Quick release anchor, float, spool, thingy.

With Dino season warming up I decided to make a new quick release anchor float. The last one I had was done very impromptu so this time I wanted to build it for real. Thought about ideas to make a compact system for a day or two and came up w/ this sketch:


It's essentially a shrimp float skewered on a piece of 1/2" pvc pipe w/ a few carabiners and rope. This way the float and the spool would all be one unit.. one less thing to forget. But I digress.

I first drew out where to make the incisions. I decided to split the float in half towards the front so that it would most likely float vertically. That way it'd be as visible as possible when it came time to retrieve it and less of a hazard for boaters.


Then the channel where the rope would lie.


Split the bugger in half.


The way I fastened the float to the pvc is by bulking up the pipe w/ electrical tape and wedging the float over it. Then securing it by doing the same on the other end. I guess you could pour a glue like epoxy or something in the gap but the float doesn't take too much pressure so thought I'd keep it simple.


Wrapped the anchor rope the gauge the distance between the two float pieces and marked it on the pipe w/ a marker. Secured the rear float piece to the pipe and drilled the holes for the carabiners on the front and back of the pvc as well as in the middle where the anchor line would be attached to the whole rig.


I secured the line that went to the yak to the pvc and attached and wrapped the anchor line over it. I put a perfection loop on the rope that goes to the yak and threaded the anchor line through the carabiner up front. I decided to put the velcro wrap on the coiled rope instead of the float like in the sketch. It's a lot more sound there and less likely to be pulled off.


There you go! Anchor release, float, spool, thingy!
Total cost: $12

Z

Looking good!!!  Thanks for the idea.  I got a few tricks in my head I may try out as well.

-Allen

Cool Z.  How much line does it hold?

Cool Z.  How much line does it hold?

Thanks. I have 100' on it now so I guess around 150' fully loaded. Then again I wouldn't really suggest anchoring in anything deeper that 40-60 feet. Add the angle of the line and that puts you around 80-85 feet so more than enough.

Z

Hey Z,

That looks pretty good. Now you just have to figure out a way to add an auto-winder to that thing.

While I can't argue with your trig, getting an anchor to hold and anchoring safely in current might require a greater than a 1.5:1 scope.

Most boats down here have about 600 ft of anchor rope so that they can achieve a 7:1 scope in 80-100 ft of water.  In practice, under normal conditions they generally get away with using a 5:1 scope. 

Of course our kayaks are much lighter and easier to stop with a small anchor and thinner line.  I think a 3:1 scope is probably a better rule of thumb for anchoring a kayak in moderate river current.   I currently have 300 ft of line on my system and have used just over 200 ft of it to anchor in 60-70 ft of water.

Larger scope ratios not only more likely to hold, but also safer.  They  transfer the pull on the bow of the kayak from a downward pull (scary) to a more horizontal one.  Of course our quick releases should help prevent mishaps.

Brian

I like the unified system, but I'm guessing I'd want a larger arbor for longer anchor line amounts. 

Hey Z,

That looks pretty good. Now you just have to figure out a way to add an auto-winder to that thing.

While I can't argue with your trig, getting an anchor to hold and anchoring safely in current might require a greater than a 1.5:1 scope.

Most boats down here have about 600 ft of anchor rope so that they can achieve a 7:1 scope in 80-100 ft of water.  In practice, under normal conditions they generally get away with using a 5:1 scope. 

Of course our kayaks are much lighter and easier to stop with a small anchor and thinner line.  I think a 3:1 scope is probably a better rule of thumb for anchoring a kayak in moderate river current.   I currently have 300 ft of line on my system and have used just over 200 ft of it to anchor in 60-70 ft of water.

Larger scope ratios not only more likely to hold, but also safer.  They  transfer the pull on the bow of the kayak from a downward pull (scary) to a more horizontal one.  Of course our quick releases should help prevent mishaps.

Brian

I was thinking of some kind of winding system but K.I.S.S. kept echoing in the back of my head.   As to the anchoring, you're science is dead on... imagine that! But personally, and I'm no expert, but I don't think you have to fish so deep. I've seen plenty of fat dinos caught in super skinny water. The 55" dino below was caught in 20 FOW in a Columbia estuary in Astoria. I've even heard of lots being caught in 6-7 FOW.



Z

I was thinking of some kind of winding system but K.I.S.S. kept echoing in the back of my head.

Yup.  Kiss.  My first anchor systems didn't even have a spool to wind on, just pulled the rope up onto my lap and tossed the whole thing behind me.

I thinking I'll go to something similar as Z on my next one.  But I probably wont notch the buoy.  Will probably just tie directly to the spool.  And the upstream side will go through the PVC and tie to the carabiner on the downstream side.  I'll have a length of bungie as well so smoothen things out.

-Allen

i've been digging for a good set of rigging plans for a trolley system, have found several, but the best i like so far is this one from england that shows how to do it on one of those big ole tridents OK sells.

for me, this one makes things easy.

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/review-Ocean-Kayak-Trident-t78188.html&st=20&start=20

oh, and, thanx Z, am gonna incorporate your float winder into my system.. after reading it for like the 50th time, i like it lots... not to say that the others shown or mentioned here are lacking in some respect, they're all good examples of home ingenuity and resoucefulness, i just think this has a huge "cool stuff" factor.

not to say that the others shown or mentioned here are lacking in some respect, they're all good examples of home ingenuity and resoucefulness, 

If that means copy brians, then thanks...

it means, roy, that each person who has contributed copies of their versions of whatever to the site have each shown their intelligence and sense of personal flair along with their abilities to improvise adapt and overcome using whatever they have available. and every one of them has been absolutely 1st rate ingenious. i just happen to like Z's because like i said, it's got a great "cool stuff " factor.

and, you're welcome. you've shown us good stuff too. how many others would have shared their own version of a fish finder adapter? not many outside our world of yak fishing thats for sure. ever try to get tips or copy tricks from some of those jet sled drivin power boaters?? might not ever happen..