Minn Kota Deckhand Anchormate

[lcookie]

I am looking into getting one of these to help hold my boat in position when fishing docks in the wind. Anybody got any practical experience with these things? I fish by myself 99% of the time so not having to go back and forward dropping the anchor would be really helpful.

[wannabe fisherman]

I have a couple of older ones, front and back, they have auto cutoff, when they come up the tip of the ahchor where the rope is tied goes into the housing and trips the switch. the anchor is mushroom shaped 18lbs and, in a wind they wouldn't hold a 12' dingy. JMO on the type I have.

[Cray]

Dont have the Minkota but do have one mount on stern of boat. Very handy to just drop and retrieve. Have remote switch mounted in front of boat. One caution, if you do it bolt a short piece of chain to it with a hook to attach to anchor when trailering or running in rough water. Don't need anchor coming loose going down highway.

[minnowtime]

I have used the deck hand for about 2yrs. I have a 17' boat with walk-thru windshield and the only thing that will hold it is the anchor with 5 prongs about 6" long sticking out of anchor. If it hangs it is a ---- to get out so use a second rope tied to rear of anchor, have to coil it by hand but is wourth the trouble.

[zrdc28]

I have two of these, one of then is about 15 years old the other is about 2 years old and have never had a problem with either.
I have the plastic anchors filled with wheel weights that lock in place. The older one is a 20 lb capable and the newer is rated
at 15 lbs, the 20lb is much slower than the 15 lb but works well. You might want to look at the remote switch if you get one, they
are expensive but worth it.
The second one I bought about 3 years ago was a trac that did not even make it 1 year, unfortunately the receipt was lost and
it was scrapped.

[lcookie]

Thanks for the tips

[crappiewisdom]

I have the Minnkota Deckhands on each end of my boat that are rated for 40 lb anchors. I have 30 lb river anchors and they hold pretty good on a 18 ft aluminum boat. Use a short length of chain to hook them to the anchor rope.

[lcookie]

Well ended up getting the BPS Fisherman 25. It was less than half the price with the RF remote included. So far so good.

[OsoFishy]

The Deckhand 40# is twice the anchor than the rest it has a huge motor and is by far the most durable!!

[lcookie]

I agree; however, for the price and the limited use it will see the one I have has been working out for me.