I've lost a total of about three anchors in the last year. This is getting expensive and is very annoying.

Most of my problems have been on Lake Travis of course. Lost one in Belton.

Let me know what I'm doing wrong or if there's some room for improvement. Here's what I'm doing:

We were in Devil's Cove. Threw it out and a little extra line. I pulled back with the boat a little bit and it set. Come time to reel it in, I give it a yank up and no go. I pull the boat forward so I'm on top of it. Pull on it. No go. I pull forward more so the line is under the boat. I'm figuring that's the opposite of how it set, so this should pop it loose. No go. I turn the boat a bit and give a little throttle, no go. After that, I give it a few minutes and let the boat settle back to where it was. I go forward to the opposite side of where it set, give it a little throttle and the line snaps. At that point I was just going to cut it loose anyway, so no big deal.

Thoughts on how I can improve the chances of getting an anchor back? Besides the obvious choices of: don't go to Devil's Cove, find someone to raft up with or don't use your anchor.

Thanks guys!

That makes sense. Although the first couple anchors I lost were set just tossing it out and waiting for it to catch. But it does make sense that it would increase my odds.

That's unfortunate.  I guess anchors will get stuck from time to time -- if get tangled up in an underwater obstacle.  That said, I highly recommend the Box Anchor.  Look it up online.  I've had one for many years now -- and are without question the best anchor a boater can have.   Sets every time, doesn't need a chain, and the design is less prone to getting snagged, I think.  Haven't lost one yet.

Highly recommended.

I2D

Yeah, backing it down to set the anchor increases the possibility you lose it, but you should still be able to break it free.

First off, a proper rode length will help the anchor set without having to really bury it by backing it down.  General recommendation is a 7 to 1 scope (length of rode) to depth ratio and at least as much chain as the boat is long.  Having gotten that out of the way, it's huge overkill when you're just anchoring for lunch!  If I were overnighting and wanted to actually sleep well, I'll be using 7 to 1.  For a casual anchor, I find 3 to 1 to be sufficient, and I rarely drag.  Also anchoring in a muddy or sandy bottom at Travis (which will be just about anywhere except the side of a drop) is best for setting and avoiding snags when retrieving.

My retrieval method works pretty well, and I haven't lost an anchor since I got this boat 2 years ago, and for a while before that with other boats.  I bring in the rode by hand and keep it wrapped around a cleat.  When I reach the point where it starts trying to play out again (which is when you are over the anchor) I cleat it off and wait a few seconds.  10 or so.  Then try to snug it up again and much as I can and cleat it off again.  Repeat a few times and it will pop free.  What you are doing is using the boat's bobbing in the water to pull the anchor straight up.  If you are not hung on something, it WILL come free.  You just have to be patient.

Unless you are out of beer...... then you just cut the damn rode. 

Owtlaw wrote on Apr 6^th, 2010 at 7:17pm:


This is a new method on me, I'll definitely give it a try. Visualizing how the slip ring anchor works, it makes a lot of sense that it would work.

I just got back from Academy and bought some better rope, a new chain and another anchor. $50 bucks later I have a new rig. I bought the anchor rated for a 22' boat and am having some second thoughts. My last anchor was one I drug up from the bottom of Devil's Cove with another anchor. It was the size rated up to a 18' boat. It worked great.

So what I am wondering is, would it be in my interest, since I keep losing anchors...that I should be running a smaller one?

Thats why I've been running larger ones, but it doesn't seem like setting has been an issue It's been working TOO well!

Last weekend I was out I did Owtlaw's trick and it worked great. But when I busted it loose once, I came up with a big ass snapped off branch. It was a helluva workout pulling that thing out of the water LOL.

Don't jinx me dammit