Active Anchoring

Shallow-water anchors can be invaluable for holding smaller boats in place, whether for fishing, enjoying the sandbar, or as a helping hand at the boat ramp.

Whether you call it an auto anchor, shallow-water anchor, or active anchor, small craft operators can literally pin their boats in position in waters up to 15 feet deep using transom-mounted devices that automatically drive a spike into the bottom. These are often controlled with a wireless remote, and anglers have driven the active anchor market as

the accessories have proven invaluable when it comes to quickly and quietly holding a boat in position in relatively shallow water within casting range of fish or the structure that attracts them.

Since their debut in 2000 with the Power-Pole brand, shallow water anchors are now practically as common on the transoms of freshwater bass and crappie boats, saltwater flats boats, and coastal fishing craft as are bow-mounted electric trolling motors. The devices are even showing up on pleasure craft, primarily those used in waters where shallow sandbars are popular gathering places for boaters who raft up with other watercraft or simply want to stake out away from the crowd.

Depending on water and weather conditions, boaters can simply deploy the auto anchor to suspend the boat alongside instantly with little need for docklines. Having a pair of shallow water anchors mounted on the transom, which is becoming common for eliminating “swing” for better control of boat positioning, makes the line-free dockage process even simpler.

Combined with a remote-controlled bow-mounted motor, solo trailer boaters can launch the boat, remotely power it away from the dock or launch area, deploy the shallow water anchor as depth allows, and the boat can remain in place and out of the way of the dock and ramp area while the operator is parking the trailer rig. Reversing the sequence brings the remote-controlled craft back to the operator ashore or at the courtesy dock with minimal interference with other boaters in the launch or retrieve process.

The advantage of having a pair of active anchors on the transom is that the boat can be pinned into position a few inches away from the dock where, unlike with traditional docklines, the boat won’t bang into the dock from wind and wakes.

However, in all of this discussion, we stress that the boater must be aware of and appropriately react to conditions such as waves, wakes, tides, wind, depth, type of bottom, weather, traffic, and the suitability of the rig for the conditions. Also, all operation, including remote operation, must be done in full compliance with the tenets of good seamanship and the rules of the road including right of way and keeping watch.

Two companies have cornered the shallow water, active anchor accessory segment: Minn Kota (minnkota.­johnsonoutdoors.com) with its Talon and Raptor models, and JL Marine’s Power-Pole (power-pole.com). JL’s was the first entry into the auto anchor market 25 years ago, followed quickly by Minn Kota’s Talon and, more recently, the Raptor. The descriptions of the models and their performance are from firsthand use as well as from the manufacturers.

The anchor systems can be mounted directly to the transom, to the jackplate, or between the transom and outboard with additional adapter brackets. The Minn Kota Talon units are powered electrically using the boat’s battery, while the Raptor and Power-Pole models use hydraulics for power. Both types can be remotely adjusted and set for use in a variety of bottom types and water conditions.

Talon & Raptor

Talon models offer different anchoring modes. An Auto Drive feature drives the spike in after it contacts the bottom, 3 seconds later drives it a bit harder, and 3 seconds after that the Talon drives its spike at maximum force, to make sure it reaches maximum penetration relative to the bottom composition. A Rough Water mode directs the Talon to continue to repeat the Auto Drive sequence to allow the anchor to maintain firm footing when the boat is rising and falling with the water conditions. The Soft Bottom mode decreases the spike’s thrust by half, to keep it from going deeper than required to hold the boat over mud or soft-sand bottoms. Auto-Bottom Mode is also available on select Raptor models.

The difference between the two Minn Kota types is that the Talon offers three-stage vertical deployment, electrical installation, and up to 15 feet of anchoring depth. The Raptor is hydraulically powered with an articulating design that swings out and down to keep the boat in place in up to 10 feet of water.

Power-Pole

Power-Pole is fitted with an Everflex spike and designed to deploy down and out off the transom. The combination of a flexible body, constant hydraulic pressure, and the flexible spike allows the Power-Pole to maintain a grip on the bottom to help keep the boat in place in the face of wind, waves, and boat wakes. The hydraulic system automatically disengages if you happen to drive off when the spike is down, reducing the threat of transom damage. The head unit can also be lowered for bridges, cast netting bait, or getting a trailered boat into a garage.

Ultimate auto-anchoring functionality comes when users pair their Power-Pole shallow water anchor(s) with a Power-Pole MOVE trolling motor. When these two products are in sync communicating with one another, anglers can put the products in “Anchor Mode,” effectively telling the anchor(s) to deploy if you are shallow enough to use them while turning the trolling motor prop off, and vice versa if the water is too deep. Your anchor(s) will stay stowed while the MOVE trolling motor silently keeps you and your vessel locked in place.