From BoatingMag.com….
Employed since the dawn of man’s ventures afloat, anchors remain essential today for safety and overnighting. However, in recent years, three systems have emerged that can hold a boat in position without deploying a conventional anchor. Let’s look at each.
Shallow-Water Anchors
Installed on the transom, a shallow-water anchor jabs a flexible pole into bottom mud, marl or sand at the push of a button. Power Pole developed the first of these, which uses a 12-volt DC electrohydraulic system to rapidly deploy and retract its scissorlike apparatus. More recently, Minn Kota introduced two all-electric 12-volt DC systems: the Talon and the Raptor. Both have a following among bass and bay boaters, who pursue fish in relatively shallow water.
The original shallow-water anchors worked in about 6 to 8 feet of water, but newer models allow anchoring in depths down to 15 feet. Many include features like wireless remotes, integrate with multifunction displays, and have sensors that automatically adjust for rough water or bottom composition. Adapter plates let you use existing outboard mounting bolts for the anchor mounts, eliminating the need to drill holes in the transom. You can also order the poles in colors to match or contrast with your boat’s hues.
