Anchor Suggestions

[1fst97gt]

So im looking around to pick up a new anchor for next season. I'm on Lake Norman in NC and its mainly a river based/muddy bottom lake, which most would instantly suggest a river style mushroom/fluke anchor. Is this truly the best? I have used these in the past with less than optimal results on windy or high traffic days. I've seen the box anchor, but to me they seem more sand based anchors (correct me if im wrong), i would hate to drop money in one of those and it not hold in the bottom conditions of LKN. Please send any suggestions you have my way. Thanks!

[Tallredrider]

I think the box works well in any sort of bottom. I have one and would not have anything else. The only time it has not held for me was on a sandstone bottom, and nothing would hold on that except a 200 pound brick.

Generally speaking, anchors work best when you have a long line attached to them so the anchor is not beneath the boat. With a box anchor the line does not need to be as long. They call that the 'rode'.

http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/c...eneral/7_4.php

[jasper]

I've had good results using a Fortress aluminum anchor. It is lightweight, well-made, and works in mud, sand, gravel. Rig it correctly using galvanized chain leader so it performs as designed. Most places that sell them can tell you what size you will need for the size of your boat.

[swatguy]

+1 in the box anchor. Easy to store and rock solid holds.

[iamcdn]

another for the box anchor

[migs]

In my experience, the only way to get a solid hold in a river is to swim down & burry that anchor by hand in the mud. Regardless of the type of anchor. That's the one & only way I anchor at the delta which is a pure muddy bottom with a strong current.

[JoeA]

+1 on the box anchor. I have held my boat and two others with it. TN River is muddy bottom for most part so it ought to work well for you too.

[Paxdad]

I have a cheap Danforth style. I cant imagine losing a Fortress or box anchor as they are expensive$$ No mater what anchor you want/ get you need to have about 36" of heavy galvanized chain to insure a good set.

[s_kelley2000]

I have heard nothing but great things about the box anchor and if my current anchor wasn't cutting it I would certainly be getting one of those. Bud on my mud bottom lake I use a 15 lb river anchor and it always hooks up and holds very well. As TallRedRider said, the key for any anchor is to make sure the rope is much longer than just the depth. The rule of thumb I have seen is that you should use 8 times the depth as the length of the rode. I find that to be excessive and a 3 to 1 ratio seems to work well for me.

[DanielC]

Get a Danforth anchor, and about 10 feet of heavy chain. You need at least 7 times the length of line as the water is deep.
The length of chain help absorb the movement of the boat, and reduces the possibility of the anchor breaking loose. The long heavy chain also helps the anchor set.

[nyryan2001]

Box anchor x100. Medium box anchor held my 247 and G23s in 20-30mph winds and white capped rollers. Get the anchor buddy line with it.... double it over so the strechy is twice as hard and its only half as long. It will still stretch 25ft when pulled tight.

No extra heavy chain required. Requires a fraction of the rode a regular anchor requres. its pricey, you'll be glad you got it.

[EchoLodge]

My fresh water boat lives in the Havasu area. Home of the Box & Slide Anchors. I own and use both. There are a ton of them being used on Parker Strip river and Lake Havasu. They work awesome.

[J.Graham]

Box Anchor, anchor buddy, danik hook, shore spike & buoy. Youll be set (pun intended). Check them out here http://slideanchor.com
Cheers

[Nautiquehunter]

Bass Pro sells cheap Danforth anchors for 16-20 dollars I carry 2 of the 16 dollar ones and have never needed more even on lake Michigan. The key to setting an anchor is having a long enough chain and the proper rode[ line length ] for the conditions your in . Average rode is 4-7 times the depth of the water however in rough conditions it can be as much as 15 times the depth. The ratio of water depth to rode is called the scope. As Paxdad stated here on lanier we have trees under the water I would hate to loose a high dollar anchor on one of them.

[jtryon]

In my experience, the only way to get a solid hold in a river is to swim down & burry that anchor by hand in the mud. Regardless of the type of anchor. That's the one & only way I anchor at the delta which is a pure muddy bottom with a strong current.

that's aggressive...