Electric Anchors For Pontoon Boats: Everything You Need To Know
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Pontoon boats are a popular choice for those who love spending time on the water. However, one thing that can make your experience even better is electric anchors. In this blog post, we will discuss electric anchors for pontoon boats.Â
We will discuss what you should consider while buying one, how to install them, and why you should opt for one. Plus, we will be providing some suggestions to make things easier for you. So, if you’re interested in learning more about electric anchors, keep reading!
Things to Consider Before Buying Electric Anchors
Now, before you buy an electric anchor for a pontoon boat, consider these factors.
1. Weight Capacity
Check the requirements of your selected winch to ensure you’re getting one with a greater weight capacity. This is because you want to future-proof yourself against any time when you might have a heavier anchor on board.
There are several different anchors to choose from, depending on the situation. Some models are better suited to beaches and rivers, so you can never tell if you’ll be carrying something heavier at some time.
It’s better to go with a winch that can handle your current anchor weight as a bare minimum and save money in the long run.
2. Check Reviews
You may not believe but the product reviews can be a life saver. People will be telling their honest opinions and hence, you can ensure that whether the product provides everything it says it does in the description or not?
It’s worth reading Amazon customer reviews to see what other pontooners have to say about a product such as this one.
On Amazon, the reviews are unfiltered, so you won’t have any prejudice. Real-life testimonials from individuals who have already bought the product and are willing to discuss the advantages and disadvantages as they see them as all there is.
3. Don’t Settle for Cheap Ones
Buying a cheap electric anchor for pontoon boats may seem like a good idea since it might save you money. However, unless you absolutely need to keep your budget low, do not go this route. Because of the mechanisms and designs involved, the less expensive options are more likely to break.
The formula is simple, expensive will make you cry once but cheap will make you cry over and over.
4. Reliability
All of the top pontoon anchor winches on the list have been chosen based on their quality. The items are intended to lift and pull hefty anchors, therefore it’s critical to choose one that is constructed from high-quality materials by a reputable manufacturer.
Given the sort of punishment and exposure to water that your winch will experience, it’s critical to get one constructed from corrosion-resistant materials. You should select a winch that has been coated with salt water and UV inhibitor coatings to protect against it.
5. Essentials That Will be Required
When you buy a winch, it doesn’t come with the anchor and rope and line attachments. You’ll have to get them separately. As obvious as this sounds, we didn’t want you to leave anything out.
6. Ease of Use
Winch installation varies, with some being more difficult to set up than others. Many also have complicated functions that the average pontooner will not use.
If you’re going to install one yourself, and there’s no reason not to, of course. Check to see whether the manufacturer offers complete installation instructions and an electric anchor that is simple to put together right out of the box before you begin.
electric anchors for pontoon boats are a very basic piece of equipment, and the only thing they need to do is work well enough to raise and lower. Make sure you don’t overcomplicate your purchase.
How to Install Electric Anchors?
In most situations, it is preferable to install your pontoon anchor ledge at the front (fore) or rear (aft). The position will be influenced by the size of your boat, the design, and possibly ease of wiring up to your boat’s battery.
Some pontooners feel that the battery should be as close to your electric anchor winch as possible. It will be simpler to wire the electrics in this manner, so it is the quickest approach.
However, if you feel that the winch should be located at the other end of your pontoon and away from the battery, then taking a shortcut would be a mistake.
You may have trouble installing if you don’t have the equipment or skills required to do so. You’ll need some more things depending on your boat’s design.
Boats with a smaller foredeck platform may require additional ledges or an anchor accessory mount, for example.
To make your installation more like a piece of cake, it’s recommended that you get these 2 products.
1. Pontoon Anchor Ledge
You attach it to the back of your pontoon, just above one of the tubes. It then serves as a platform for you to mount your pontoon boat winch. You may thus keep the winch mechanism and anchor out of sight by doing so.
You’ll have more space on deck, won’t need to drill into it, and can leave your anchor in place all the time without having to store it aboard once it’s up. It also means that passengers won’t be tripping over anchor lines and injuring themselves.
