Anchoring Ideas...

[nofearengineer]

After a couple of very windy days out fishing by myself on Patoka (I got blown onto some unseen rocks and scratched my prop all up ), I have decided to give more serious thought to my current anchor setup, which consists of an 18lb Waterspike and 100' of rope. It works just fine when I've got a buddy with me...I let him idle the boat up while I take up the slack, and I can lift the anchor safely when we've just passed it. However, when I'm alone, I don't dare use it for fear of not being able to get it "un-anchored" or getting the rope wrapped around the prop, etc.

I'm thinking about adding a power winch type setup where I can take up the slack from the helm. I see them advertised for as low as $125 online.

Do any of you have one of these? Where do you have it mounted? I guess ideally, an anchor roller should be right on the nose of the boat, but my typical trolling motor mount is right there. I would think to remotely pull it up anywhere else would be begging for some major hull dings and scratches. Any suggestions? I was thinking of maybe dyeing the last few feet of anchor rope red or something, so I would know I needed to pull the anchor over the side, but once again, that will leave me away from the helm in the wind.

Either that...or I need some new friends with the ability to spend more than one day a month not being their wife's whipping boy.