Looking to buy a shallow water anchor, which one is best? Do you absolutely need 2? I have a 20' skeeter 99' 200hp

thanks
chris

Do a google search or a search on here and you will find plenty of posts...I personally waited till I could buy 2 and will never look back.

2 is better than 1, but 1 is better than none

I have two power pole blades and will never have another boat without them. Also top notch customer service.

I was a short-timer on having a single Power Pole. When I moved up to a Ranger 521 that came with a dual pole setup, my buddy who is a Power Pole dealer said "If you think you liked a Power Pole, you're going to find out you LOVE two of them." He was right - in my case.

I would find it unusual if there was an angler who ever said he didn't need the second one and took it back off a boat. Whether you NEED one or two depends on what's "good enough" for you. One will usually stop you from blowing over a spot or drifting way off from where you want to be (such as when you might be rigging rods or getting the deck organized). But, if you like to be in just the right spot to get just the right angle on a honey hole or a spawning bed, then you probably want two anchors.

With only one anchor point, the bow can swing left and right in the wind/current. It can even go in a circle if the wind and current are squirrely. This may annoy you if you want that perfect position. Get hung up and start pulling on the lure? Expect the bow to go swinging in that direction. Add a second anchor point and all the swinging/uncertainty goes away. You lock down solid in one spot - almost like you were on a little island placed just where you need it.

I prefer the power of the Power Pole hydraulic system over the more directly driven electrical system of the Talon. I'm wearing my engineer hat as well as my practicality hat when I say that, but it can simply be a personal preference also. I am certain that both beat what we used to have!

One final point concerns overhead clearance: Without special brackets, it is possible to lower Power Poles partially in order to get under many clearance limitations without actually going very deep into the water. If my motor will clear it, I can position the Power Poles to clear also. It is my understanding that the Talon presents a challenge on this that takes more than pushing a button. Keep in mind that a majority of residential garage doors are too low for anchor poles as installed. I guess Talons need brackets that get tilted just to get the boat into a typical garage?

Pp without a doubt coming from someone who has run them both

I have one of the first Talon that came out. It works great and have never had a problem. My friend has one of the first power poles that came out. He hates the way it shakes like wet noodle going down the road.

Have only one Talon, 12', love it...wish I had room for two
My first and only shallow water anchor.... I'm sure Power Poles are great as well, just a matter of preference....but I sure do like my 12' Talon!!!
Yeppers...
God Bless

Get 2 no matter which brand you go with

Get what you can afford. Some of these guys have money trees growing in there back yards.

....say he who has a "Skeeter" logo in his sig....

Might just need four. Two in front as well as two in back. Incase you are fishing towards a drop off and the back ones won't reach bottom. Lol.

A power pole that shakes like a wet noodle going down the road is in need of service from wear and tear. That's a sign that the hardware is worn beyond usable service life (bushings mostly are what wears out, but sometimes a bolt can be bent). Poles wear out faster when towed without being secured - they are going to move (and wear) as you drive down the road. Covers are not just for show; they stop that movement that causes the wear. A velcro cinch strap around the base of the raised pole will do the trick if you don't want to buy/use covers.

Complete hardware kits are available for all the Power Poles. Mine were about $35 per kit. No special tools or skills are required to install a service kit. It's amazing how solid they are after a new hardware kit is installed.

Love my 12ft talon.

That Skeeter has been paid for, for quite a few years now. I chose the talon because it's just easier to install and several friends that work at dealerships said they had less problems with them. Either one is great.