New anchor setup, could use some advice

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    Posted: 05 Jan 2026 at 8:48pm
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Hi all!

I would like to replace the anchor setup that came with the boat I purchased. Nothing wrong with it, its just super heavy and I would like something lighter to haul up instead.

The boat is a 4.5m Fleetline Sapphire. The current anchor setup seems to be an 8kg Danforth anchor, with at least 8mm or 10mm chain (its definitely thicker than 6mm).

I've been recommended a 4kg Delta Anchor but am confused on whats appropriate for the chain and rope length. I've also been recommended a 6mm chain but what are your thoughts on the length of the chain and the thickness of the rope to pair with it?

If it helps, I am a fair weather / newbie boatie, so I would be launching and fishing around the Chelsea Sugar Factory in Auckland. It will be a long time away before I feel comfortable going further out to places outside of that.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Pcj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jan 2026 at 1:44am
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Have simular size boat .I use a kewene 4kg with 11/2 boat length short link chain 8mm with 50m warp.

Now theres chain theres chain,not all 8mm chain weighs the same,depends on country of manufacture.

Chain does the work and seeing how you fish birkenhead with fairly strong currents,maybe 2 boat lengths chain,winch or no winch?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote rtl18 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jan 2026 at 7:35am
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Thanks for the reply!

I had not considered the weight of the chain may differ even if its the same size, that's good to know. My current setup is doable but also so heavy.

The current chain works fine at Birkenhead, I never move once the anchor is in place. No winch, just hand pulling.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Fish Addict Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jan 2026 at 2:48pm
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Rather than replace you could consider investing in an Anka Yanka (there are numerous spellings).  These do the hard work for you and work well with a little care.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Pcj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jan 2026 at 3:15pm
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I  pretty much preset depth,tie off on bollard before heading out with anchor chain etc in cockpit,have a line attached to warp before letting anchor go,on retrevial pull on line in cockpit and up comes warp etc ,no need to navigate narrow deck,work well on quiet days but can be a handful in a chop,dont anchor often as usual fish around farms with hooks,getting/got lazy
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote rtl18 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jan 2026 at 4:26pm
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Originally posted by Fish Addict Fish Addict wrote:

Rather than replace you could consider investing in an Anka Yanka (there are numerous spellings).  These do the hard work for you and work well with a little care.

I looked into those but wasn't sure if they were any good. How do you stop the warp from getting tangled in the prop?

Originally posted by Pcj Pcj wrote:

I  pretty much preset depth,tie off on bollard before heading out with anchor chain etc in cockpit,have a line attached to warp before letting anchor go,on retrevial pull on line in cockpit and up comes warp etc ,no need to navigate narrow deck,work well on quiet days but can be a handful in a chop,dont anchor often as usual fish around farms with hooks,getting/got lazy

Thank you for the tip, I feel ya on the lazy bit. I'm honestly even considering one of these as a cheap option but I feel like it would just be a waste of money.



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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Pcj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jan 2026 at 4:33pm
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Dont buy it,might ok on a quiet lake,lokked one my self but would you get with chain
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Originally posted by Pcj Pcj wrote:

Dont buy it,might ok on a quiet lake,lokked one my self but would you get with chain

I figure if it gets to the part with the chain, you would still have top pull it out manually. But I hear ya, it just doesn't look fit for purpose at all, plus its super expensive!
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Pcj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jan 2026 at 5:42pm
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Originally posted by rtl18 rtl18 wrote:

Originally posted by Pcj Pcj wrote:

Dont buy it,might ok on a quiet lake,lokked one my self but would you get with chain

I figure if it gets to the part with the chain, you would still have top pull it out manually. But I hear ya, it just doesn't look fit for purpose at all, plus its super expensive!
Were a yr or 2 back 150 ,showed a friend at anchors rope n chains,he just laughed
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (2) Likes(2)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jan 2026 at 6:21pm
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That anchor and chain is way too heavy. What happens is the chain sinks faster than the anchor and the anchor doesn't present well when it hits the bottom. PJC's advice is great. I would go with a kiwene anchor and 7m of 7mm short link chain.,. My boat is 5.5m and that'd what I use. Not sure on the weight of the anchor but is not so heavy. I had a bigger danforth with 10mm chain, it didn't hold anywhere near as well as my current set up
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Alan L Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jan 2026 at 8:23pm
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Not sure what the anchor yanka is exactly - but I suspect a float system. You are getting good advice as to what anchor/chain set up you need. But you still have to pull it up. I have used a float system for the last 30+ yrs. The last boat I bought had a winch. I took it off and sold it. More stuff to go wrong. I float the anchor up for 20-100+m. After 100+ I don't anchor and under 20m I usually pull it up - unless I feel lazy. Never caught the prop. But like everything - it helps to know what you are doing. A flat sea, no wind is different to serious chop and wind. Picking the drift angle to get you back on the float etc. Not rocket science - just practise. No anchor/chain combo is too heavy for this system, as long as it is no greater than the float capacity. I use a 20 l common drum, home made fittings. As long as my anchor combo is less than 20kg it will work.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Fish Addict Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jan 2026 at 9:17pm
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Alan L - yep float system Alan.

rtl18 - to avoid the warp tangling in the prop when you start off the retrieve drive the boat at an angle away from the float.  If you are retrieving with the float on starboard, start off driving the boat slightly towards starboard and vice versa for port side.  Heading in a wide arc circle works.


I have it on good authority that Alan L uses this system in Vtu to pull pots from depths of 400m+
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Alan L Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jan 2026 at 7:30am
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Originally posted by Fish Addict Fish Addict wrote:

Alan L - yep float system Alan.

I have it on good authority that Alan L uses this system in Vtu to pull pots from depths of 400m+

That is correct - and it works well on your anchor too :-)
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote rtl18 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jan 2026 at 9:29am
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Awesome, thanks for taking time to explain guys. Really appreciate the knowledge sharing.

I'll take a look at both the lighter anchor setup for both anchor, chain and the float ring on the weekend. It definitely beats going to the gym and just muscling up the current setup!
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Alan L Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jan 2026 at 3:48pm
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There is next to no effort required floating the anchor up, and as long as your float has excess capacity over the weight of your chain/anchor, it doesn't matter how heavy the set up. Heavier the better for anchoring the boat. As FA says - there is a bit of a knack to towing the rope, but it ain't difficult - more common sense. Never had one in the prop and I have pulled up in some crappy seas.
One trick is to do a slight loop around as you watch for the float to suck under as you hit the anchor in the ring. Then swing the boat so it drifts back down on the rope. That drift will do all the work for you while you whistle a tune and handline the slack warp back into your boat.
Handlining 500m of warp back into the boat while hauling deep pots - now that is a different story.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Phantom Menace Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jan 2026 at 9:20am
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Excellent advice here re anchor and chain and the float for retrieval.

The anchoring system is a key piece of safety equipment that you want to work well.  I've had a few experiences where we (volunteer Coastguard) have gone to find people who are broken down and dragging their anchor in nasty seas (and occasionally getting close to rocks ... ) and also a small yacht that dragged its inadequate anchor and ended up close to beached on Motuora Is.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Phantom Menace Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jan 2026 at 3:08pm
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Re using a float to retrive an anchor - there was one time I was very pleased this method works. I was helping out with the NZ Freediving Depth Nationals in Lake Taupo and we had the depth diving rig and several boats rafted up - all hanging off one anchor and chain so we had VERY deep water under us (close to 150m from memory).  The chain and anchor were fairly meaty and we had over 200m of anchor rode to recover.

We used the float method to recover it but rather than a buoy we used another boat.
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