Out yesterday for a little cruise and noticed a rope just under the surface, one end going down. I figured it was an anchor line so turned around and grabbed a hold of it. Yep, stuck pretty good for my hands and arms to pull out. So I walked the line, trying not to fall overboard, to the back of the boat, tied it to the loop eye under the swim platform, put her in gear and walla (sp) pulled it right out with no struggle at all. Other than my wife hoping it was not a body (too mush CSI, HAHA).

This is the second time I have rescued an anchor and possibly a bad day for someone's prop if it had caught the rope just under the surface.

Has anyone found many anchors before? What gets me is the fact that both I've found came loose so easily. Do some people just try and pull with the muscles and cut the rope if they can't get it loose?

I once forgot to pull my anchor up, and was wondering why my boat was handling so badly, and just about the time the line parted, I realized why. I imagine my lost anchor might look just the way you described if someone happened upon it.

Just my story, enjoy!

Guess it could be that, or it could be the bottom changes over time and anchor frees itself, maybe?

I pulled an anchor up once with my anchor. When I pulled it in, it felt very heavy, I just thought it was full of mud and weeds, but nope.

Funny thing was it was almost an exact match for my anchor. It didn't have a rope on it though.

Not knowing what the anchor is hooked into, I'd hesitate to use an eye on the boat to pull it free.

The eye is stronger than a cleat in my opinion. I only bump it into gear, if it doesn't come out then I would not keep trying. But both anchors I found this way came right out with no drag on the boat at all.

I understand your concern though.

Once the body decomposes it's a piece of cake!

Doesnt anchor line sink?

Some folks still use poly line for their anchor line...

(not me... just sayin')

I've pulled up a few "lost" anchors over the years, but one sticks out in my mind very clearly...


While trying to entertain a GF on an overnighter, I went to toss in the stern anchor (we were anchored up to a tule berm), and in my rush to get things "started", I neglected to make sure that the anchor was attached to the line.

Yep, you guessed it! My danforth and chain was tossed into the drink without a line attached! D'oh! Even though I was only in about 7' of water, I wasn't going to spoil the mood by jumping in after my mistake.

Oh well, on with the evenings festivities!

A few months later, I was fishing in that same spot (a popular "multi-purpose" location, hehe) and I hooked into a snag. After pulling for a bit, I thought it was a lost cause, but I did get some movement, so I kept trying.

Low and behold, I saw my hook attached to a chain! I reached down and grabbed a hold of it and pulled it up.

It was an anchor!

I then realized that it was MY anchor from the previous event!

I had a smile on my face! (for the SECOND time)

Now THAT'S a good story.

Your LUCKY spot!

ABoater, I wonder if you could find the steak I tossed overboard when I was on a date?????

I have also pulled up a nearly identical anchor on two occasions. Both in the same lake (Berryessa, CA) and in the same general location. Neither had rope attached on did have a chain attached.

My first boat was an older 14'. My anchor was a large rock with a rope tied around it. I never did lose that "anchor". It went with the boat as an accessory.

If it was a double cut ribeye, medium rare, I might give it a shot!




I was known for letting a meal or two get cold when the time was right, but tossing a chunk of beef??? No way!!!