A battle to retrieve an anchor stuck on the bottom and won’t come free can be a bummer.

We understand the importance of reliable and easy anchor retrieval solutions.

 

Before calling the local diver, here are a few tricks that might save your afternoon and possibly your anchor:

First, position your boat directly above the anchor and pull up on the anchor line. “Tail off” the anchor line on a bow cleat, turning around the base while holding it taut. However, avoid cleating it off completely, as you may need to release the line quickly if the boat dips into a trough – and watch your fingers if the sea is rough. On the crest of the next wave, the rise of the boat may free the anchor. By tailing the line, you can let it slip to prevent the bow from being pulled under.

 

If that doesn’t work, keep the boat directly over the anchor, cleat the anchor line at the bow, and gently idle forward into the wind. This will pull on the anchor in the direction opposite from where you originally set it. Continue moving forward until the anchor breaks free.

 

If that doesn't help and you have a boat or dingy nearby to help, take a non-floating-type rope to the helping vessel, take one end of the rope and place it around the anchor chain, move gently toward the wind, and let the loop of the rope you made around the chain to "fall" to the bottom, then give it a yank with whatever you got (motor or paddles) into the wind, and that should do it, don't forget to give a little slack on the anchor chain when doing it.

However, if these methods don’t work, and the water’s too cold or deep for a swim, you might consider abandoning the anchor unless you’ve prepared for this scenario in advance:

Invest in an anchor-retrieval ring and buoy. Snap this assembly around the anchor line and drive past the anchor at about 45 degrees. The float and ring act as a pulley system, moving down the rode. The ball’s buoyancy and the boat’s pull can free a stubborn anchor. Keep driving until you see the anchor ball break the surface astern.

 

Alternatively, rig a tripping line to your anchor before you drop it. This secondary line is attached at or near the anchor’s crown, typically to a ring or hole designed for a tripping line. The other end of the line is tied to a float that will float vertically over the anchor’s position on the bottom. If the anchor gets stuck, hauling on the tripping line changes its angle to the bottom, usually freeing it. You can also use the submerged tripping line method- https://vikinganchors.com/.../using-a-hidden-anchor....

 

With these tips and the right preparation, you can avoid losing valuable time—and your anchor—in the depths. Safe anchoring!