It’s a fantastic product that takes around 30 to 45 minutes to set up.
2. Pontoon Anchor Winch Mount
It appears to be larger than the ledge and can also accommodate a barbecue while you’re moored up and getting hungry.
Like the ledge, it’s constructed of marine-grade aluminum and has a powder coat finish to resist salt water and corrosion.
Why Should You Buy an Electric Anchor?
Electric anchors are a convenient way to secure your pontoon boat, and there are several benefits to be had in addition to that. There are, however, certain safety considerations you may take advantage of.
1. Heavy Anchors
Not everyone is physically capable of tugging on anchors. It’s similar to a knee problem when playing football as a youngster since all that bending, pulling, and crouching puts strain on the knees.
Similarly, you might have a back problem or any other kind of hindrance that needs all the assistance and support possible – which is precisely what an anchor winch provides.
If you have trouble raising and lowering an anchor manually, a winch will be one of the most important accessories and gadgets you can add to your pontoon.
2. Electric Anchors are Safer
Accidents can happen, even if you don’t need assistance lifting anchors and chains. As a boat captain, your safety and that of your passengers should take precedence over everything else.
You could be using heavy anchors with hinged shanks and moving parts, or you might be operating smaller ones. When you combine all of this, it’s easy to drop a hefty weight onto your foot or slice your finger while working.
You may keep your anchor at a safe distance hanging over the water by using an electric anchor winch on your pontoon.
3. Perfect for Solos
If you enjoy fishing on your pontoon alone, an anchor winch will be your closest friend. Because you don’t have anyone to look for you, instead of attempting to use the helm remote control, utilize the winch and let it do all of the work for you.
Some electric anchors for pontoon boats come with remote controls. All you have to do is get into the best posture, press a few buttons to drop anchor, back up to obtain the appropriate tension, and you’re done.
4. A Cleaner Pontoon
You may despise the idea of having to remove weeds, trash, and other detritus from the anchor before putting it aboard. You just weren’t being careful because you were lazy or didn’t have time. As a result of your actions, more work has been created for yourself.
One of the most appealing aspects of pontoon anchor winches is that they require no cleaning. You won’t have to go through the process of rinsing it out in the lake and then having it drip all over your pontoon vinyl or carpet anymore.
You won’t have to keep your anchor under your seats any longer.
Best Electric Anchors for Pontoon Boats in the Market
Let’s take a look at some of the best electric anchors for pontoon boats money can buy and help you out a little on what suits your pontoon.
1. TRAC Electric Anchor Winch
This is without a doubt one of the finest electric anchors for pontoon boats available. Trac’s Electric Anchor Winch offers excellent value for money. This is one of the most popular winches on the market, so you’ll find information about it everywhere online. There are numerous how-tos that go through the installation and upkeep procedure in detail.
The anti-reverse internal clutch in this anchor winch is amazing at preventing free-spooling. This is always a fantastic feature to have on your winch because free-spooling may result in you losing your anchor.
The winch comes in two finishes: fresh water and salt water. The extra corrosion prevention and UV protection provided by the salt water finish make it ideal for any body of water you want to boat on.
- Assembly hardware and instructions
- 100′ of 0.20″ pre-wound braided anchor rope
- Separate roller davit
- Automatic resetting circuit breaker
- Sealed membrane UP/DOWN switch
2. MinnKota Pontoon Deckhand
The Minn Kota Deckhand 40 is another one of the finest anchor winches for pontoons. This winch will save you a lot of time and effort, just like other electric anchors. However, it offers several outstanding features and a high-quality product specification. It’s a great product for everyone to use.
To raise and lower your boat’s anchor, simply use a remote switch. It can’t be much easier than this. Keep in mind that you’ll need a 12-volt battery, which isn’t included in the Amazon package.
