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Best Shallow Water Anchor (Includes Minn Kota Talon Review)

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best shallow water anchor

What is the best shallow water anchor on the market in 2021? There are the current offerings from industry leaders Minn Kota and Power-Pole, however, there are also some budget-friendly under-dogs that are worth a look.

To answer the question we have selected 5 top-rated shallow water anchors to give you a comprehensive insight into each.

For our findings at a glance, just head to the table below. For a detailed review of each system, plus our short buyer’s guide, keep on reading.

Best Shallow Water Anchor – Top 5

NAME
ANCHOR SYSTEM
DETAILS
12 FootBuilt-in waveabsorptionLED indicatorsMulti-stageDeployment
8 FootBrushless motorHigh flow pumpWireless dash-switchRemote control
8 FootPole AnchorSystem
6 FeetT-handle GripAnchoring Pole Clips
9 FeetPin StyleAnchor System

Best Shallow Water Anchor Reviews

Image Credit: Minnkotamotors.com

The shallow water anchor is a modified form of the standard anchor that provides holding power from being driven firmly into the seabed.

For the purposes of our review roundup, we have rated each of our selections based on their design quality, anchor effectiveness, and cost-performance benefit.

1. TOP PICK: Minn Kota 1810412 Talon Anchor System Review

The Minn Kota Talon is a compact, versatile, and high-quality 12feet shallow water anchor that uses the talon anchor system, and comes with a battery-powered actuator system.

The talon anchor system uses smart technology to operate the 12-foot long arm and the 10-foot long arm.

It features a selectable anchoring mode that allows it to be deployed quickly and
safely to the seabed or ocean floor.

Moreover, it supports multi-stage deployment. It also has a built-in wave absorption mechanism that allows it to lower arm to remain firm and steady even in rough tide conditions where violent water currents threaten to drift the vessel along the water surface.

Image Credit: Carid.com

The arms, also called talons, have LED depth indicators that allow the user to know how deep the arm has been driven into the bed.

The model is designed and made by Minn Kota, a highly reputable manufacturer of quality shallow water anchors.

This compact, yet strong and durable, shallow water anchor weighs about 60.5pounds.

It is 57inches long with its cross-section measuring 8inches by 6inches. It must be installed erect onto the back of the boat.

The system is an easy-to-install, remote-controlled shallow water anchoring system.

The installation is pretty straightforward as the talon system is designed to slide easily into its brackets. The brackets can be bolted quickly to the back of the vessel and then the talons are slid in.

Thereafter, a quick-release bracket, also called a break-away release bracket, can be installed so that it can be used to fold down the talons when required.

Image Credit: Carid.com

This quick and easy-to-operate break-away release bracket must be bolted securely to the vessel so that it does not play or rattle when the bracket is in use.

The operation of this talon system is fully automated via a remote-controlled system.

The user needs to configure the remotes provided according to the instructions laid down in the user guide.

Moreover, the hold-down buttons on the talon system can be synchronized with the corresponding pushbuttons in the remote controls.

To drop the anchor into the bed, the user simply double-clicks the anchor remote, and if it is time to move on, the user simply uses a single click to lift the talon from the water.

When dropped into the water body, the talon/peg stabs the bed 3 times in order to ensure that it achieves a strong and secure hold.

If it is set in rough waters, the talon will keep re-stabbing the bed at defined intervals so as to ensure that a secure hold is maintained.

This model comes with a 60months warranty guaranteed by Minn Kota.

Pros Minn Kota 1810412 Talon Anchor System
  • 12feet long shallow water anchor system.
  • Battery-powered actuator system.
  • Has selectable anchoring mode.
  • Supports multi-stage deployment.
  • Features a built-in wave absorption mechanism.
  • Has LED depth indicators.
  • Operates quietly.
  • 60-month warranty.
The Cons
  • The break-away release bracket can require re-tightening when it
    becomes loose.

Bottom-line

The Minn Kota 1810412 Talon Anchor System is a compact, versatile, and fully automated 12feet shallow water anchor that uses the talon anchor system, and comes with a battery-powered actuator system.

The talon anchor system uses smart technology to operate the 12-foot long arm
and the 10-foot long arm, and comes with a built-in wave absorption mechanism and LED depth indicators.

It has a selectable anchoring mode and supports multi-stage deployment.

The superior design quality, superb anchor effectiveness, and the outstanding cost-performance benefit of Minn Kota 1810412 Talon Anchor System make it, in our opinion, the best shallow water anchor currently available.

2. Power-Pole Sportsman II Shallow Water Anchor Review

The Power-Pole Sportsman II is a fully automated 8feet shallow water anchor that uses the C-Monster Control System, and comes with a battery-powered actuator system.

