Anchor Rope

[Tigerfish]

How much do you typically carry? and how do you store it while on the yak?

Let's see pics.

[Psycho Joe]

I usually carry around 30 feet of 1/4 inch rope that looks like this.

[Yak-a-Lou]

100' of paracord.

Let's see if I remember how to get a pic posted...

[Yak-a-Lou]

Yep! I'm as sharp as a pencil eraser!

It's ugly but it works and it floats.

Spool is an industrial sized spool from fishing line. Almost any sporting goods store will give them to you for free. I like "free"! Spool is filled with expanding foam. Line is permanently connected to the spool. I can chunk the whole spool in the water and come back later to pick it up.

Handle - wood dowel with PVC over it so the spool and dowel will turn while the PVC doesn't.

Appropriately sized stainless hardware to hold the dowel, PVC and spool in place.

Little knob loosely attached to spool to turn it. Hardware has GOOP on it to keep it from coming loose unintentionally.

[MDR]

What ever kind of rope/line you use make sure you have some kind of float on it. I use one of the Academy 2 dollar ones. Nothing worse than it coming untied or having to let it go to fight a fish and then not being able to find it.
I have a prowler big game with a center hatch so that is where mine goes. I also like the "scoop" kind of anchors. Of all places I found West Marine to have the best price. I also like the ability to use a small plastic tie strap to attach to the anchor line in the event I have to pull it free from a different direction.

[Psycho Joe]

Example using a folding grapnel anchor.

[yak-aholic]

OHHH that's how you do that.

Thanks Joe

[ReelThrill]

I use a mushroom anchor because I got tired of my folding anchor getting snagged. Never gets hooked up and always catches holds as soon as you put it down, no dragging.


http://www.agrisupply.com/product.asp?pn=46103

[MDR]

Thanks Joe. I use a different anchor, but same technique. This is an example of the anchor I have.

[Yak-a-Lou]

Michael has the same anchor I have. It was originally known as a "Bruce" style anchor. Now they're made by Lewmar and are called a "Claw" anchor. West Marine is the only place I've found them locally. They aren't expensive. They weigh a mere 2.2 lbs. I add about 1 lb. of chain.

http://www.westmarine.com/1/1/18824-claw-anchor-2-2lb-boats-12.html

Truth be known, I haven't given it a real test in the circumstance I bought them for. I want to see if they'll hold on a hard sandy bottom on that rare occasion that I'll be in water deep enough that I can't deploy a stake anchor or use a brush clip.

As I understand things, the folding grapnel style anchors don't hold well on hard sandy bottoms. Mushroom anchors, are, IMHO, too much weight for substandard holding power. They seem to be the least effective per pound but will work fine in calm waters.

As a shallow water enthusiast I find the best lightweight option is the brush clip with or without a PVC stake anchor. The twin dumbbells seem to work well in shallow areas and allow the extra benefit of making it a tad easier to position your kayak at a particular angle as long as the wind and current aren't too strong. A 10' PVC stake anchor can be used pretty easily in a bay of appropriate depth. Caminada Pass or Lake Ponchartrain are whole different animals.

Am I rambling again? Oops!

[yak-aholic]

that's all right yak, I think we're used to it by now