Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Anyone have or knows about the Trac Electric Anchor model Pontoon 35 ??? I'm thinking of getting a Electric type.
Thanks,

Looks good for a mushroom anchor. Which should hold you in shallow water for fishing pretty good. That is unless the wind is blowing then all bets are off. If your going to use it for short periods of time to fish or Pee off the boat then it might be usefull.

Taking it to the top again

Anyone know about electric anchors ????

I have that exact model that I mounted off of the front. It came with a remote that I mounted on the helm. Works great with the 20lb mushroom anchor I purchased at the same time. I keep my original anchor just in case it is real windy and need to use two.

Sure is nice to not have mud/water across the deck. Only con is it doesn't have a free fall option when you drop anchor. You must lower it with the control. I also have two batteries, but I would be worried about using this if I only had one.

I would buy it again, sure makes the better half happy since was the anchor winch before I bought this.

I have Minn Kota's 40# version. I use it with a 20#+ box anchor. It holds my 22' tri-toon just fine. I'm a little worried about the 800# breaking strength of the line, though. (You can buy kevlar replacement for $$$.) But, like the previuous poster - sure beats pulling 100' of line up by myself. That cheap poly line I used to use would cut my hands all up before I got it aboard, so.... I'm happy, so far. I hear that you have to be careful not to overload the gears while operating it (retrieving it while stuck, or over winding it) though - they'll strip and need replacing.

Hope this helped you make the right decision for you.

Todd

I've read reviews that many of these have plastic gears, geeez, what a way to cut costs. Problem is how can you tell which are made of plastic ? dosen't say on the box.

My toon came with two Deck Mate 25 by Powerwinch, one front one rear, with remote switches at the helm (in addition to the switches on each windlass). They work very well, and have free fall drop. All moving parts inside are metal. Mine are about 5 years old, and one of them is ready for new line. That same one also needed a new switch, and a replacement part to slow the gears to engage the line pickup (replaced a metal washer with a rubber ring coated in very sticky grease).

Mine are run off of a separate, old starting battery that is pretty much dead but has enough power left to run the anchors all summer with only having to recharge twice overnight with a trickle charger. I use one of the anchors every time out, usually in 20-55 feet of water with a 28lb and a 30lb anchor, so I don't think they use very much power if I can get by with the old battery running them.

We have a deck mate 40 off the bow with a 30# river anchor. We love it for still fishing. I do not have a good spot off the stern for another one or I would have one there, too.

The remote switch at the dash is a very nice feature that allow you to drop anchor, then back SLOWLY off of it to get some angle on the line.

I would recommend it for people who anchor quite often like we do.

You all do what you like but after reviewing reviews on all the units mentioned so far I know I'll be de double damned if I punching a bunch of holes in my deck to install hardware that is obviously junk.

Thinking of mounting one on the front deck. Seems like I usually see them off to one side, not in the center. Any advantage? I'm thinking center. Would mounting off center stop the boat from swinging left to right in current or wind? I'd really like it to stay put. An anchor off the back, to stop the swinging, would be in the way, IMHO.

My "Anchor Wench" thinks this is a good idea. I can post this, as she doesn't know about this forum. LOL

Rick

RJF

what model are you thinking of getting ? I wouldn't think the placement would have an effect on the swing of the boat, like you said a second anchor in the rear would stop it. I have a front gate and I wouldn't want to step over the anchor if I mounted it in the center it would just be in the way. I'm looking at the Minn Kota 40, but still researching. maybe some owners will step up with their thoughts on what they are using ???

Probably the Minn-Kota. As for it being in the way, mounted in the center, when we use the front deck, we get on or off from the side, not the front of the boat. Front deck is long enough for a walkway either to the right or left. I actually think it would be less in the way mounted in the middle.