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Permalink Reply by geno_86ed on January 27, 2010 at 8:53am

If you are talking about a pulley at the anchor it self with the other end fastened to the transom (Block and Tackle setup) then you will need twice the amount of rope. The effort will be reduced by half, but so will the speed in which you can raise the anchor and you will also have twice the amount of rope laying in your boat.

There could also be a risk of the rope getting derailed on the anchor's pulley which could make pulling the anchor a pain in the ass and also possibly dangerous.

Geno

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Permalink Reply by Wil Bake on January 27, 2010 at 9:01am

Yes, it does cut the lift force required by half. However, if the anchor is slightly stuck and you are pulling the boat up stream a little before you are actually lifting the anchor, the force required is the same. I have mine set up this way and it works pretty well, the biggest downside is that you have to pull up twice as much rope. Sometimes it is necessary to avoid an obstruction right after pulling up your anchor. This can be problematic when you have to pull the anchor 8 times instead of 4. I am still debating if it is worth having all the extra rope in the boat. But I am leaving mine the way it is for now. Just I side note. I have a 50' length of chord that I used to rewrap my rope seat and used the rest for the anchor. Haven't run out of anchor rope yet...

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Permalink Reply by Jason Knight on January 27, 2010 at 1:55pm

yeah that does seem like a lot of rope at your feet... and I didn't consider it takes more pulls to get the anchor up bc of the pulley... thanks for the heads up

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Permalink Reply by AJ DeRosa on January 27, 2010 at 8:50pm

I have to agree with those who have brought up the downsides of this method. I scares me to death to think about the mess of rope needed to do this and I can't help but think that laying a loop of rope on the river bottom is asking for trouble. I know the method has become a popular one but I have never seen this rig on the boat of a guide that I consider a good boatman. It is one of those things that might have sounded like a good idea at the time but I would never do it. Upside 1, downside many, in my opinion. If others think it's a good idea I would like to know why. Maybe in a sandy or gravel bottom when you absolutely need an anchor that is so heavy it requires mechanical advantage to bring it home. Haven't encountered those situations myself.

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Permalink Reply by Randy Dersham on January 30, 2010 at 11:40am

Jason, I think the best compromise is to use a 20lb anchor. It is much easier to use than the 30lb anchor, doesn't need the extra rope, and the only draw back is you have to anchor in slack or slow water.

The reality is if you are anchoring in water that pulls loose a 20lb anchor you should move to a safer place to anchor. Many of the guide on the McKenzie are running 20lb anchors.

A few years ago I loaned my boat to a friend. He got my anchor stuck and lost it. He replaced it with a 35lb anchor. I thought of him every time I pulled it up;) About a year ago I switched to a 20lb and wondered why I hadn't done that years before. Just cheap I guess. Now I'm a big believer in the lighter anchor.

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Permalink Reply by Jason Knight on January 30, 2010 at 5:47pm

I am going to stick with the setup I have now... I will get some new rope though... I have been wanting black rope (yeah I am picky - I want 3/8 double braid line in black). I have been using a 25# chain anchor and it seems to hold really well. Like you say, if that doesn't hold the boat I shouldn't be trying to hold in that water anyways.


Good talk. Thanks guys.

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Permalink Reply by Kenny Kent on January 30, 2010 at 9:10pm

I agree with the other posts regarding pulleys on the anchor. I have a 30 pound anchor and have considered it. It makes more sense to use 20 pounds instead. I'm getting too old to pull that long or heavy.

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