Anchor System for your Inflatable Pontoon Boat
Product Information
If you’re like me, you like to take shorter floats and stop often while river fishing. When I hook a few nice bass in the same spot I like to stop and get some more casts in. Some of the nicer inflatable pontoon boats come with good anchor systems already installed but mine didn’t. My inflatable pontoon came with a light duty pulley, rope, and a mess bag that I ripped on my very first river float. I’m sure this would be fine for a pond or lake where the water doesn’t move but on a river it just doesn’t hold up.
I’m going to show you how I made an anchor system for my inflatable pontoon boat for around $30 using some things I picked up from Lowes.
Here is what you will need:
- Rope Ratchet $9.99
- Two 3/8″ Pulleys $1.50 each
- 25 feet of 3/8″ Rope $6.99
- 3 Hose Clamps
- Kayak or float tube Anchor $9.99
The Rope Ratchet is a pulley that allows rope to be pulled through it in one direction but not in the other. It is traditionally used to tie things down or pull things up. It has a release switch that will free it up allowing the rope to move in both directions. You push the release to drop your anchor and let off of it to lock the rope as the anchor hits the bottom.
First you need to find a spot to mount the Rope Ratchet at the front of your inflatable pontoon boat. It will need to be out of the way but in a spot where you can reach it easily. I choose to put mine at the end of the right foot rest on my inflatable pontoon. I used hose clamps to secure the Rope Ratchet in place. My boat is starting to show it’s age and I am more concerned with function than appearance. If you would like a nicer look you can drill your tubing and secure it with a bolt or use some type of tubing clamp from a sail boat supplier. If you do drill your frame pick a spot that doesn’t support a great deal of weight because it will weaken it.
Next, you need to mount your rear pulley. This is the point that most of the pressure will be on while your boat is anchored so pick a sturdy spot. I choose to mount mine on the center of the rear rail of my frame. My inflatable pontoon boat already had an eye bolt there for the other system that came with it so I just installed a larger pulley on it. Now it’s time to mount your second pulley. To find the best location for it thread your rope through the first pulley you have mounted, through the second pulley, and finally through the Rope Ratchet. Try to find a spot on your frame where you can mount the pulley so your rope will not hang on anything. If it rubs the frame in a spot or two that will be fine as long as it doesn’t hang. You can mount it using a hose clamp also or any method of your choosing. The last thing to do is to tie your anchor on and you are ready for some river fishing!