Question About Electric Anchors

I was wondering if anyone has ever used an electric anchor and what do you think of them? I am thinking of buying a Minn Kota Anchor Mate electric anchor to use for dock shooting and I want to start fishing at night some so I would use it for that also. I am going to mount it in the back and use it to hold the back in place for dock shooting and use the trolling motor to control the front of the boat. I would appreciate any information about how well they work, how reliable they are and any other tips. I am going to have a remote control wired to it so it will be real easy to use. Thanks, Wes

I have a MinnKota Deckhand 40......been useing it for 8 years now.

I have some only complaint is mine are slow up and down .

I have one on each end of my bass tracker with remotes, mine free wheels down and wind up, only bad thing with it is it will make a splash going down unless you pre- set it where it wont splash. other than that works great. mine are 40's also

Thanks everybody for the information. I am going to buy the Deckhand 40 if I buy one. From the research I have done it seems like the 40 might hold up better and it doesn't cost that much more. I have a Triton Bass boat that I use for Crappie fishing so I will have to see if it will fit on the back. I haven't done any measuring yet so I may be out of luck. I have a rod holder on each side of the motor in the back too. I had anchor mates on my old boat and they worked great for holding the boat in front of docks for dock shooting, but I am to crippled up from playing sports my whole life to be able to crank up anchors by hand all day long. I am getting old. LOL. Thanks, Wes

I have had 4 Minn Kota over the years but when I set up the War Eagle I put Trac 25's on the front and rear. They are heads above the Minn Kota's. I had an issue with a motor and called their service dept and the new motor was there the next day. Really good with a dern good customer service department. These have never wrapped the line around the spool......

i have 2 0ne in front and one in the rear of my pontoon boat it is hard to stay on a spot with them when the wave hits it will pick it up so i let it down and angle it so it will roll over and hang in the mud . stripped the plastic gear and when i ordered one they sent 2 . lost a anchor this week in and had to use a cinder block . held better than the anchor but was hard to pull up but held the back . thought about some electric wench but to slow .i think they are minkota . bought therm used and can`t remember . learned no matter what you buy check and retie anchor as the rope will give that is why i lost one yesterday .

wes the one's I have are trac 40's

http://stores.trac-outdoor.com/

Here is what I have, the Deck Mate 25 by power winch. Very good unit but a little pricy.
http://www.wavecrestmarine.com/marin...-windlass.html
Is a free fall so you would want to let it out a little before you were at your anchor spot. And you have to wind it in just a little to reengage the gears. Lost a anchor and rope year before last. Rope wasn't properly attached to drum and didn't get it engaged. Was dragging to slow drift. It unrolled and went byby.

Thanks again everybody for the information, I have learned a lot. For the Trac users, thanks for your input, I will check them out. I have to measure and make sure I can fit it in the back of my boat. I think it will work even with the rod holder there. It sure would be great and a lot better than me hand cranking them up like I used to do. It I like it I will probably buy one for the front if I can find room. The front will be a lot harder to mount with the I-Pilot and the Lowrance taking up a lot of room. Thanks so much it is great to pick up input and not have go hope so much when buying gear. Have they been pretty reliable for ya'll so far? I know they come with a two year warranty. Wes