What is a recommended weight and style of anchor for a canoe? Mud bottoms, water generally less than 10' and moderate winds, generally less than 15.

Marty,

We used to use old window sash weights in the canoe and I liked 'em better than the mushroom style weights you buy at Wal-Mart. It fits nice in the bottom of the canoe and you don't haul up as much weed and muck as other style anchors. I have no clue how much one actually weighs.

It wont take much weight to hold a canoe. i dont know the stlye the other member talked about but i have the round mushroom one and i get some of that Texas mud when i pull it up thats all. The lenght of the rope will matter though. there is a formula for the amout of rope vs weight of anchor vs and boat... dont know it though but if the wind is high enough to push a canoe with an anchor it prob a good time to get off the water.

Thanks for the replies. I don't know what sash weights are.

Sash weights are cylinder shaped  approximately 1 1/2" in diameter and are made of cast iron with a hole in one end to tie the sash cord. The length varies according to the size of the window sash the weight is made for. Any house with old wood frame double hung ( slide up and down) windows has sash weights. They counterbalance the weight of the sash so it will stay where you put it, open or partially so.

I also prefer sash weights, because they are very easy to store.  Not sure where you would go about finding them now.  Scrap metal dealers used to keep them laying around for sale because they were very popular for anchors, also use to see them at flea markets.  Years ago, they was a comany making them with a plastic coating on them just for anchors but haven't seen those in a long time.

Mushroom anchors always seem to be in the way and knock and bang too much when getting them in and out.  The straight cylinder shape of the sash weights work much better.  You can always make on by filling a short section of pipe with lead.

I use a lightweight folding canoe anchor. It has four flukes  that extend out like a grapnel . The whole thing doesn't weigh more than 3 or 4 lbs. yet it  does a good job of holding the boat on windy days.

I use a lightweight folding canoe anchor. It has four flukes  that extend out like a grapnel . The whole thing doesn't weigh more than 3 or 4 lbs. yet it  does a good job of holding the boat on windy days.

That's one of the possibilities I've looked at, although I don't know if I could get away with the 1.5# or if I'd need the 3#. Are they good for soft bottoms?

I use a 5lb barbell weight.  It lays flat on the bottom of the canoe under the seat.

Personally l like the 5 lb weight because if there is a nice breeze (always in SE Florida) the flat plate will slide and I get a sort of a slow drift.  A 10 lb plate will hold the canoe but I tried that first and switched to the 5 lber.

The folding anchor works very well in soft bottoms. The trick with any anchor is to use enough line . I believe the ratio should be at least 6 to 1 i.e. anchor rope length is at least six times the depth of water.

The folding anchor works very well in soft bottoms. The trick with any anchor is to use enough line . I believe the ratio should be at least 6 to 1 i.e. anchor rope length is at least six times the depth of water.

Can you explain why so much line?  I like to use alot less, but I have no knowledge of any of the principals behind anchor usage.

thanks.

The folding anchor works very well in soft bottoms. The trick with any anchor is to use enough line . I believe the ratio should be at least 6 to 1 i.e. anchor rope length is at least six times the depth of water.

Can you explain why so much line?  I like to use alot less, but I have no knowledge of any of the principals behind anchor usage.thanks.

"Tests have shown that the correct size anchor of any reputable design pulled horizontally, is more likely to hold than an oversize anchor pulled upwards."

Read more here:

http://www.anchorbuddy.co.nz/anchoring.html

When fishing bream beds and not wanting the boat to move any, I string out a whole lot of anchore rope.  If trying to anchor in 6 - 10 feet of water, I'll drop the back anchor at least 150 feet short of my spot, go by the spot 150 feet, drop the front anchor and then pull back to my spot with the back anchor rope and tie both off.   I want them ropes almost as straight out as I can get them.  I would probably string them out further, but that's usually about all the rope I keep on an anchor.

Avid , If you think about it  it makes sense. The longer the anchor line the closer to horizontal will be the pull on the anchor, thus more holding power. Light winds and a light boat, canoe etc. normally can get away with less anchor line. Also Florida lakes tend to be relatively shallow.

Rope

You can attach the boat to the anchor with rope, chain, or a combination of the two. Rope is the overwhelming favorite, usually with a length of chain at the anchor end. Use nylon rope only. Nylon rope is strong, light, easy to handle, and elastic, the latter a most desirable characteristic in an anchor rode. Three-strand offers the dual advantages of greater elasticity and lower cost, but where the anchor line will be fed through a deck pipe for stowage, the added flexibility of braided nylon can make it a better choice.

Determining how long your anchor rode should be is as simple as multiplying the deepest water you expect to anchor in by 8. As for rope size, the rule of thumb is 1/8" of rope diameter for every 9' of boat length. So if you expect to anchor your 26' boat in 30' of water, you need 240' of 3/8" nylon rope. Unlike oversizing the anchor, oversizing the line is not recommended because that reduces its beneficial elasticity. As a practical matter, however, rope with a diameter smaller than 3/8" is difficult to grip.

In an emergency the line can be tied to the chain or the anchor using an anchor bend, but for regular use give the end of the line an eye splice around a thimble, and shackle the line to the chain

Boat US: Don Casey