Anchor Rope Placement on Small Boat? Are there any steadfast rules on boat anchor placement? I have a 10ft Bass Pro Pond Prowler (very poor pic shown). Due to seat arrangement, it...

Gene Golden Loc: Gettysburg PA

Are there any steadfast rules on boat anchor placement?

I have a 10ft Bass Pro Pond Prowler (very poor pic shown).
Due to seat arrangement, it would be so easy to tie the rope off to cleats in the middle of the side of the boat.
Would that cause any issues with stability or anything?

I can imagine that a boat tethered in the middle may tend to "pivot --- kinda like a sideways seesaw" on the water.
But since the boat is basically a floating rectangle, I wondered if there was any potential danger from a side-tethered anchor?

Due to the two seat configuration, it's nearly impossible to approach the bow from the back seat.
But, anchoring from the rear is difficult, because the trolling motor is in the center, and it could become snagged by the line.
One option could be to anchor from a rear corner, but that seems odd too, and still could snag the dangling motor as the boat shifts.

Any thoughts or advice?
Thanks.

Gene Golden Loc: Gettysburg PA

Here are some better images (not my actual boat, which is older).

I marked them with A, B, C, & D to help identify possible locations.

Hmmm...
Maybe I can just drill a hole through the center of the floorboard; seal it off really well; and drop an anchor through there?
Just pull it up and secure it when under way!? 🤔😁🤣

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Gene Golden wrote:

Here are some better images (not my actual boat, which is older).

I marked them with A, B, C, & D to help identify possible locations.

Hmmm...
Maybe I can just drill a hole through the center of the floorboard; seal it off really well; and drop an anchor through there?
Just pull it up and secure it when under way!? 🤔😁🤣

Gene, if you're anchoring in the wind,it probably doesn't matter from where. On the other hand, if you're anchoring in current, you should ONLY anchor from the bow. The hull of any boat is designed to safely cut through the water BOW FIRST. Anchoring from the side or stern, in moving water, is asking to be swamped.

Paddyj Loc: S E Michigan Lake Erie

Run the rope through the front cleat but tie it off on one of the center cleats. That way you are actually anchored from the front but can tie and untie easily. I had a similar boat and understand the difficulty getting to the front.

Gene Golden Loc: Gettysburg PA

Fredfish wrote:

Gene, if you're anchoring in the wind,it probably doesn't matter from where. On the other hand, if you're anchoring in current, you should ONLY anchor from the bow. The hull of any boat is designed to safely cut through the water BOW FIRST. Anchoring from the side or stern, in moving water, is asking to be swamped.

Fredfish,
That makes sense.
I should have added that this is for anchoring on lakes and reservoirs - NOT in rivers or "flowing water".

Since this boat has a kinda "pontoon" configuration --- the sides are actually deeper in the water than the center --- could this also factor into the anchoring location?

Gene Golden Loc: Gettysburg PA

Like this...

EXCEPT that mine does NOT have cleats like this in the back - only on the two sides, INSIDE, centered.

Gene Golden Loc: Gettysburg PA

Paddyj wrote:

Run the rope through the front cleat but tie it off on one of the center cleats. That way you are actually anchored from the front but can tie and untie easily. I had a similar boat and understand the difficulty getting to the front.

Paddyj,
That sounds like a good plan too!

I'd probably use a pulley system of some sort.

Gene Golden Loc: Gettysburg PA

More "stupid questions" about this type of boat, but if I have these questions, maybe others do too:

I'm assuming that the boat construction gives it its buoyancy.
There are several items screwed into it (factory), but they don't seem to be sealed.

So, am I correct in assuming that holes, ABOVE THE WATERLINE, with screws acting as tiny plugs, are not critical to flotation?
In other words, this is not like an inflated pontoon boat, where holes would certainly matter, right?

I'm not talking about making it Swiss Cheese, but I do need to make some additions, in order to hold gear better.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Gene Golden wrote:

Fredfish,
That makes sense.
I should have added that this is for anchoring on lakes and reservoirs - NOT in rivers or "flowing water".

Since this boat has a kinda "pontoon" configuration --- the sides are actually deeper in the water than the center --- could this also factor into the anchoring location?

If wind is your only obstacle, you may find that the boat swings from side to side when anchored off center. One way to overcome this, as well as making it easier to retrieve the anchor, is bridle the anchor line. Attach the anchor line to a bow cleat, and using a short piece of rope, tie a slip knot to the anchor line. Then pull on the short rope and tie it off to a midship cleat. You can adjust it to keep the boat at an angle to the wind, so it doesn't swing back and forth.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Gene, it wouldn’t hurt to add a couple Atwood cleats to give you additional options in case the wind switches. I have a few small ones to secure a bait bucket and bumpers as well.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Gene would a anchor trolley work on your craft? Commonly used on kayaks.

Alaska Charlie

I agree. Always tie from the bow. Keep a sharp knife ready to hand to cut it loose in an emergency!

sumcatone Loc: Salem VA

Plumbob has the right idea. Use a kayak style anchor trolley. Pulleys fore and aft with a rope loop between. Fasten anchor to rope loop. If you have a breeze moving you around you can control boat position by moving the loop. You'll need a way to hold loop in position. Check out kayak anchoring systems online.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

sumcatone wrote:

Plumbob has the right idea. Use a kayak style anchor trolley. Pulleys fore and aft with a rope loop between. Fasten anchor to rope loop. If you have a breeze moving you around you can control boat position by moving the loop. You'll need a way to hold loop in position. Check out kayak anchoring systems online.

Yea sumcatone, it was just a thought. With the type of craft Gene is showing, just might work. Wont know unless he tries i guess.

Gene Golden Loc: Gettysburg PA

Thanks for all of the suggestions, guys.

I'm going to check out the kayak system.