Anchoring in the Great Lakes

[BobMc]

Originally Posted by merrydolphin

Anchors with the “hoop” can have this problem. I switched to a Spade anchor and have not had this happen in this type of bottom. Very happy with it.

There's no "hoop" on the SuperMax. It's the original "shovel" and adjustable for various bottom conditions.

[SuW]

Originally Posted by sailingharry

Just a little bit more follow-up. We have now anchored at least a half dozen times since these thoughts and comments have come in. We have a 100% success rate. The anchor has stuck, has held while backing, and has come up covered in mud with minimal weeds. The most significant change I have made is anchoring in at least 20 ft of water.
Of course, in The Thousand Islands, water comes in two depths - 50 ft and up, and 5 ft and less. But I'm finding the sweet spot in between.
Thanks everyone for their thoughts.i

Yep, you've got a lot of excellent advice! We use a Delta and, using the Mike OReilly/Paul Howard techniques described, always have success, defined by not dragging during the night (although very occasionally dragging when power setting). Always, always power set, before leaving the boat or at night.

In the Eastern part of the 1000 Islands the weeds below 12 deep are much sparser and anchoring is usually doable.

I can't add much else, except to check out the Active Captain/Navionics anchorages reviews. They'll also give tips about free docks, which smaller towns often have to encourage visitors.

[Greatest Lakes]

We used a delta for a long time, had issues only twice. Weeds once and rock the other. Being able to visually watch for weeds and letting out scope has worked for us too.

[SuW]

Originally Posted by Greatest Lakes

We used a delta for a long time, had issues only twice. Weeds once and rock the other. Being able to visually watch for weeds and letting out scope has worked for us too.

Yes, sometimes in the early part of the summer the waters are quite murky, but it all seems to be clearing up around here now.

The larger and tougher weeds are dying down now. Now there's a lot of very soft stuff. I've been clearing our rowing club buoys of weed mats, and it's a lot easier than it was a month ago, although there is more floating around.

Then the weed mats drop to the bottom and can be somewhat difficult to anchor in, by the Fall.