- Get precision boat placement and the ability to stay on the fish as long as you want
- 20 to 40 lb anchor capacity (anchor not included)
- Pre-spooled with 100 feet of 800 lb test nylon rope
- Included universal davit can be mounted at base of DeckHand or in remote position on boat deck; Stows anchor horizontally to eliminate anchor swing
- Includes quick release bracket (MKA-16-03), corded remote (DH-40), quick connect plug (MKR-12)
3. TRAC Deckboat 35
Another wonderful electric winch for pontoon boats. TRAC produces high-quality goods, as you may infer. It’s still one of the finest on the market. You can’t go wrong with any of the items on this list.
The boat can be secured by utilizing the AutoDeploy function, which releases the rope needed to keep the boat firmly in place. The winch is operated by a button and has three settings: up, down, and auto-deploy. The wireless remote is included as standard with this product.
- Easy to Operate: Allows you to automatically raise and lower your anchor with easy-to-use buttons; Provides simple, smooth operation with excellent holding power
- High-Efficiency Motor: The high-efficiency, 12-volt DC, all-steel gear motor uses less battery power than other brands
- Maximum Anchor Capacity: 40 lb.
- Includes: 100-feet of 3/16-inch pre-wound braided anchor rope, separate or integrated anchor roller, circuit breaker, sealed membrane UP/DOWN switch, wireless remote, marine-grade battery wire, assembly hardware and instructions
- Note: Anchor not included
- Limited Warranty: One-year warranty included
4. Anchormate Worth Anchor Reel
Many people prefer electric anchor winches, while others prefer manual anchor reels. These are fantastic since you won’t have to worry about your mechanisms or motors breaking down. Because they’re more expensive to replace, manual reels are always nice.
One of the appealing characteristics of this winch is that you may stop the reel at any point along the line. With most electric winches, you can’t land precisely where you want on the line, which isn’t an issue for most people. The pros may notice a difference, but for most people, this isn’t a major problem.
The procedure is simple and straightforward, so anybody can do it. Keep in mind that the purchase does not include any hardware.
- Package length: 15.748 cm
- Package width: 16.002 cm
- Package height: 24.637 cm
- Product Type: FISHING REEL
Conclusion
In the end, we conclude that electric anchors are the best way to go for pontoon boats. We discussed the various aspects you should consider while buying one like prefer expensive ones as they are a one-time investment, durability, reliability, etc.
We also discussed other things like ledge and mounts that will prove to be of great help while installing the electric anchors. Then, we learned how to install these anchors and where to install them. Furthermore, we got to know why electric anchors should be preferable to regular ones.
At last, we saw some suggestions that have high demand in the market for their durability, trust, and performance.
FAQs
There are many reasons to buy an electric pontoon boat anchor winch. The most important reason is that they save you time and energy. With an electric winch, all you have to do is push a button and let the machine do the work for you.
Another great reason to buy an electric pontoon boat anchor winch is that they are very easy to install. In most cases, you can simply bolt the winch to the deck of your pontoon boat. Some models even come with wireless remote controls, so you can operate the anchor winch from anywhere on the boat.
Finally, electric pontoon boat anchor winches are much more durable and reliable than manual ones.
The best place to mount your electric anchor on a pontoon boat is on the bow. This will allow you to easily drop and retrieve your anchor without having to move the boat around.
If you do not have a bow mount, you can also install an electric anchor on the stern of the pontoon boat. However, this may make it more difficult to retrieve your anchor.
Installing an electric anchor on a pontoon boat is fairly simple. Most electric anchors come with all the necessary mounting hardware.
First, you will need to drill four holes in the deck of your pontoon boat. Be sure to use the correct size drill bit for the bolts that come with your electric anchor.
Next, bolt the electric anchor to the deck of your pontoon boat using the provided hardware.
Finally, connect the power wires to the electric anchor and route them to your battery. Make sure to use marine-grade wire and connectors to prevent corrosion.
There are many great electric anchors on the market, but some of our favorites include the TRAC Deckboat 35 and the Anchormate Worth Anchor Reel.
Both of these electric anchors are very easy to install and come with all the necessary mounting hardware. They also have wireless remote controls, so you can operate them from anywhere on the boat.
Finally, both electric anchors are very durable and reliable, so you can count on them to hold your pontoon boat in place.
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