Question re: anchor for Cedar Creek Lake

Hello, everyone. I'm new to boat ownership - been out on lakes many times, but always on 'my wife's cousin's boats'

Anyway, in passing the Texas Boater Safety Course, I noted the recommendation that a boat's anchor should be suited to the kind of lake bottom you're on. I'll soon begin spending lots of time over the next few years (Lord willing!) on Cedar Creek Lake. Can anyone recommend a style of anchor that would be well suited for it?

I asked at my local West Marine, but they couldn't help beyond 'if its like the other north Texas lakes, look at a Danforth'.

I'm sure I can find the proper size/weight easily enough, but any thoughts/hints/recommendations will be gratefully received. I'll be running a 22' tritoon.

Let me know if more info is needed. Thanks in advance -

Most no longer utilize the traditional bottom anchor. Technology has advanced to a point where the anchor is now in the trolling motor or shallow water anchors like the power pole or Minn Kota Talon.

The anchor with-in the Minn Kota or MotorGude trolling motor is known as the "Spot-Lock"

No longer required to toss overboard and or pull it back into the boat...

Thanks for the reply. I hadn't heard of those items - not surprisingly, as I'm new to this. It was interesting to read about.

As my boat doesn't have a trolling motor and I'm likely to anchor in water up to 20' to accomodate swimming, I'll likely get a standard anchor. The exercise will be good, too!

Also - I've tried Googling 'cedar creek lake bottom' and haven't found any info (rocky, muddy...), so now I'm just curious

I think the bottom would be dependent on what portion of the lake you choose to anchor on. Should find wood,rock,sand and mud. I like the flute anchor myself because it folds flat, easy to pull loose and can dig in. A grapplingstyle works good in some areas but you have the storage issue since most don’t fold. There used to be a student who welded anchors for a school project that he turned into a small business. I think that they were folding box anchors. He sold them in the classified section. Might do a search for him. He could weld them to your specifications

Thanks, Bobby. I contacted the realtor who sold us the property, and she made some phone calls. The bottom, I was told, was mostly a 'silty' consistency, but there are some rocky areas here and there. I'll keep the student you mentioned in mind, but at this point, with my level of knowledge, I wouldn't know what specs to tell him Knowing the lake bottom now, I should be able to find something suitable, no problem.

Appreciate the replies -

Box anchors are almost impossible to beat on soft bottoms - faster hold and less rope.

On all the boats I've had and for my families boats - an anchor is a piece of saftey gear for your boat - no matter how little you use it, you still want one on board. It will work when everything else fails (motor/electric) even if it is only freshwater.

A real anchor is still recommended. It is not unusual for a boat to end up with a dead battery. In windy conditions, a real anchor can save your life. A small fluke style or even a 3-bladed river anchor is better than nothing. The length of rope is referred to as slope should be 5 times the depth of water. So in 20 feet of water is is recommended to have 100 feet of rope. On most lakes here in Texas 100 foot will be fine for even deeper waters when you need to stop or slow your movement.

I use a standard Danforth style fluke anchor on a 100' line on my 25' family pontoon. Never had a problem getting the anchor to set. I also have a folding grapple style, but have not tried it.

With 11 grandkids, we do spend a lot of time on the water, so three more 100' ropes are also stowed, one of them heavy enough for towing. (Lots of room in a pontoon)

For what it's worth, my basic Minkota trolling motor with 55 lb. thrust will pull the boat along at just over 2 MPH in calm conditions. I have enough battery power onboard to run 6 hours - just in case.

Marc

You may want to look at this type of anchor.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/seafit--folding-grapnel-anchors--P005_153_003_004

Thanks for all the responses and information. Really appreciate it!

BTW, boat dealer said an anchor would not be provided, but when the boat was delivered yesterday, there was a Danforth anchor and 100' of thick rope (I'll need to get some chain for it).

That was nice of the dealer to throw that in for you. Rarely do they go the extra mile to make a customer feel appreciated.

Really nice. A friend of mine bought a brand new boat last year....it barely had enough gas and oil in it to get it off the trailer and to the pumps at Oasis. Lol.



The the OP, glad you got an anchor. I have always carried one in my bass boats too..even with a spot lock. I use it more often than I'd like to admit.

Try a 9# BOYLE's anchor...............with at least a 4' chain. Works great in saltwater!! None better Maybe $35

I have a lakefront property on CC lake. You will find mostly sand and clay bottom. I have a tritoon. Use the fluke and chain. Using the right amount of anchor rope is key