The Best Way to Pull Up an Anchor

An anchor allows a boat to stay in the same spot for fishing or other recreation. Because an anchor is heavy, it's difficult to pull out of the water manually when you are ready to sail again. There are electronic systems that pull the anchor up for you, but they are expensive. Anchor pullers are inexpensive and float the anchor to the surface using a buoy, which makes the anchor easy to retrieve. There are two types of anchor pullers.

Instructions

  1. Ring Style Anchor Puller

    • 1

      Clip the ring of the anchor puller to your anchor line.

    • 2

      Move the boat forward slowly at a 30-degree angle to the anchor line. Be careful not to run over the anchor line with the boat.

    • 3

      Continue moving forward until you feel the anchor break free from the bottom of the body of water. If this does not happen, turn the boat around and try again.

    • 4

      Move forward until the anchor line is completely through the ring and the anchor is floating next the buoy.

    • 5

      Turn the boat back and begin winding up you anchor. The anchor rope will be slack, but the weight of the anchor chain will keep the anchor from returning to the bottom of the water.

    Bolt Style Anchor Puller

    • 6

      Tie a knot on the inboard end of the anchor line before anchoring.

    • 7

      Move the sliding bolt to the up position.

    • 8

      Feed the anchor line through the puller until the anchor is at the bottom of the body of water.

    • 9

      Throw the anchor puller off the bow of the boat.

    • 10

      Move the boat forward slowly at a 30-degree angle to the anchor line when you are ready to raise the anchor. Be careful not to run over the anchor line with the boat.

    • 11

      Continue moving forward until you feel the anchor break free from the bottom of the body of water. If this does not happen, turn the boat around and try again.

    • 12

      Move forward until the anchor is floating next the buoy.

    • 13

      Turn the boat back and begin winding up your anchor. The anchor rope will be slack, but the weight of the anchor chain will keep the anchor from returning to the bottom of the water.