What kind of anchor for the Upper Delaware?

[Titanium]

Hello Fellow Anglers,
I posted a question earlier about using a Canoe vs a Drift boat on the Upper Delaware. Well, I decided to modify my canoe a little and will be using an electric motor on the rear to help out with navigation. I had an old Minn Kota 3 speed motor that I shortened the shaft on to make it fit nice. I took the top off, disconnected the wires, then cut off about 5 inches of the steel tube to make it fit just right. I will put on a mount for it in the rear of the canoe for easy control and steering. I used that motor to push my 12 ft. aluminum up the Susquehanna (with a heavy stalled 4 stroke outboard) and it got me upstream. It should work even better with the lighter canoe.

Anyway, I want to come up with a home made anchor that I can just drop out of the canoe for stopping near shore or in case I have to stop. I would rather not use a conventional river anchor that digs into the bottom because it will be hard to pull back up. It also has to be able to hold the canoe in the current without drifting downstream.

Does anyone have any ideas for an easy to use and pull up home made anchor? If necessary I can weld something up or make some conglomeration to work. I sometimes use some old concrete dumbbell weights, but have a regular boat anchor for my boat. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Titanium

 

[CreekAddict]

Coffee can filled with cement. Cement in something to tie your rope to, of course.

 

[sstasiak]

20 feet of thick steel chain from home depot

 

[brough]

Old cast iron window sash weights work great. I have three different size ones rigged up. I just grab the one that seems to be the right size for the day.

 

[Titanium]

Hello Guys,
Thanks for the ideas. They all seem pretty good.

For my canoe, I really like the idea of using a chain for an anchor. I will get some old heavy chain and cut it in 3 ft. lengths. Then I will add or subtract several 3 ft. lengths as necessary to adjust for changing current conditions on the river. This is a great way to easily adjust the weight of an anchor a needed using those screw on type chain links that can be found at the hardware store. Just screw on or take off a length of chain as needed. It's a great idea that I will also use for my boat and the chains won't get tangled on rocks or logs as easily as other bulky anchors.

Thanks for the tip!

Titanium

 

[henrydavid]

Using a chain for anchoring in any current is a decision you might want to re-think, unless you have a "quick release" to set you free from a snagged anchor you might be asking for trouble in a light craft such as that.

Pontooners and advised to keep a sharp knife handy to cut loose any anchor snags to prevent capsizing the craft. Be careful, current can cause problems and you don't need to go under.

 

[Titanium]

Hello Henry David,
I like the chain precisely because it seems less likely to snag when compared to standard river anchors that dig into the bottom. I also like the fact that I can remove lengths of chain to adjust for what will be needed for the day's current flow.

The most important thing regarding anchoring in a river from a boat or canoe is where your are anchoring from. In a regular boat it is best to always anchor from the front to have the bow pointing upstream. A canoe can be anchored from the back since it will stabilize in the current. One should also never try to throw out an anchor in fast water or in a panic.

A few guys learned that tragically last year on the lower Delaware near Bushkill. They launched a boat with 3 guys in high water conditions. As soon as they got out in the current, someone dropped the anchor from the back/side of the boat and it got hung up on the bottom. The boat got pulled under, then went over from guys changing positions in the panic. Tragically two of the three were never found and the third made it to shore. I'm sure they were not wearing life jackets.

I have a big machete about 24" long right next to my anchor line in my boat and just got a new one for my canoe. Another thing I won't do for sure is secure the anchor line end to my canoe or boat. The end is free to go if it gets hung up.

I believe the most important thing is the location from the boat or canoe you are anchoring from which keeps the craft in the right direction in the current. Anything anchored from the side and it is going to tip to that side. I think no matter what kind of anchor you have there is certainly a chance of it getting hung up. I still like the chain for streams with nice round edged rocks that are worn from the current. Hitting a log or sunken tree will get just about any type anchor hung up. My musky river fishing buddy has lost several anchors in the river due to trees. His comment about using anchors in rivers is "always anchor from the front of the boat".

Titanium

 

[CTobias]

Don't forget to register that canoe if you are putting a motor on it. As for an anchor just get one of those pyramid anchors.

 

[AKSkim]

Just gotta love those pyramid sinkers for canoes.

You know you ask your buddy to haul and stow the anchor, he brings it onboard and soon as it clears the gunnel he drops it on the deck.

That is why I call them pyramid sinkers (I just hope you all got the visual).

 

[CTobias]

Just gotta love those pyramid sinkers for canoes.

You know you ask your buddy to haul and stow the anchor, he brings it onboard and soon as it clears the gunnel he drops it on the deck.

That is why I call them pyramid sinkers (I just hope you all got the visual).

Haha....yeah...that would suck to be out there and then sink.

 

[Titanium]

Hello Guys,
I did get a registration for the canoe since I will now be using a motor on it. I don't want any PFC pulling me over on the water. It was difficult getting the old canoe registered to use the motor. I left one tag place and will never go back after the runaround. They said I had to prove I owned it even though anyone can just buy one at a local store like Dick's. Canoe's don't have a title like a boat or car. I had it a long time and never had to register it. So, I went around the block to another tag place and had no problem getting one. I will pick it up this week.

Thanks for the "pyramid anchor" suggestion. I will try the chain first, but may get a "mushroom anchor" I saw at Walmart or look for a Pyramid one at some local boating place.

Titanium

 

[Pete]

..........They said I had to prove I owned it ......

They were BSing you.
They don't care if you own it...it was about $$$

They wanted to see a receipt containing $ales tax, or alternatively make you pay the sales tax on it's estimated value.

If they're anything like NJ, they raise a lot of money from private sales that way.

 

[CTobias]

They don't care if you own it...it was about $$$

They wanted to see a receipt containing $ales tax, or alternatively make you pay the sales tax on it's estimated value.

Damn straight it is about money!!!!! Those bastards made me pay tax on everything when I went to register my drift boat!!! I was like I only want to register my boat! Not my oars, boat cover, etc. Then they were like, well you have to pay sales tax on anything you buy in NY. Such BS! Then when I went back to tell them I need a new registration for my new boat, they wanted to know how much I paid for it. I tried explaining that I got it for free as a swap. They were confused and said I had to pay tax on the value of the boat. I told them to go pound sand and just left. I will go back when I have more time to argue with the walking dead at the DMV.