How to Install an Anchor on a Kayak

Being able to anchor your kayak when diving is vital to keep it from drifting off. When fishing, an anchor will let you focus on fishing and not paddling to remain in position. An anchor trolley lets you store the anchor out of the way and deploy it to the bow or stern when needed and retrieve it for storage. It only takes a few steps and a little time to install an anchor trolley system on a kayak.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 1/2 to 3 lb. 4 fluke folding anchor with either a hole or ring on the bottom
  • Anchor line, at least twice as long as the water you will be anchoring in is deep
  • Line for the trolley
  • 2 pulleys sized for the trolley line
  • 1 or 2 strap eyes
  • 2 well nuts and screws for each strap eye
  • Cleat
  • 2 well nuts and screws for the cleat
  • 1 or 2 carabiners
  • Float
  • Drill
  • Sharp drill bit to fit the well nuts
  • Screw driver
  • Marking pen
  • Nylon cable tie
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Instructions

  1. Rigging the trolley

    • 1

      Place a strap eye on the kayak at either the bow or stern and mark the location for the holes.

    • 2

      Place the strap eye against the kayak on the side in the middle of the kayak and mark the location for the holes. Skip this step if the kayak has a grab handle here.

    • 3

      Locate the cleat where you can easily get to it and mark the holes.

    • 4

      Drill holes all the way through the side or deck to mount the cleat.

    • 5

      Holding the cleat in place, put well nuts in the holes and secure them with screws.

    • 6

      Drill holes to mount the strap eyes where you marked. The holes have to go all the way through the side.

    • 7

      Hold a strap eye at each location, put well nuts in the holes and secure with the screws.

    • 8

      Use a small piece of the trolley line to tie the pulley to the strap eye at the bow or stern.

    • 9

      Attach the second pulley to the strap eye in the middle as you did for the bow or stern. If the kayak has a grab handle in the middle, slip the pulley onto a carabiner and then clip the carabiner to the grab handle.

    • 10

      Thread the trolley line through both pulleys and tie the ends to the unused carabiner.

    Attaching the anchor

    • 11

      Tie one end of the anchor line to the bottom of the anchor using the ring or hole provided.

    • 12

      Use a cable tie to attach the anchor line to the top of the anchor.

    • 13

      Thread the float onto the anchor line and tie a knot at the free end.

    Using the anchor trolley

    • 14

      Lower the anchor to the bottom, feeding out all but a small amount of line.

    • 15

      Keeping the float on the end with the anchor, double the line forming a loop.

    • 16

      Pass the loop through the carabiner tied to the trolley line.

    • 17

      Slip the loop over the cleat.

    • 18

      Grabbing the trolley line, pull until the kayak is in position with the anchor at either the bow or stern.