Anchor advice

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Hey Guys:
This is the season and year for me to get boat stuff fixed up. A couple years ago, humble brag lol, I was in Bimini and bent my anchor . We have not been to paradise since that trip and anchoring in the lake with a bent anchor has been doable because we are near the boat. If the Covid cards work out I will be in the Keys for a couple weeks in July. I only use the anchor if I am fishing for yellowtail as when go to the reefs we use mooring balls. I also know an anchor is a necessary piece of safety equipment. So, I am looking at buying a new one.

I am looking at getting an aluminum one either 4lbs or 7lbs from either Fentress or Lumar. Does anyone here have any experience with aluminum fluke anchors and does brand really matter? Thanks.

 

[wspitler]

Fortress is good, (7 better than 4) but with aluminum you need quite a bit of chain and good scope to keep the shank down.

 

[Ky Grady]

Here's what I've been using. The boat came with an aluminum fluke anchor and 20' chain. It works well for most anchoring that I do. I did get the anchor hung one time in SC fishing a wreck and bent the stock. Since then, I bought a dedicated wreck anchor and so far so good. I bought a second fluke anchor, Fortress FX-7, for rear anchor duty on sandbars and such. When anchored up with front anchor at night, catfishing on a flooded creek channel in the lake, to keep the rear of the boat from swinging around, I use a big lead tear drop looking thing, dropped straight down, works well for that.

 

[Doc Stressor]

I use the same setup as Ky Grady. An FX-7 with 15' of chain and a dedicated wreck anchor.

I've lost a few over the years. But sure to send in the warranted on the Fentress or they won't replace it. I sent just a broken shaft back to them once and got a new anchor.

Whining on the part of the crew has been greatly reduced since I got the Fentress. Even using an anchor puller ball they would complain about hauling in the 12 lb Danforth. I've been amazed at how well the little 4 lb Fentress holds.

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

I have read reports on the Fentress aluminum anchors. All have said a great product. I bent the shank and my current one takes a Jedi Knight skill set to get it to set right. Otherwise it will drag. I could attempt to bend it back but bending it back just weakens it.

 

[Sparkdog118]

If you heat with a oxygen acetylene torch, you can bend the anchor back and keep most of the strength. Just be careful not to melt it. Little extra acetylene n less oxygen will help the heat from getting too concentrated.