Anchoring your pontoon boat securely is essential for a safe and enjoyable boating experience, whether you’re fishing, swimming, or simply relaxing on the water. With so many anchor types and options available, choosing the right one for your pontoon boat can feel overwhelming. Factors like water conditions, boat size, and anchoring techniques all play a role in ensuring stability and security. This guide will walk you through the best pontoon boat anchors, tips for selection, and techniques to anchor your boat like a pro, so you can focus on enjoying your time on the water with peace of mind
If you are in a hurry here are four anchors we recommend.
| Image | Title | Best For | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Seachoice Fluke Anchor | Sand/Mud Bottom |  | Check Price |
 | Extreme Max Box Anchor | Grass/Mud Bottom |  | Check Price |
 | Seachoice Grapnel Anchor | Rock Bottom | | Check Price |
 | Seachoice Plow Anchor | Mud Bottom | | Check Price |
What is a Pontoon Boat Anchor?
A pontoon boat anchor is a specially designed piece of heavy metal attached to a robust rope, chain, or cable. The anchor stabilizes the pontoon boat by “connecting” to the bottom of the water. The specially designed piece of metal comes in various shapes and sizes to accommodate rocky, grassy, muddy, sandy and clay conditions.
Choosing a Pontoon Boat Anchor
There are multiple factors to consider when choosing a pontoon boat anchor.
Anchor Weight
Anchors comes in different weights, and choosing the correct weight depends on the length and weight of the pontoon boat. Additionally, waters with strong currents or winds will require a heavier anchor.
Water Body Bed
Water bodies have different types of beds such as sand, rock or clay. Weeds and plants may also cover those beds. There are special anchors for each bed type. Read on to find the best pontoon boat anchor for the type of bed you experience.
Water Depth
One raises and lowers a pontoon boat anchor using the attached rope, chain or cable. Ideally, the length must be five times more than the depth of the water.
Pontoon Boat Anchor Types and Manufacturers
Anchors come in different types. A particular anchor may fit a certain pontoon boat. No such anchor is the best universal choice. Below are some of the most popular anchor types so you can choose the best to suit your needs.
Fluke Pontoon Anchors
A pontoon boat fluke anchor is perfect for individuals who are looking for a lightweight anchor that does not compromise on holding power. It has fluke arms that dig into the floor of the water body and prevent the pontoon boat from drifting. Seachoice, Danforth and Fortress Marine are three manufacturers of fluke anchors.
When selecting a fluke style anchor, one must consider size as a first priority and weight as a second. Weight isn’t what impacts the boats ability to stay immobile, but the size of the flukes that stick and hold into the ground. The greater the size of the fluke arms the better the hold. Fluke anchors don’t have to be incredibly heavy, which is a nice benefit. In fact, a 15 lb. fluke anchor can hold a 30′ pontoon boat in calmer conditions, or a 24′ pontoon boat in rougher conditions.
Also, fluke anchors are easy to retrieve and store, thanks to their light weight. They are a great choice for most bottoms. They can dig into hard sand, gravel and soft bottoms, clay and mud bottoms, but they are not a good choice for rocky or grassy bottoms.
Box Pontoon Anchors
Box anchors are best for muddy and vegetative bottoms which are most often the scenario in lakes and rivers where pontoon boats are found. Hence, they are considered an all around pontoon boat anchor. The hold of these anchors depends on the amount of surface that is in contact with the water body bed. Extreme Max and Slide manufacture box anchors. They are available in multiple sizes for different length pontoon boats.
When dropped overboard, box anchors penetrate 1′ to 2′ into the bottom to securely anchor and stabilize the pontoon boat. They also work well with sudden changes in currents or wind. Box anchors can flip over and quickly reset itself into the bottom. They make way for easy retrieval. Lastly, they fold flat to become compact for easy storage.
While it’s a priority for pontoon boat owners to have long lines for their anchors, it’s even more important to have a long line for a box anchor. A box anchor needs it’s line to be almost twice as long as ordinary pontoon anchor lines. If your line is too short, the arms will not have an accurate angle necessary for digging into the ground and an appropriate hold will not be achieved. One must have 5 times more line out than the water’s depth. So if you are in 40′ of water, you should have 200′ of anchor line.
Grapnel Pontoon Anchors
For gravel and rocky bottoms, grapnel anchors are quite popular. It can also work well on coral, stone and heavy weed bottoms. These anchors have multiple “claws” that grab onto the rocks to hold the pontoon boat still. SeaChoice sells a folding grapnel anchor. This dependable anchor can be folded up to a compact size and thus makes way for easy storage when not in use. The versatile anchor locks in either the open or closed position. It is made from malleable iron and is heavily galvanized for corrosion resistance and durability. It comes in many sizes from 1.5 lbs. to 13 lbs.
Grapnel anchors are mostly used in small or medium size pontoon boats (18 feet to 24 feet long pontoon boats) and are best suited for short periods of anchoring.
Plow Pontoon Anchors
For grassy beds, pontoon boat plow anchors provide the required hold to prevent drifting. These anchors have a shank that allows them to dig deep into weeds and mud for superior holding power. Seachoice makes a durable and dependable pontoon boat plow anchor. Also, the Lewmar delta is another highly popular pontoon boat plow anchor.
