Best rope for anchor system

Hey everyone,

I am new and this is my first post on NWKA - I am outfitting my Hobie Outback and trying to find the best anchor rope. I have looked at three-strand, braided, 1/4 inch, 3/16, 1/8, etc. Right now I have a couple shorter lengths (1/4 inch) to create about 200 feet of line for my 10-foot Redfish. I want to replace that line and buy 600 feet so I have two 300-footers on both yaks. Prices are all over the place. But I am leaning towards nylon 3/16 braided or three strand but not sure if 3/16 is strong enough. I have claw anchors with chains, and I anchor in various lakes as well as the Columbia and the Willamette. I will be putting the lines on those round orange electrical storage units. Anyone have thoughts?

I bought cheap 100 foot lengths of cheap 3/16" white nylon rope at Home Depot ($3-4 per 100 feet).  A good knot linking them every 100 feet lets you know how much you have scoped out.  If I could have found a longer length I would have done so, but I used what I could find at the time.  I recommend cheap in case you snag and loose a long length of line.

Have you considered ordering a 1000' spool of 550 cord (Paracord)?  It's got the strength, is just about perfect in diameter, and cheap.  Can be used for a million other uses. 

There's a million places like these online:

http://www.paracordstore.com/Bulk-550-Paracord-Spools_c_13.html

http://www.campingsurvival.com/paavch.html?gclid=CI2JuZbixK4CFeYERQod-gLFXw

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Parachute-Paracord-Military-Specification/dp/B002HJ1CK4

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/MHR308-1.html

I also recommend paracord. You can get it at Andy and Bax reasonably cheap. I want to say as well that I have had great success with an 8# mushroom anchor after losing a couple of folding anchors in strong current this winter. Once an anchor is snagged up, it is really hard to get leverage from a kayak to pull it  out. The Nothing told me about that one, and it helped save me a lot of hassle, not to mention cash.

+1 on the 550 cord. Andy and Bax 100 foot is just under $7.

willbd

Great tips! I will check into the paracord. I like the idea of marking the length of the line by tying knots. I too have lost a claw anchor - I did this while on the Columbia in my old 9 foot Otter and nearly rolled the yak trying to pull up the anchor. I ended up cutting the line - which I hated to do. I now secure the line to the bottom of the anchor and use the same breakaway principal as the Columbia rocker anchors. I have broken several cable ties but I still have the anchor (I could be testing fate though).

I have a 5.5 pound claw anchor which I recently added a couple pounds of chain to.  I have snagged it pretty well a couple times. However, I have always been able to unsnag it in part because the rope is tied to the eye on the bottom of the anchor and held to the shaft with 20 lb test line.  When it snags, I pull real hard and break the 20 lb test.  The anchor then (so far, knock on wood) pops free because it gets pulled up by the bottom.  George Rogers Sturgeon Sensei Deep Color taught me this one after I spent 45 minutes trying to break a partially cut zip-tie. 

Ihoppa and I got his horribly snagged one loose a couple weeks ago on the lower Willamette by both peddling as hard as we could upstream while holding his rope.  It took two of us, but it worked.  IMHO zip-tie = bad, 20 lb test = good and cheaper.  I may actually go down to 10 lb line because I sometimes have trouble breaking the 20 lb.

I just use a garbage twist tie and it always holds in place until I give it a good a yank if it feels stuck. Carrying the extra twist ties is easy.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

How much anchor line do you guys normally use on the Columbia and Willamette? I only 100' now but it's 1/4".

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

I use small, dollar store cable ties which break easy, sometimes too easy. I have also used fishing line but prefer the cable ties. Regarding anchor line, I feel I need 300 feet to feel safe and secure especially in the deeper holes of the Willamette and some lakes. I am very careful in the Columbia because the river currents change too quickly which again is why I feel I need the length. Thanks again for the tips!

I just use a garbage twist tie and it always holds in place until I give it a good a yank if it feels stuck. Carrying the extra twist ties is easy.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

I like that idea. I may need to steal it.