30 lb river anchor

[C_M_25]

Just a warning and question for you all. I was out with a buddy today on his skiff, and he was using a 30 lb river anchor. The lake bottom, like many in oklahoma, was mud, and when we went to move, that anchor was EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to move. Like, back breaking, testicle popping, or brain aneurism causing difficult. The last time, we had to use the boat to pull it out, and let me tell ya, that little skiff was leaning pretty heavy. This thing was just buried in mud. I have this same anchor for my pontoon, and i really don't see the benefit if this is how they are. Do you guys have any tips on retrieving dug in river anchors. I'm pretty sure I can't afford to lose another nut...

[teecro]

Well a 30 pound anchor is an awful lot of anchor no matter how you look at it; sounds like it buried itself well. It may help next time to drive over it in the same direction the line was payed out from the boat and let the boat's mass help lift it clear of the mud.... I question the need for such a large anchor? Seems that the river anchor I got for my 18' was either a 15 or 18 pounder....

[C_M_25]

I bought such a large one for two reasons:

1) To anchor in shallow water with very little rope out. I am hoping that the shear mass of the thing will keep me in spot or at least keep me from drifting all over the place when fishing a cove.

2) To drop off the back when I have my danforth set out the front to keep the boat from pivoting.

That danforth is a pain when fishing because you have to set it in. I want something I can drop down and pick up quick. I was thinking more weight = better, but may have been mistaken in this case..

[RcgTexas]

30 pounds seems a bit heavy, but no matter how big you have to get directly over the top of an anchor dog of the anchor rode and let the boat's weight ease it out of the mud. Taking care not to break the anchor line or deck fittings but use power and make sure you are directly over it with no slack.

When using a Danforth type anchor we would put a shackle at the opposite end from the shank (crown) and attach the anchor line there first, then run the line up the shank and attach it to the shanks eye with a "lighter cotton line that you could break with a winch or the motor. then pull the anchor up out of the bottom backwards by the crown.