This control system is connected to the remote control and the wireless dash switch.

The arms are operated by a hydraulic system which is powered by a powerful high-flow pump system.

It also features a whisper-quiet brush-less motor that runs the pump, and the entire operation of the system is quiet.

Its dual-system electronics serve to provide a fault-tolerant operation. The unit is designed and made by Power-Pole.

This compact, strong and durable, shallow water anchor weighs about 40pounds, which makes it lighter than the Minn Kota 1810412 Talon Anchor System.

Likewise, the Sportsman II must be installed directly onto the back of the boat.

Image Credit: Power-Pole.com

Just like the Minn Kota Talon Anchor System, the Power-Pole is an easy-to-install, remote-controlled shallow water anchoring system.

Its installation process is quite straightforward as this model comes with its own brackets.

The brackets must be bolted to the back of the vessel. A quick-release bracket can be added, but this is optional.

Even so, the break-away release bracket can help to fold down the arms of the anchor when they are not in use.

However, the quick and easy-to-operate break-away release bracket can become loose hence it requires constant re-tightening.

The operation of the Power-Pole Sportsman II is fully automated and comes with a C-Monster Control System that manages the operations of the remote-controlled system.

The user can configure the remotes provided according to the instructions laid down in the user guide.

Moreover, the operations of the wireless dash switch can be synchronized with the corresponding actions of the remote control.

The anchor can be quickly dropped into the bed using the anchor remote, and if it is time to move on, the user simply uses the remote to lift the anchor out of the water.

When dropped into the water body, the spikes the bed several times in order to ensure that it achieves a strong and secure hold.

If it is set in rough waters, the anchor will keep re-spiking the bed so as to ensure that a secure hold is maintained.

This model comes with a 60months warranty guaranteed by Power-Pole.

Pros of the Power-Pole Sportsman II Shallow Water Anchor
  • 8feet long shallow water anchor system.
  • Battery-powered actuator system.
  • Hydraulic-powered anchor system.
  • Has a high-flow pump.
  • Uses a brushless motor.
  • Features a C-Monster Control System.
  • Has a wireless dash switch.
  • Operates quietly.
  • 60-month warranty.
The Cons
  • The break-away release bracket requires constant re-tightening.

Bottom-line

The Power-Pole Sportsman II is a versatile fully-automated 8feet shallow water anchor. The C-Monster Control System is well designed and comes with a battery-powered actuator system.

Another benefit of the system is that it connects to a remote control and wireless dash switch. Overall a very close contender for our top pick behind the Minn Kota Talon.

3. Panther King Pin KPP802W Shallow Water Anchor Review

The Panther King Pin is a budget-friendly 8feet shallow water anchor that uses a Pin Anchor System and a manually-operated actuator mechanism.

It comes with 2 poles and a Pool-cue style butt collar that allows for quick dismantling of the anchor for either storage or transport.

Each of the poles is made of an inch thick, and they are made from high-quality fiberglass.

The butt collar is made from stainless steel. This model features molded foam grips for easy handling and a wear-resistant stainless steel tip that allows it to easily penetrate the bed without wearing out quickly or being corroded.

It also comes with rubber storage clips. This model is designed and made by Panther, (a subsidiary of MarineTech).

This compact, strong, durable, and lightweight model only weighs 5pounds, which makes it much lighter than either the Minn Kota or the Sportsman II.

Still, this manually-operated anchor must be installed erect onto the back of the
boat.

The Panther King Pin comes with the proprietary Signature Anchor Pole Lock, which ensures that all the anchor brackets feature an integrated pole lock.

The user only needs to flip the lever of the lock to secure the pole to its bracket. This eliminates the presence of loose parts that are prone to loosen and fall into the water.

The installation of this model is quite straightforward as the anchor is designed to lock easily into its brackets. The brackets must be bolted to the backplate of the vessel and then the shallow water anchor locked in.

Even so, a break-away release bracket can be installed so that it can be used to fold down the poles when required.

The quick-release brackets are of the bow-mount type. This allows the user to easily remove them just by pulling the plunger pin and twisting the brackets.

This allows one to quickly access the mounting plate which is part of the boat.

These bow-mount type brackets come with their mounting hardware, along with a set of integrated O-rings which eliminates the requirement for sealants.

The anchor can be quickly dropped into the bed using the actuator mechanism, and if it is time to move on, the owner uses the actuator to manually lift the anchor out of the water.

When dropped into the water body, the spikes the bed and digs in to ensure that it achieves a strong and secure hold.

If it is set in rough waters, the anchor must be spiked to a sufficient depth in the bed so as to ensure that a secure hold is maintained.

