Looking for a light, all around anchor

[undercover500]

What would be a good, relatively light all around anchor? We have a 15lb Navy anchor with 10 feet of chain and 100 feet of line, but it's a bit of a bear to pull in (no windlass). We anchor mostly over muck/mud, but would like the ability to anchor in sand and gravel, and weeds. I'd like to find an 8 or 10 pound anchor, and keep the same amount of chain and line, just have to undo the seizing wire I put on the anchor shackle. I was thinking of a Danforth, and then keep our 12lb river anchor (like a mushroom with 3 blades) as a stern/backup anchor.

 

[Sea Rider]

Which type of boat and length will you need a lighter anchor for ?

Happy Boating

 

[TyeeMan]

How about a Fluke style with a slip ring. If it gets really stuck you can pull the anchor out backwards. They are pretty light too. I have one for my 20 Lund Tyee I.O,

 

[undercover500]

Which type of boat and length will you need a lighter anchor for ?

Happy Boating

Bowrider, 19 foot.

 

[undercover500]

How about a Fluke style with a slip ring. If it gets really stuck you can pull the anchor out backwards. They are pretty light too. I have one for my 20 Lund Tyee I.O

I like that a lot, cheap if it gets banged up and I could cut the bar ends off to help make it a little smaller for storage.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I am partial to a Danforth fluke anchor

 

[undercover500]

I am partial to a Danforth fluke anchor

I wonder why...lol

 

[Scott Danforth]

I wonder why...lol

because they work...... and because it would be sacrilegious not to.

 

[JASinIL2006]

We have a boat of that size and even in Mississippi River current, a Danforth anchor with a 15' length of heavy chain works great. We do have a big Navy anchor, too, but we only use it when we need a stern anchor (which is not often). The Navy anchor is a bear to pull up by hand!

 

[undercover500]

We have a boat of that size and even in Mississippi River current, a Danforth anchor with a 15' length of heavy chain works great. We do have a big Navy anchor, too, but we only use it when we need a stern anchor (which is not often). The Navy anchor is a bear to pull up by hand!

Bought a 4lb Danforth knockoff, not the slip ring, heard bad things, but I'm going to keep it hooked to 200 feet of line and 10 feet of 1/4 chain. Should work.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Actually, ours is a slip ring, but I'm not sure what size. I do recall getting one for a boat larger than ours, maybe one size up.

The slip ring has proven helpful more than once when the anchor got stuck on stuff.

 

[Chris1956]

In sand/mud bottom the fluke anchors work best. The fluke anchors (which I recommend) have a website that recommends sizes/weights for boats. I would recommend you consult them for size.

 

[JimS123]

In sand/mud bottom the fluke anchors work best. The fluke anchors (which I recommend) have a website that recommends sizes/weights for boats. I would recommend you consult them for size.

A 4 pounder on a 19 footer won't work in even the slightest wind or current.

I don't understand why, but I have found that a fixed shaft Danforth works much better than a slip ring type.

A few years ago I tried a Schene anchor and it worked quite well. But the chart vs. boat length / weight didn't work for me in any current. Its now relegated as my stern anchor.

The terms "light anchor", all around anchor" and "works well" are not compatible.

 

[undercover500]

A 4 pounder on a 19 footer won't work in even the slightest wind or current.

I don't understand why, but I have found that a fixed shaft Danforth works much better than a slip ring type.

A few years ago I tried a Schene anchor and it worked quite well. But the chart vs. boat length / weight didn't work for me in any current. Its now relegated as my stern anchor.

The terms "light anchor", all around anchor" and "works well" are not compatible.

I would think the 10 feet of chain we have should help with the lighter anchor. I could even up it to 15 feet, I'd rather pull up a 4lb anchor on 15 feet of chain vs a 15lb anchor on 10 feet of chain.

 

[JimS123]

I would think the 10 feet of chain we have should help with the lighter anchor. I could even up it to 15 feet, I'd rather pull up a 4lb anchor on 15 feet of chain vs a 15lb anchor on 10 feet of chain.

LOLOL.

In my personal unbiased opinion, the weight of the anchor is the controlling factor.

My 19 footer runs a 9# anchor with a 4' chain, for a total of 13 pounds. It holds everywhere.

You are proposing a 4# anchor with 10' of chain, for a total of 14 pounds. Looks like your back will stress more than mine. If you go with 15" of chain on a baby anchor it won't be happy to pull it up.

When you retrieve the anchor the weight you pull is the rode not the anchor.

So, try it and let us know how you make out.

 

[undercover500]

LOLOL.

In my personal unbiased opinion, the weight of the anchor is the controlling factor.

My 19 footer runs a 9# anchor with a 4' chain, for a total of 13 pounds. It holds everywhere.

You are proposing a 4# anchor with 10' of chain, for a total of 14 pounds. Looks like your back will stress more than mine. If you go with 15" of chain on a baby anchor it won't be happy to pull it up.

When you retrieve the anchor the weight you pull is the rode not the anchor.

So, try it and let us know how you make out.

Anchored three times so far, both times the "baby" anchor held no problem in sand and muck, even when backing down hard. On one occasion, with the wind drifting our boat around, we swung quite a bit, but it never pulled the anchor out. Pulling up the 10 feet of chain and anchor was no problem. Seems real life is different than what everyone keeps posting about on the forums.

 

[undercover500]

A 4 pounder on a 19 footer won't work in even the slightest wind or current.

I don't understand why, but I have found that a fixed shaft Danforth works much better than a slip ring type.

A few years ago I tried a Schene anchor and it worked quite well. But the chart vs. boat length / weight didn't work for me in any current. Its now relegated as my stern anchor.

The terms "light anchor", all around anchor" and "works well" are not compatible.

Interesting, we've anchored out three times with this anchor set up so far. 4lb danforth on 10 feet of chain and it held just fine, every time, even when the wind picked up and we were being swung around on the lake, but even though our boat kept swinging in the wind, we never pulled the anchor free. I made sure, we were still in line with the house that we originally anchored in line with.

 

[Chris1956]

Normally a 19 footer would have an 8-10lb fluke anchor and 5 feet of chain. I "lunch hook" could be lighter and a "storm anchor" would be heavier, say 12-15LB.

 

[JimS123]

Anchored three times so far, both times the "baby" anchor held no problem in sand and muck, even when backing down hard. On one occasion, with the wind drifting our boat around, we swung quite a bit, but it never pulled the anchor out. Pulling up the 10 feet of chain and anchor was no problem. Seems real life is different than what everyone keeps posting about on the forums.

I wasn't implying that your setup would be hard to retrieve, but rather that all that chain really didn't reduce the total weight.

Unless I put out my stern anchor, at times I swing as well. I solved half of the swing by installing a center bow mounted chock to guide the anchor line. V-Hull boats often swing if the anchor is tied to a side cleat.

Glad you're happy with your anchor. The test now is to try it under all conditions.

 

[Sea Rider]

If you count with a fluke anchor that doesn't have an installed ring which is helpfull to reverse the anchor to the opposite side when at a severe anchor stuck a non ringed anchor will work fine installing a shackle to the rope for reversing purposes to freed the anchor fast and reliable....

Happy Boating​