Anchoring...

[blakeb]

You can also use the outboard as a keel in a two anchor scenario to add pressure against the rear line.

[scott b]

Great idea right there Blake! Never thought of it. Now I feel dumb.

[dan z]

found out that the anchor ropes werent long enough over the weekend... put on a 40' for next time

[Iowa_Josh]

Steve, I put a pipe on the front of my boat to try that. It has to fit pretty close or it clacks as the waves move you. The one good thing I found is it is really handy to have a pole onboard all the time. If waves are pushing you towards the rocky shore, no problem just grab the pole and push out. I even used it when I backed into the dock because the wind was coming in and I didn't want the back of the boat facing the waves.

[SteveD]

I finished my Anchor Spike System on the pontoon yesterday. The pole is about 5 1/2' long and will telescope to 13'9", it is pretty sturdy and should work good as a spike. I attached two spike anchor points on the back of the pontoon using 1 1/2" conduit hangars. You just slide the pole through the hangars and stick it into the bottom. I will still anchor like normal off the front of the boat using my richter anchor or a Brush Clip and then after I'm snug off the front anchor point I will pin the back of the boat using the Anchor Spike. I'm hoping this will anchor the back of the boat and keep it from swinging in the wind. Pontoon will go in the water later this week and hopefully I will get a chance to try out the Anchor Spike. It should work good in some of my backwater high water spots.

[SteveD]

I gave the Anchor Spike it's first test today and it failed badly. It was windy so this was a good day to try it. The pontoon was just too big and heavy in that wind and on the first test a big wind gust snapped the aluminum collapsible Anchor Spike in half.

I need a stronger pole for an Anchor Spike - and I think I found one. Menard's has a 12' wooden pole used for hanging clothes in a closet. That baby is heavy and solid. A big plus is it will float if I drop it in. So next time out we give Prototype #2 a go. If at first you don't succeed try, try again.

[scott b]

Sharpen the end to a point.

[Boker001]

Maybe also try using 2 of them in the back. One on each side.