Anchor roap storage

big guy · 02-14-2002, 08:25 PM

Just wondering if anyone has a good tangle resistant way of storing 300 + feet of anchor roap. Like most of us I have a anchor float with a one way lock for pulling up the anchor with the boat.I try to coil the roap carefully for storage but by the time I get it out it needs work again.what are some of your methods?

proguide · 02-14-2002, 08:41 PM

you might try going to wal-mart and buy a plastic container that will be big enough to hold all of your rope.leave the leading end of rope out of the container(this way you wont get any knots) feed the rope into the container.when all rope is in your chain and anchor will be on top .ready to go.

BlueWater · 02-14-2002, 08:42 PM

Big Guy-
I use one of those plastic milk crates. As I pull in the line I just place it into the crate. My float will also sit nicely on top when not in use and usually stays in place fine. A 5 gal bucket will also work but make sure you drill holes all around it so the rope will dry out. The milk crate is well ventlated already so the rope has plenty of air around it to dry.
Hope this helps.

BlueWater. :smile:

FEAR NO FISH! · 02-14-2002, 10:27 PM

Go to the hardware store and get a hose reel. Wind it up, then let it spool out when anchoring up. It is a smooth way of letting out rope with no tangles. If you want to go heavier duty, rig up a air hose spool. I have used a plastic hose reel with crank on my boat for 4 years. It holds 300 feet of 3/8" rope just right. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img] :grin:

Pilar · 02-15-2002, 09:40 AM

Those yellow plastic recycle boxes in PDX work for up to 500' of 3/8" line. The anchor fits right on top of the pile.

02-15-2002, 09:52 AM

Pilar is right on the money or a large enough
square laundry basket with some holes in the bottom for drainage.

NAUTI-NOTIONS · 02-15-2002, 10:13 AM

I use a nylon mesh laundry bag with a cam lock cord around the top. never a tangle. first in last out.

Joe Schwab · 02-15-2002, 12:13 PM

Big Guy, These are all good storage ideas. Regardless of which one you choose, make sure you leave the rope as it came in. I personally store mine on the deck of an open bow boat. If you move the coil or try to rearrange it you will get it tangled. Left alone the rope will feed out as easily as it came in. I've kept 600' of rope untangled in this manner.

fishbait · 02-15-2002, 12:32 PM

I made a box that fits in front of one of my seats in my open sled. About 24 in wide 40 in long and 10 in sides. It holds 400+ ft of rope, the anchor and chain and the ball/puller. When I am fishing other areas and don't need the big anchor, the whole works just lifts out.

Rubber Robin · 02-15-2002, 11:27 PM

I solved my anchor and rope storage problem through the use of a large round plastic container that was used to hold a small nursery tree that we bought. This was large enough to also accomodate the floatation buoy that I use for anchor retrieval.

It is starting to show some wear after several years of abuse but it still works fine and will probably get me by for another couple years. :grin:

big guy · 02-16-2002, 07:08 AM

Thanks for all of the input.Im going to try some of these methods.

abrams · 02-16-2002, 09:41 AM

I use the old milk crate method myself. The rope almost coils itself. the holes in it side allow for fast easy drying and doesn't take up much room in my "small" boat. Good luck with whatever method you decide to use.

[ 02-16-2002, 10:42 AM: Message edited by: abrams ]

rags · 02-16-2002, 09:54 AM

I use a laundry basket I bought at Freddies. It works great because it has handles on the side to lift out of the boat. I also put my excess rope in a rope bag rapped around a float. When you get a fish on you can throw the bag over board. The only problem I sometimes have is the rope will slip out of the bag in heavier currents and when you get back to pick-up your float you have a lot of rope out.

invader · 02-16-2002, 07:39 PM

just dont try and coil it or wind it up around your arm . just lay it down on the boat floor. it works for me if i just let it fall down to the floor, very rarely do i get a tangle. also make sure you have no knots in it anywhere!!.john

craigc · 02-17-2002, 10:36 AM

From my experience sailing, we were taught and I have found that you shouldn't neatly coil your anchor rode.... unless your rode is braided, there is an inherit 'twist' in the rode, which is why each coil will natural twist when you make a coil. I find its actually better to let the coil twist, as you lay it down on the previous coils of rode on your deck/basket. An arms length of a twisted coil will not tangle with the other coils 'cause of the twist keeps the coil from wandering between the other coils. It doesn't look pretty, but the rode won't easily foil, and the rode will untwist as you quickly pay out the rode when anchoring. If your rode doesn't twist when you coil it by hand, you might consider laying down the rode in your basket in a lazy figure '8', where the crossing of rode is somewhat near the middle.....