Pontoon boat anchors come in a variety of shapes and sizes. While it’s essential to have an anchor in your boat, it is even more critical to choose the most suited option.
However, it seems a tricky business because there are a wide variety and size ranges. So, you may lose your way while buying one.
Firstly, remember that there is no such thing as a universal anchor. So, it’s essential to invest time and money to choose the right anchoring options. Getting into trouble in deep waters should be the last thing on your mind.
Ask any boating expert, and they will tell you to invest in anchors. These are critical boating equipment, so it’s better not to cut your budget on them. In fact, the more you spend, the better.
Since every boat varies in size, there are suitable anchors available for each of them. This article will take you through a detailed guide about selecting the right anchor, according to your pontoon boat.
What’s the Right Anchor Size?
The right anchor size primarily depends upon the holding power. However, you must also know your marine environment to learn the holding power for your pontoon boat. So, when choosing the right anchor size, you must first answer the following questions.
What’s the Right Holding Power for My boat?
Since a boat floats on water, its weight and size do not directly affect the anchor type. The holding power is the crucial ingredient in determining the right anchor.
Holding power suggests how the anchor keeps a boat in its place, especially during high winds and water currents. An anchor with a good holding power will control a boat in its position regardless of the environmental conditions.
As a reference, boaters believe that an anchor with 90 lbs. holding power can easily resist 20 mph winds to keep a 20-foot-long boat. So, as the boat length increases, the holding power must also increase.
Moreover, if your marine environment has a steadier wind speed, you will need more holding power too.
Are Anchor Rodes Important?
Anchor rode connects the anchor to your boat. It’s a critical but often neglected factor for boat anchors. Generally, there are two options for anchor rodes.
Firstly, there is a chain anchor made of steel. Chain anchors are best for heavy-duty applications. Secondly, there are nylon anchors suited for light-duty tasks.
As a boater, you may want to mix the two rode types for better performance. Moreover, keep the rode length seven times the depth of the water.
Does Anchor Weight Matter?
An intuitive answer is YES, anchor weight matters. However, it’s a common misconception, and new boaters often fall for it. As surprising as it might be, anchor weight doesn’t fare with holding power.
So, are heavy anchors of no use? Well, that’s not true either. Heavy anchors are great if they aren’t operational. Surprised? If your marine environment doesn’t need much holding power, the heavy anchors can be very useful.
These anchors can fight off any unusual water and air currents. They may be difficult to retrieve because of weight, but they can provide steadiness to the boat when they are kept dormant.
As a hack, you can keep a heavy anchor as a spare, so unless it’s an emergency, you won’t need to drop the anchor.
The Anchor and Rode Sizing
As I mentioned earlier, a proper anchor and rode can be critical for your pontoon boat. It’s possible to err while selecting the right anchor, rode, and material, but the consequences can be dire. Therefore, it’s essential to know the correct options.
Once you know the anchor type, rode, and holding power, it’s time to select the boat’s right anchor size. Let’s quickly recap the factors you must take into consideration:
- Holding power
- Anchor rode
- Wind and water currents
- Marine environment
- Boat length
- Boat weight
- Anchor type
As a reference, you should consider the boat length. According to that length, you can determine the right options for your pontoon boat. Moreover, you can also see the compatible rode size and material for each boat.
20 to 25 Feet Pontoon Boats
Such boats will weigh around 2500 pounds. Here are the best options:
Anchor Size
- Bruce Anchor – 4.4 lbs
- Fluke Anchor – 4 lbs
- Luke Anchor – 15 lbs
- Plow Anchor – 10 lbs
- Danforth Anchors – 8S, 5-H
Anchor Rode
- Chain rode diameter – 3/16 inches
- Nylon rode diameter – 7/16 inches
- Recommended length: 90 feet
25 to 30 Feet Pontoon Boats
These boats can weigh up to 5000 pounds. Look at the following recommendations:
Anchor Size
- Bruce Anchor – 11 lbs
- Fluke Anchor – 7 lbs
- Luke Anchor – 25 lbs
- Plow Anchor – 15 lbs
- Danforth Anchors – 13S, 12-H
Anchor Rode
- Chain rode diameter – 1/4 inches
- Nylon rode diameter – 7/16 inches
- Recommended length: 135 feet
30 to 35 Feet Pontoon Boats
These boats rank among the heavier boats weighing up to 10,000 pounds. So you can boat in rough environments. Understandably, you will need more massive anchors.
