Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I've probably been 'Learned' wrong in the proper way to use an anchor & rode...When younger I was just shown to anchor via a poly rope we kept tied to the bow hook.

We have a 24' toon on Joe Pool Lake in N. Texas and anchor in ~ 15-30' depths. We have a Fluke style anchor w/ a 6' chain and just bought a 150' twisted 3/8 line.
I understand the 7:1 scope ratio and that we'll probaly also be OK on most days being out in calm weather.

Tips & Tricks for storing the line on a pontoon without an anchor locker?
Milk crate? 5-gallon bucket? Electrical cord real?

Proper way to tie off? Keep end of line loose and use cleat where needed for proper length?
Our bow eye is center front and cleats or on the front corners.

Looking for ideas to improve organiztion and efficiency.

Thanks,
Steve

I use a 20lb river anchor and keep it in a milk crate. as the line comes in it lays in crate then anchor on top. I throw anchor then pull line through bow eye then over to a cleat. This keeps line centered on bow to reduce swinging in the wind. I don't use a chain rode just rope.

lakerunner wrote:I use a 20lb river anchor and keep it in a milk crate. as the line comes in it lays in crate then anchor on top. I throw anchor then pull line through bow eye then over to a cleat. This keeps line centered on bow to reduce swinging in the wind. I don't use a chain rode just rope.

Exactly the same but use a 5 gal. bucket (pickle bucket) instead of a milk crate, although no one seems to remember them being called that but me!

We got a pickle bucket for the head and bought a seat and bags that fit it.....an actual pickle bucket...

I have two anchors one small Box and one Chene. No chain just rope I use a electrical cord real for the rope, and put it and the anchor in the lean back seat.

We made double-ended mesh rope bags (draw-string closures at both ends). Stuff the rope in, and it always just pulls out fine. We keep our digger anchor and 10 feet of chain in a soft-sided cooler.

I use a 15lb Mushroom anchor with rope, no chain. I always tie off to my bow eye although after reading Lakerunner's post, I'm going to try running it through the bow eye to the cleat. (see, you learn something new here every day ).
I store the anchor & rope in the front storage compartment under the front seat. I keep the rope neat when pulling the anchor up so I've never had it tangle up on me as of yet.

This is a shared family affair toon...65-70% of time I'll be on the boat but there are times when a brother may be in charge; one is more attentative than the other...

Anyone have tips to avoid an anchor being 'thrown' and the loose end allowed to motor on???

I have a 15# anchor with 4' chain, then 3/8 line. I have a cheap duffel bag I keep under the front seat. I tie off to the bow eye in the center.

My 25' boat in 30' of water I usually set out about 50' of line and hold just fine. That's just casual hanging out and floating.

CZSteve wrote:This is a shared family affair toon...65-70% of time I'll be on the boat but there are times when a brother may be in charge; one is more attentative than the other...

Anyone have tips to avoid an anchor being 'thrown' and the loose end allowed to motor on???

Tie a small fender to the end

CZSteve wrote:This is a shared family affair toon...65-70% of time I'll be on the boat but there are times when a brother may be in charge; one is more attentative than the other...

Anyone have tips to avoid an anchor being 'thrown' and the loose end allowed to motor on???

Put either a "Bouy" type float or slide the rope through a large pool noodle with enough size to float the end of the rope if it goes overboard.

CZSteve wrote:I've probably been 'Learned' wrong in the proper way to use an anchor & rode...When younger I was just shown to anchor via a poly rope we kept tied to the bow hook...

Tips & Tricks for storing the line on a pontoon without an anchor locker?
Milk crate? 5-gallon bucket? Electrical cord real?

Proper way to tie off? Keep end of line loose and use cleat where needed for proper length?
Our bow eye is center front and cleats or on the front corners.

Looking for ideas to improve organiztion and efficiency.

Thanks,
Steve

Big enough to hold the anchor & line, partially-mesh gym bag. Flake the rope on the bottom, lay anchor on top, zip it closed. Ready to go, easy to pay out line without taking it all out of the bag, easy to retrieve and stow. And non-nautical guests are better at "grabbing the bag" than they are "grabbing the anchor" and bringing it to the bow.

Tie off some part of your line before dropping anchor so it all doesn't go overboard accidentally. We take more out of the bag than we'll need for the particular anchoring (don't want to remove all 75' from the bag). We set the end of the line temporarily thru the anchor tie-off thing (see pic). Then we drop the anchor. When it's set, we pull out the temp line and run the new length line into the tie-off thing. (As I read this, it doesn't make much sense.). Most important thing is always have some part of the line secured to your boat before you drop anchor.

Here is a pretty good anchor thread you may want to look at, maybe you will find something here that will help.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15816

curtiscapk wrote:

lakerunner wrote:I use a 20lb river anchor and keep it in a milk crate. as the line comes in it lays in crate then anchor on top. I throw anchor then pull line through bow eye then over to a cleat. This keeps line centered on bow to reduce swinging in the wind. I don't use a chain rode just rope.

Exactly the same but use a 5 gal. bucket (pickle bucket) instead of a milk crate, although no one seems to remember them being called that but me!

I remember, but its only a pickle bucket if its Green ??

milk crate and rope on my mud bottom lake . if you have a rocky bottom I would ad some chain.