#1 Best Anchor For Pontoon Boats (Easy To Use and Light Weight)
Fortress anchors are excellent pontoon anchors thanks to their dependability, resiliency, and durability. We’ll explain a little background about the company and how the versatile features of a Fortress anchor make it the best choice for your pontoon boat.
What is the #1 Best Anchor For Pontoon Boats?
The #1 best anchor for pontoon boats is the Fortress Anchor. Expertly engineered using aluminum-magnesium alloy, they are more easy to use, lightweight, and more manageable than other heavier pontoon boat anchors. The precision-machining offers more substantial penetrating power and high holding power.
We’ve included all the necessary details to help you make an informed decision. Keep reading to discover the key features of a Fortress anchor and whether it’s the best anchor for a pontoon boat.
About the Company
Since 1986, Fortress Marine Anchors (FMA) has made quality products. They have established themselves as being a frontrunner in the boat anchor industry. FMA creates high-performance anchors that are corrosion-resistant, high-tensile, and constructed from aluminum-magnesium alloy.
Machining Process
Precision machining is one of the hallmarks of Fortress anchors. Their engineering process makes the anchors sharper.
This factor allows for faster and deeper penetration into the most typical seabeds. Compared to conventional steel anchors that are heavier with duller edges, Fortress anchors outperform them time and time again.
The anchors from Fortress do not have welds that naturally weaken the metal, they are lightweight, and you have options between the shank and fluke angles to suit your needs better.
Capacity
You can select a 32-degree angle that works well in mud, sand, or a clay sea bottom. Or, you can go with the 45-degree angle that works well in soft mud. Either selection is an excellent choice and will keep your boat grounded when necessary.
Fortress Anchors are easy to handle, and their construction minimizes the load when you’re at the front of the boat (bow). The interlocking, anodized, nonmagnetic components are easy to separate and put together.
The anchors are also compact and easy to store, particularly if you have a stowaway anchor bag, which comes separately. If you’re low on space, the Fortress anchors are excellent as a storm or spare anchor that you can set up fast and expect optimal reliability.
Different Types of Anchors
It’s essential to understand anchor types when shopping around for an anchor to secure your pontoon boat. The type of anchor you select will likely depend on the sea bottom that you will anchor in most frequently.
After that, the size and weight of the boat will help you make the right choice. You have the box anchor, mushroom anchor, river anchor, and so on, and each has different functions. But how do you know which one is best?
Fortress anchors are fluke anchors, also known as Danforth-style anchors, that work very well in various environments. They can handle the most challenging situations, such as hard mud bottoms, which require high structural strength to handle the load and stay in place.
Fortress can handle thousands of pounds at a fraction of the weight of some of the heavier styles plow anchors and grapnel anchors on the market.
What Are Mud Palms?
Fortress anchors come with mud palms that bolt onto the top of the anchor. They help it to set rapidly no matter the bottom, as it offers a lift to the crown, making the flukes point downward toward the seabed.
Pros:
- Has a massive holding power
- Strong and lightweight
- There are two shank angles for soft mud and hard
- Lifetime parts replacement
- You can disassemble it for easy storage
Cons:
- Not the most effective on a grassy or rocky bottom
- If the boat is drifting backward, lightweight and small sizes sail underwater
The Fortress anchors kit comes with the anchor rode, also called an anchor line, is a critical part of the holding system. It is an elastic component that keeps the anchor from getting destroyed as waves push and pull the boat.
It also includes the nylon ropes, the lead chain that adds weight to the anchor shank for a better digging on the sea bottom, sandbars, hard mud, and more. Lastly, you get galvanized steel shackles that allow heavier loads from different directions.
Boat Sizes and Anchor Weight (Table)
The following anchor size recommendations are for boats with average proportions and windage, average bottom conditions, 30 knots of wind, and decent protection from open seas. If there are storm conditions, you should use an anchor one or two sizes bigger.
Fortress recommends using three-strand nylon rope and six feet of chain for every 25 feet of water depth. Use enough chain and rip for a minimum ratio of 5:1. Depending on how heavy an anchor you select, you might also want to consider an electric anchor winch to lower and raise your anchor from the water. It saves time and prevents back pain.
| Boat Length | Fortress Anchor Size |
| 16 ft- 27 ft | FX-7 |
| 28 ft- 32 ft | FX-11 |
| 33 ft- 38 ft | FX-16 |
| 39 ft- 45 ft | FX-23 |
| 46 ft- 51 ft | FX-37 |
| 52 ft- 58 ft | FX-55 |
| 59 ft- 68 ft | FX-85 |
| 69 ft- 89 ft | FX-115 |
| 90ft- 150 ft | FX-125 |
Fortress Anchor Buying Guide
Below are tips on the top considerations when you’re thinking about purchasing a Fortress anchor.
1. Boat Size
It’s critical to keep in mind the length and weight of the boat that you’ll be anchoring. You don’t want to select an anchor that’s too small to hold the boat, which risks the vessel moving when you want it to stay still. This factor is especially important in challenging weather conditions.
2. Sea Bottom
Think about the type of bottom that you’ll mostly encounter when anchoring your boat. Where will you mostly stop the boat? Rocks, grass, sand, soft mud, hard mud? The best kinds of anchors are effective in a majority of the sea bottoms that you’ll encounter.
3. Keep in Mind the Tide and Current
If you normally venture into waters where the tide is intense, you should select an anchor that offers a high amount of holding power. This is also true if the tide is generally high.
4. Weather Conditions
Most times boaters check the weather before they go out onto the water anyway so that they are aware of challenging conditions. It will make it harder to anchor if you have to fight against the elements.
If the winds are usually boisterous, you may have to anchor differently than in calm weather with no storms or heavy winds. You might also need a heavier anchor to sustain the pulling.
5. Holding Power
Consider the anchor’s ability in different terrain. Don’t try to use an anchor that isn’t meant to hold heavier boats.
There are some models from the Fortress line that weigh as little as four to pounds, but they can hold boats that weigh around half a ton.
Therefore, it wouldn’t be wise to purchase this small anchor for a boat that weighs much more, as it won’t be effective when you need it.
6. Convenience
Fortress anchors are known to set quickly at the bottom. It’s also lightweight, compact, and easy to handle and store.
These components present a huge advantage when you consider that they perform just as well and in many cases better than the competition that weigh a lot more.
7. Use Separate Anchors
Expert boaters often suggest utilizing two separate anchors with various styles. You can use one of them for the front of the boat and the other for the rear to ensure optimal security.
Cost Of A Boat Anchor For A Pontoon Boat:
Final Thoughts
The Fortress anchor is the best anchor for a pontoon boat, constructed with precision-machined aluminum-magnesium alloy. This anchor can be adjusted to 32 and 45 degrees for a better hold. It can also set quickly and deeply into most sea bottoms, and it’s easy to handle.
The flukes and shanks of the anchor are much sharper than other devices, which yields better penetrating power. Being so lightweight and compact makes it the perfect option for your pontoon boat with a warranty to secure your investment.