How to Rig a Kayak Anchor Trolley

The easiest way to tie an anchor to the kayak is by tying it near your side, because you can reach it. The problem with this approach is that in current or wind, the kayak turns broadside. In a worst case scenario, turning broadside could cause your kayak to capsize. To prevent this problem, you need to run the anchor from the bow or stern. A kayak anchor trolley allows you to do either, because it acts like a clothes line pulley. You clip the anchor line into a carabiner in the center, and then pull the trolley line to move it to the bow or stern.

Things You'll Need

  • Two Nylon pad eyes
  • Drill
  • 1/8-inch drill bit
  • Screwdriver bit
  • Four Stainless steel screws, number 8 by 3/4-inch
  • Rope
  • Carabiner
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use a nylon pad eye as a template and drill two 1/8-inch holes into your kayak near the bow. Do the same at the stern of the kayak. Keep the holes on one side of the kayak. If you're right-handed, put them on the right side of the boat; put them on the left side if you're left-handed.

    • 2

      Attach a nylon pad eye to the bow and stern by driving 3/4-inch stainless steel screws through the pad eye into the pilot holes.

    • 3

      Run a rope through the bow pad eye. Run one end of the same rope through the stern pad eye. Cut both ends of the rope so that they overlap by five inches at the center of the kayak.

    • 4

      Tie a loop into both of the rope's ends.

    • 5

      Clip a carabiner into both loops. If the rope sags too much, shorten one side of the rope and re-tie the loop. You want a taut line that's easy to pull through the pad eyes. When tight enough, the trolley is ready to accept an anchor line.

    • 6

      Clip the anchor line into the carabiner when on the water. Drop the anchor and pull the trolley line to move the carabiner to the bow or stern as desired.