Hi all,
I'm thinking of getting an anchor for my Kayak. Does anybody have one or have an opinion about this topic?

From what I've read, a 3.6kg (8lb) anchor would be sufficient to hold a Kayak; also one could buy a lighter "grappling" style anchor instead to save weight and potential space.

I'm leaning towards the mushroom style because it's really easy to use, you simply just toss it over board and it's weight holds the boat in place. If dipped, it doesn't rust, I have one for my dinghy and I love it. I guess the downside is that it weighs more and perhaps takes up more room.

Regarding the "grappling style", it is nice but it seems like overkill. I guess it's preferred because it's light. Some of my concerns are that the material is galvanized (will rust) and that I'm paying for ropes and such that I don't really need. If anyone has this one, I'd like to know their opinion.


EXAMPLES:

Mushroom Style Dipped: 14.00 USD
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp;jsessionid=OSO5LIWIDVXW5LAQBBKSCNNMCAEFAIWE?type=pod&cmCat=MainCatcat21276-cat601335-cat21316&id=0065303

Grapple style: 32.00 USD
http://www.advancedelements.com/accessories.html

Grapple style: 32.00 USD
http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3668689

Mitch, why not just use a very sturdy canvas bag? You should always be able to find a rock, or enough sand to fill the bag with and you wouldn't have the weight of an anchor to load you down.

Yeah I guess I could do that.. though 14 bucks is pretty cheap for an anchor .. lol

I'd be afraid that a commercial anchor, such as the two you described, might crack a bulkhead in a capsize. I like the idea of a rock or sand in a bag. Steve

Since I've been following anchor discussions for bigger boats, I guess I'd have to ask "where are you planning on anchoring?" & "For how long should the anchor hold?"
Cruising sailboats usually carry at least two anchors - a plow and a Danforth/Fortress style, as each has it's advantages in different circumstances. Mushroom anchors are usually used for muddy river/lake areas, as they tend to hold well in that. Hooks for rocky bottoms. Plows for mixed and gravel bottoms. But the weight of chain used also adds to the stability of the anchor hold - usually as much chain as the length of the boat.
Somehow, I don't think you need anywhere near all that. And a nice heavy nylon stuff sack would serve double duty - store your anchor line when not in use, and when deployed filled with whatever weight you have handy, and can be tailored to suit the circumstance.

a perfect anchor for jet skis, kayaks would have to be the cooper anchor weight 1 kg nylon at www.cooperanchors.com.au or try http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/2851079.htm

In the February 2008 issue of Sea Kayaker, Rodge Ledbetter did a wonderful job of describing the Siwash anchor.

The Siwash anchor is basically a bag that you fill with rocks or sand. The bag is balanced on the bow of your boat with an appropriate length of line going from the gad to your bow (remember to allow for tidal change). Also attached to the bag is your retrieval line. When you're ready to anchor you push your boat out and when it is far enough off shore pull the anchor off the bow with your retrieval line and tie it off above the high tide mark.

When it's time to bring your boat ashore just pull n the retrieval line bringing both your anchor and boat to the beach.

as with all small craft at anchor i.e kayaks to small boats it is allways advisable to maintain an adequate watch of said vessal...more "mishaps" happen to an unattended vessal at anchor (monitoring of tides,currents,wind and other vessal traffic is essesitial to good sea man-shipness)...is there adequate lighting to advise other vessals that u r unattended and at anchor????? Personally i allways sleep better if my vessal has been beached and secured,my sleep is very restless if at anchor and unattended...lets say your vessal was on a "retrival" setup and has a hull breach (takes on water)are you seriosly gunna tell me you will have the adequate 1 personall strength and 2 rope strenght to recover a fully water laden kayak ?possible yes but pratical possible not ....i live in the tropic's so a fouled retrival line poses less hazards than the majority of sea kayaker readers who to my knowledge live in some pretty cold waters which pose sighificant hazards to even the simpliest of tasks...beach ya craft and sleep soundly

I'm going to have to concur with you, Islandsnapper; I can't think of very many situtations where I would feel the least bit comfortable with any of my boats exposed to the vagaries of swinging on an anchor line.

I don't do the camping thing, but if I did, I'd most likely carry an appropriate cart, or simply unload the boat so I could carry it to a safe on-shore perch. I've witnessed too many times how violent water can get in shallow as well as deeper depths from weather, or passing vessels. I could see anchoring a kayak on a temporary basis, but only if it were very close by and in constant view.

Good points ! All of them ! I have a plastic boat so dragging it up onto the shore is no big deal, this was just for a temporary stop along the river say 20-30 mins stop staying within view of the vehicle ..

Though thinking about it, a sea anchor may be more beneficial, I wonder if they make any that are 1> affordable 2> and work well. ??

Any kind of a bag that will hold rocks, or sand ought to work. I wouldn't use paper, though.

five lb grapple 50 feet of floating line in a canvas bag to protect boat. I dont have time to go ashore fill up any bags when I want to anchor. Granted I haven't deployed it yet. I'm thinking primarily for swiming in 10-20' of water

The ideal type of anchor depends on the substrate the anchor is expected to hold onto. On rocky, coral or shell bottoms, a grappling style anchor is best. On sand, a fluke, mushroom or weighted bag anchor is best.

It is EASY to make a small kayak grappling anchor -- no need to buy stuff. My grappling anchors are made from 1/8" thick steel reinforcing rod bent into a "J" shape with two hooks and it works great. It is strong enough to hold, but weak enough to bend when it gets hopelessly stuck on the bottom (better a weak enough anchor than to go diving for it!). Yes, it rusts, but that's okay.

The canvas bag with rock that someone suggested earlier is good for sand.

Be aware that a really good anchoring system used in waves bigger than about 2' (60 cm) needs a 3' - 6' (1 - 2 meter) section of chain attached to the anchor to act as a shock absorber when each wave lifts the boat. It can be heavier than the anchor, but without it the anchor needs to be larger to hold properly.

John