A third high quality pontoon boat plow anchor is the Manson supreme. It is lightweight and folds away for easy storage. Made from high quality plate steel, it is designed with a sharp nose to penetrate hard bottoms. It comes in stainless steel or galvanized steel. This new generation anchor has been tested and proven that it sets faster and holds better than any other anchor.
Plow anchors are quite similar to fluke anchors. They do well with soft, muddy, clay and hard sand bottoms. They perform well with grassy and weed bottoms too. However, they struggle with hard or rocky bottoms. These depend on weight so as to remain attached to the bottom. Some plow anchor styles may fold up making them bulkier and difficult to store and handle.
Advantages of Pontoon Boat Anchors
Anchoring helps in making your pontoon boat adventures safe and secure by stabilizing the vessel. You need not worry about the harsh weather, the currents or the wind. Most anchors are constructed from corrosion resistant and heavy duty materials so they last longer. Also, they are pretty affordable, so why not invest? Setting up, maintaining and storing anchors is quite easy. If used in the best possible way, they will yield the best results for you by keeping your pontoon boat stable.
Disadvantages of Pontoon Boat Anchors
The major drawback is obviously related to the anchoring procedure. If not properly performed, it can make your pontoon boat susceptible to an accident. You need exercise caution with the anchoring procedure to minimize the risk of injury and damage. Later in this article we provide the correct step-by-step anchoring procedure.
Where to Install the Pontoon Boat Anchor?
When installing an anchor on a pontoon boat, you need to be aware of the best locations. This will bring about the best possible results in terms of the boat’s stability. Improper installation techniques are equivalent to having a loosely set anchor or no anchor at all.
Bow
The best location for installing your anchor is on the front of your pontoon boat. At this location, the anchor offers more stability than most of the other locations. This location makes way for more secure holding when compared to rear anchoring.
Stern
Anchoring on the rear of a pontoon is recommended only when you use an electric anchor winch. Otherwise, the anchor would possibly get entangled with other floating objects in the water. The stern is a perfect location for a second or backup anchor.
Facing into the current or wind flow
Water current and wind flow are the obvious choices which may cause instability on your pontoon boat. Hence, anchors can be best installed on the location facing the wind flow or water current, whichever is the strongest.
Cleat or Decking
After selecting the anchor location, then select how to attach the anchor to the pontoon boat. One can either attach the anchor to a cleat or the pontoon boat decking.
The cleat of your pontoon boat is a strong point to set up an anchor. Check the depth of the water to know the length of rope that you may require. Then stabilize the anchor on the cleat and make sure it is secure.
Some people also consider the pontoon boat decking a great location to install an anchor. With the addition of ledges to the decking, no drilling of holes is required. These ledges are also corrosion resistant and you can have additional benefits, such as improved stability.
How to Anchor a Pontoon Boat?
We have seen some of the best anchor types and the best location to install them. Now it’s time to discuss anchoring steps and tips.
Step 1: Position Pontoon Boat
First, position the pontoon boat at the desired location making sure to avoid debris, rocks, banks, etc.
Step 2: Calculate Rope Length
Now check the water depth to determine the length of the anchor’s rope, cable or chain. The recommended rope length is 5-7 times the water depth. If improperly calculated, then either the anchor will not reach the bottom or it can open up more than required. A depth finder will ease this process.
Step 3: Install Anchor
After finding the rope length, prepare the anchor for installation. Idle the engine and keep the pontoon boat still. Install the anchor in the best location.
Step 4: Drop Anchor
Slowly drop the anchor so it doesn’t become tangled on its way down. Give sufficient time for the anchor to dig in the bottom. If you are facing the current’s direction, you will drift backward a little bit after lowering the anchor. This is normal.
Step 5: Test Resistance
As the pontoon boat settles, test the resistance. For this, just pull on the anchor or perform a slow reverse. Upon strong resistance, you are assured the anchoring is perfect.
Step 6: Select a Landmark
Picking a landmark (permanent structure, tree, rock, etc.) as a reference point can help you monitor your location. This can help determine if your pontoon boat is drifting and assess if there is a problem with the anchor.
Step 7: Retrieve Anchor
At the end of the day, you also need to know how to correctly retrieve the anchor. Retrieve the anchor with care as it can damage your pontoon boat. By pulling it gradually in a vertical position, you can prevent any damages. You can wash off the debris as you lift up the anchor.
Using a Pontoon Boat Anchor
An anchor must always be used at the bow side and never on the stern side as there is the danger of the pontoon boat capsizing. Having two anchors with different designs can help with multiple bed types and also keep the boat steady in case of strong drifts or winds.
Even the best pontoon boat anchors can cause accidents. Take extra caution while using them to prevent any bodily injury.
Conclusion
Choosing the right pontoon boat anchor is key to ensuring safety, stability, and peace of mind during your boating adventures. By considering factors like water conditions, boat size, and anchor type, you can confidently select an anchor that keeps your pontoon secure in any situation. Pairing the right anchor with proper anchoring techniques will enhance your overall experience, allowing you to relax and enjoy your time on the water. With the right knowledge and tools, you can anchor like a pro and make every trip worry-free and enjoyable.