Anchor Size
- Bruce Anchor – 11 to 16.5 lbs
- Fluke Anchor – 7 to 10 lbs
- Luke Anchor – 35 to 40 lbs
- Plow Anchor – 20 lbs
- Danforth Anchors – 22S, 12-H
Anchor Rode
- Chain rode diameter – 5/16 inches
- Nylon rode diameter – 1/2 inches
- Recommended length: 190 feet
35 to 40 Feet Pontoon Boats
Most pontoon boats don’t get bigger than this. These boats can go up to 15,000 pounds. So, the relative anchors are the most heavy-duty ones. Here are the suggestions:
Anchor Size
- Bruce Anchor – 11 to 16.5 lbs
- Fluke Anchor – 7 to 10 lbs
- Luke Anchor – 50 lbs
- Plow Anchor – 20 lbs
- Danforth Anchors – 22S, 12-H
Anchor Rode
- Chain rode diameter – 3/8 inches
- Nylon rode diameter – 9/16 inches
- Recommended length: 225 feet
Popular Types of Pontoon Boat Anchors
When it comes to choosing an anchor, the anchor type can be critical. It depends on whether you are out for fishing, casual boating, etc. Moreover, the water depth and the waterbed nature are also essential while selecting the right anchor type.
So, it’s also useful to know the most suited types of anchors. Here is a quick summary of the most used anchor types:
Claw Anchor
Claw Anchors are mainly designed for rocky bottoms, but they can work with most bottom types. These anchors are very common because they are easy to retrieve.
Plow Anchor
Plow anchors work with grassy bottoms. Especially in freshwater streams and lakes, these anchors come in handy because of their firm grip on relatively softer surfaces. However, they are generally too heavy, so it takes a special effort to maintain them.
Box Anchors
Box anchors are most suitable for muddy bottoms. When deployed, they open and increase their surface area to better grip mud and sand.
Fluke or Danforth Anchors
Fluke anchors have a sharp design that works well with rocky surfaces. They are relatively lightweight and work efficiently, so most people prefer them.
Mushroom Anchors
Mushroom Anchors have a simplistic design. They work with most surfaces but take more effort while retrieving. Therefore, they are mostly used for long-duration applications such as buoys, etc.
Grapnel Anchors
Grapnel anchors are very light, so they work best in shallow waters. They don’t require much holding power as they screw into firm bottoms.
Pontoon Anchor Winches
Anchor winches are the mechanisms that allow you to deploy or retrieve boat anchors. Some of these winches are hand-operated, while others may be electrical.
While selecting an anchor winch, you must consider two parameters, i.e., the anchoring capacity and the line speed.
Generally, average anchor winches will give a line speed of more than 50 feet per minute. As far as the anchoring capacity is concerned, it depends on the anchor weight.
You now know the right anchor sizes. As a bonus, I will leave you with some of the best anchor winch options. It may help you to set up a complete anchoring mechanism on your boat.
- TRAC 35 Electric Anchor Winch – anchors up to 33 pounds at a speed of 65 feet per minute.
- Powerwinch 24′ Class Anchor Winch – anchors up to 40 pounds at a remarkable line speed of 80 feet per minute.
Conclusion
Boat anchors are one accessory that you cannot take for granted. Therefore, where accessorizing your boat is essential, it’s even more critical to invest in the safety of your boat.
Consequently, you can always cut down on some luxuries to purchase the right anchor. This post has encircled the most commonly available ones that you can easily purchase from online stores.
Moreover, the anchor winch and rode options will help you install a complete anchoring setup in your pontoon boat.
You must be fully aware of your boating environment and boat specifications too. If you’re used to boating in stormy conditions, you will need to gear up with heavy-duty boats and anchors.
