I lost my anchor today at Bushy Park (of all places, somewhere that averages 1 foot deep). I lowered it over the side, further out toward the actual river where it was about 12 feet (high tide), and my long rope that I had tied to my canoe’s thwart turned out to be two shorter ropes, not connected together.
Fortunately, cars come with two front brake discs, so I still have my backup “anchor” from when I did a brake job a year ago.
After getting skunked today, I could use a good laugh. What have you used?
A one-foot section of rail…Dad worked for the railroad and had a small piece he used as an anvil - also made a great anchor. I lost it in the Rediversion Canal years ago - I didn’t have it tied to the cleat too well and the rope slipped-off while I was fighting a nice catfish…we start drifting backwards and I was like “uh-oh”…got the catfish, lost the anchor.
I wondered what happened to all those paint cans my dad filled with cement when we had the place on Hartwell. I think he still has one one laying around somewhere.
I’d rather fish than eat.
A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
When I was growing up, my dad & granddad used to take an old basketball (or any other sort of round ball), cut a hole in the top, fill it with cement, and stick a U-Bolt in the top before it hardened. Once it dried, just cut the ball cover the rest of the way off.
I like the idea of filling a basketball (or Soccer ball) with cement, but I don’t think I would cut the cover off. I think it would look cool with a basketball in the boat plus it might help protect the boat deck. I think I might try it…oh I forgot, don’t have a boat yet. Oh Well, it’s never to late to start early.
If you have an old pair of waders (boots or hip), cut the boot about 8" above the foot. Fille with cement and insert an eye bolt. Leave the rubber on the cement and it won’t make a lot of noise moving it around in the boat.
Got a chuckle out of your story though. Several years ago I threw out the anchor on the Sea Pro in 12’ of water. Only to realize that the chain had come off the line as I watched the chain slip out of sight while I was still holding the rope. Now I use stainless wire and zip-ties to secure the eye bolt in place. Mine had come out in the locker. Cost me $72 to replace. But a lesson learned. Lol.
“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway
I had a moment of stupidity this summer as well that I’ll himor you with and maybe save someone the cost of learning. Took some “non-boaters” on a scenic cruise to Morris Is. so I didn’t really have any “mate” help. About 20’from shore, I dropped my anchor over while I drifted the rest of way to shore and just let the rope free line out of the locker. Just as I beached, I went to tie off the anchor and saw the last piece of a 100’ anchor line go over (I don’t have a cleat in the anchor locker) before I could grab it. Just didn’t occur to me that the current would strip the line out like that but it was peak time on current and it’s very strong at the inlet. The strength of the current also thwarted our search for the anchor so it was an expensive lesson learned (and I have yet to find an anchor that is properly sized to fit in that locker correctly!).
On the comment about sports ball of concrete being too large/heavy…you don’t have to fill it the whole way! And, they also make mini versions of sports balls if you wanted to fill completely and keep ball cover on it. You can probably even get some with your favorite team logo (football anyway).
