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Posts: 384
Location: Northern Illinois | Do you have an anchor on your boat? Back in the day, this would never even be a question. But with today's 80 lb. thrust trolling motors and spot lock is it even necessary anymore? Are there any safety factors or laws that require one? What situations do you still use it in?
Edited by mm3 8/16/2024 11:28 AM
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| In the spring, when fishing panfish in very skinny water. I use two anchors. But, I always have at least one onboard. Never know, could have a problem with trolling motor. Unlikely I guess, but I have room so better safe than sorry. |
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Posts: 630
Location: Duluth | Yes, have had to kedge out of a sticky situation or two. |
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Posts: 145
| I always keep one on board. Haven't used it in years now.
I figure if I ever broke down and there was a decent wind, I'd want to anchor and wait for help. |
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Posts: 68
| I found a huge school of bass on a windblown shore and fished them until my trolling motor died. Went to start my big engine but battery was dead. Winds were probably around 25 MPH and waves were around 4'. Would've crashed into shore without an anchor.
I was able to pull start my kicker and run it long enough while anchored to get enough of a charge to start my big engine. |
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Posts: 384
Location: Northern Illinois | These are a couple of pretty good reasons right here. At least anchor down till you get things under control. Or, somewhat control what position along the drift line you want to wait for help. |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | Ohio requires it:
All watercraft shall carry an anchor and line of sufficient weight and length to anchor the watercraft securely. No person shall operate or permit to be operated any watercraft in violation of this section.
The following vessels are exempt from requirements to carry an anchor and line:
any vessel less than 14 feet in length;
any canoe or kayak;
any sailboat less than 21 feet in length.
m |
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Posts: 2315
Location: Chisholm, MN | Sometimes but usually not. Just added weight in the boat. |
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Posts: 1143
Location: Minnesota. | Not any more!
After learning my lesson a long time back on the annual family vac. to Vermilion and tossing one out as we all went swimming in a quiet bay with a sandy beach on the west end (hot spotter! *grins*) in some deeper water then trying to get her back -(never-ending circles along with a few words) - I decided to leave it home!
Did get her back but my kids saw another side o'me.....*grins* - Not too bad as my bride was along.. |
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Posts: 20212
Location: oswego, il | I do when I fish rivers. It's a 30lb spot lock. |
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Posts: 186
| All ways have one on the boat and is required on Lake Michigan . |
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Posts: 32877
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I have a Talon and a Minn Kota Quest (spot lock) with independent batteries. It would require three failures for me to need one on a rope, so I'm living dangerously. |
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Posts: 1247
Location: E. Tenn | mikie - 8/22/2024 10:52 AM
Ohio requires it:
All watercraft shall carry an anchor and line of sufficient weight and length to anchor the watercraft securely. No person shall operate or permit to be operated any watercraft in violation of this section.
m
Does "Spot Lock" count as an anchor?
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Location: Athens, Ohio | I would think not since it is not 'an anchor and line of sufficient weight and length to anchor the watercraft securely'. m |
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Posts: 85
| I don’t carry one anymore. I have dual power poles and an ultrex with spot lock. |
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Posts: 791
Location: North Central IL USA | yes. State law. |
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Posts: 1710
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | gregk9 - 9/5/2024 9:36 PM
yes. State law.
https://dnr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dnr/boating/document...
IL does not require an anchor |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | In checking around (hey, I got time recovering from knee replacement surgery!), neither does KY, WV, MN, WI. I wonder if it is a Coast Guard requirement for the Great Lakes? m |
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Posts: 1238
Location: Walker, MN | The USCG Minimum Equipment Requirements for Recreational Vessels does not list anchors. "Checklists" may include additional items including anchors. |
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| This is an extreme example and can't quite see musky fishermen getting in this pickle but do have one time an anchor would have been huge for someone. We were up for the weekend at our cabin, I was working on something and my wife came to get me. She had seen a boat seemingly drifting in the middle of the lake, with a family onboard and the guy trying to start it. By the time I looked they had drifted into shore, an area that was very shallow and full of downed wood. I hopped in our pontoon that has a tow bar and took the rope we tow tubes with. I had trouble getting close but managed to throw the rope to them and tow them back to the cabin they were renting. They had run out of gas and even though it was a fish and ski boat, they had forgotten to charge the battery for their trolling motor after using it. My wife said, 'gee if they had an anchor at least they could have stopped from drifting into that area'. My reply was that given their lack of common sense, they probably would have tossed it over board and forgot to tie it to the boat. |
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