrete, then added some steel chunks and old lead weights that I sprayed with rubber , then filled them the rest of the way with concrete. I covered them with many coats of sprayable rubber, then took my 25 lb Naval type anchors and tied them to the end of the anchor lines and about 3 foot up the line I tied in a Keg. Im guessing about 120lb per anchor line..
WOW! I can drop 2 lines now and im staying put unless it gets really bad out them I drop the third one and IM GLUED!!
Huge problem was hand pulling in the line, then up about 75-80ft. Do that 1 time and your wore slap out, 2 or 3 of them back to back and your too tired to crawl across the deck to start the Motor.
I saw the prices that anchor winches were going for and they would not handle my weights.
I Looked online at harbor Freight tools and saw a 2000lb rated winch, 12v, with remote, and came with about every thing I needed for $54.00 each.
Picked one up extended the front rollers that guide the line about 4 inches, fabricated a simple drop in double pole mount, (that also works as a universal mount for a bunch of other things) then fabricated a smaller diameter double pole Bayonet for the winch.
I Took the cable off the winch and roughend up the surface of the winch's spool and now i can just quickly drop the winch in any of the 4 mounts and run the end of the anchor line thru the spool 2-3 times and hit "IN" and it lifts them with no problem 75+ foot and spools the line in a nice circle right on the deck. I have 2 winches now, But if 1 was to quit I can Open the gate on the end of the winch and slide the line off and go to the next one and do it again.
If I dont need the winches I just put them in a storage cabinet.
Im sure the winch is a little slower than the Commercial anchor winches, but I can live with the speed vs. $$$$$.
And the mounts work great for all kinda quick change options like, BBQ Grill to hang over the water, Extended down rigger, Fishing pole holders.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: anchor system

I keep my digger in a soft-sided cooler under one of the bench seats.

 

[Malibu Rudder]

Re: anchor system

The trick to anchoring is not necessarily all in the weight of the anchor. The proper anchoring technique is paramount. MrMike, try letting out at least 3 times the amount of rope as the depth of water with no wind or current and you will need to go 5x the depth if current/wind. I hope this helps. You will need to seed the anchor vs. just setting it on the bottom. Good luck and have fun.

 

[gpfishingdude]

Re: anchor system

MrMike That sounds like quite a setup for anchoring. Could you post some pictures of the mounts and the winch so I can figure out if it would work on my boat too. That $54 for a winch with a remote would fit my budget a lot better than buying another regular anchor winch for the back of my boat. Sounds like you are fishing below the dam where they let a lot of water out or something?

 

[jakedaawg]

Re: anchor system

I mounted a piece of 4" DIA PVC pipe vertically to the front rail. The rode and handle of the danforth go in this and the tines go forward. Anchor is off the floor so no stubbed toes, if mate doesn't wash the acnchor clay and sand fall in water. Line is then coiled and placed on floor or drapped over pipe.

 

[gpfishingdude]

Re: anchor system

I found out that Harbor Freight doesn't sell any 12 volt 2000lb winches around here for $54.99. Maybe you can get them at Northern Tool or off the computer. What brand winch has the gate on the end that opens for removing the line?