Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I am planning to install an anchor wench (Minn Kota DH 40) on myHarris tri toon, but I only have room enough for it on the stern deck. It seems like this should be okay since it is a toon, but I wonder if others have had negative experiences with a stern only anchor??

I appreciate any comments,
Art

2015 Harris Solstice 240
2014 Sabre 5th Wheel
2012 Ultra 260X Jetski
Kayaks and other assorted goodies

My general rule for anchoring is to always anchor off the bow. The bow is designed to handle waves, while the stern is not.

But, I have no idea where you boat. If its a small lake its most likely not a problem. If it is in a larger lake (I'm in Lake Erie) I'd think twice about it.

I only use an anchor off the stern when we're at the sandbar. I still have the main anchor off the bow.

anchor winch ledge
http://anchormfg.com/pontoon-anchor-ledge/

calm water maybe

I'd like to mount this wench all over my boat, ha ha....

I should have clarified that I am in a smallish lake (10k acres) and I am always anchoring in coves. I have another anchor I would use off the bow if the winds were high etc. Thanks again for the comments.

aye matey, that be a fine wench she is.

[quote="boocat"]aye matey, that be a fine wench she is.[/quote]
I thought for sure it was a bad joke when I read the title.

[quote="ron nh"]I thought for sure it was a bad joke when I read the title.[/quote]

I was gonna say - The Admiral takes care of that on my boat, but we don't generally refer to her that way.

I looked at windlasses and winches before for a pontoon but it's tough if you want a proper anchor as most are made for rope only and then mostly mushroom anchors. I'm surprised some manufacturer hasn't integrated a proper windlass mounted in a seat base or something that would actually allow for chain to be used and stow all of that out of the way. I've seen a couple of boats with anchor lockers that are slightly recessed which you might could retrofit to this type of application. Minn Kota had one that looked to be removable for pontoons so maybe that's an option...I also saw one that was mounted on the underside of the boat but that would be a little dicey to me.

Do you have pictures of how you mounted your wench?

[quote="ron nh"]Do you have pictures of how you mounted your wench?[/quote]

ha ha now that's funny

all in good fun o.p.

I only anchor in the coves so I mounted this Trac 35 out of the way to the rear and use the remote control to drop and raise. Also makes it a short run to the battery. Use Mushroom anchor. Works good for me.

I'm not allowed to mount wenches, on my toon or otherwise.

The Admiral REALLY disapproves of that.

I have wondered a few times about mounting a Winch in order to raise and lower my anchors more easily.

I suspect the older I get the more I'll look into that.

Anyone try one of the ones that mounts under the platform?