Pros of the Panther King Pin KPP802W Shallow Water Anchor
  • 8feet long shallow water anchor system.
  • Manually-powered actuator system.
  • Made from high-quality materials.
  • Lightweight.
  • Easy maintenance.
  • Comes with the proprietary Signature Anchor Pole Lock.
  • Quick-release brackets are of the bow-mount type.
The Cons
  • Lacks automation and features such as LED depth indicators.

Bottom-line

The Panther King Pin KPP802W is a compact and lightweight manually-operated 8feet long shallow water anchor that uses the Pin Anchor System.

It has 2 poles and a Pool-cue style butt collar and is a top choice for those looking for a shallow water anchoring solution on a budget.

4. YakGear YakStick Anchor Review

The YakStick is another manually-operated 6feet shallow water anchor that needs to be pushed into the bed by hand.

This makes it suitable for very shallow waters (it has half the depth capacity of the 12-foot Talon system) with muddy beds or soft beds, as it cannot be pushed into rocky beds or beds with compacted sand or boulders.

It comes with 2 mini-pole clips and a T-handle for pushing it into the bed. The T-handle features a good grip for easy handling.

It has a butt collar that allows for quick dismantling of the anchor for either storage or transport.

The poles are made from high-quality, strong, and lightweight materials.

This model features molded grips for easy handling and a wear-resistant stainless steel tip that allows it to easily penetrate the bed without wearing out quickly or being corroded.

This model is designed and made by YakGear.

This compact and lightweight model weighs just 3pounds, which makes it lighter than the manually operated Panther King Pin.

However, unlike the Panther which needs to be mounted on brackets, the YakGear YakStick Anchor does not require a bracket to function and one can simply slide it through a collar welded on the side of the vessel and then use the T-handle to push into firmly into the soft bed.

Even so, one still has the option of locking this anchor to a bracket. Also, it comes with storage clips.

If brackets are used, it is advisable that one chooses brackets that feature a pole lock as this ensures that the anchor is well-secured on the boat.

Moreover, the user can easily dismantle the anchor from its bracket by simply
flipping the lever of the lock. This also eliminates the need for poorly fitting or loose parts that are prone to loosen and fall into the water.

The installation of this model is quite straightforward as the anchor is designed to be slide past any hollow mounting on the boat.

If brackets are used, they must be bolted on the side of the vessel and then the shallow water anchor locked in.

The anchor can be quickly dropped into the bed using the T-handle to guide it on where it is to spike the ground.

When it is time to move on, the owner uses the T-handle to manually lift the anchor out of the water. When dropped into the water body, the anchor quickly spikes the bed, and pressure on the T-handle allows it to dig in so as to get a strong and secure hold.

If it is set in rough waters, the anchor must be spiked to an adequate depth in the soft bed so that a secure hold is achieved.

Pros of the YakGear YakStick Anchor
  • 6feet long shallow water anchor.
  • Manually-operated anchor.
  • Made from high-quality materials.
  • Lightweight.
  • Easy maintenance.
  • Comes with a high-quality T-handle.
The Cons
  • Its operations cannot be automated.
  • Only works with soft beds.
  • No depth gauges and indicators

Bottom-line

The YakGear YakStick Anchor is a manually-operated 6feet long shallow water anchor that needs to be manually pushed into the bed.

This makes it suitable for use in shallow waters with muddy beds or soft beds. If this describes the areas where you anchor, the YakStick could work for you.

If however, you anchor in somewhat more challenging (or deeper) terrain, the system could be a problem.

5. SuperStick Anchor Pin shallow water anchor review

The SuperStick is a high-quality manually-operated that comes in 2 models, the 7-feet long model and the 9-feet model.

This anchor needs to be manually pushed into the bed, which makes it suitable for use in shallow waters with muddy beds or soft beds.

It cannot be spiked into rocky beds or beds with compacted sand or boulders.
It comes with 2 mini-pole clips and a T-handle for pushing it into the bed.

The anchor is made from high-quality airplane-grade fiberglass. Its T-handle features a good grip for easy handling.

This model features molded grips for easy handling and a wear-resistant stainless steel tip that allows it to easily penetrate the bed without wearing out quickly or being corroded.

The product is designed and made by The Superstick.

Its design closely resembles that of the YakGear YakStick Anchor.

Like the YakStick, the SuperStick Anchor Pin does not require a bracket to function and one can simply slide it through a collar welded on the side of the vessel and then use the T-handle to push into firmly into the soft bed.

Nonetheless, one still has the option of locking SuperStick Anchor Pin to a bracket. Moreover, it is shipped alongside its storage clips.

If one chooses to use brackets, then it is prudent that brackets that have a pole lock are used, as this ensures that the anchor is well-secured on the boat.

This also allows the user to easily dismantle the anchor from its bracket by simply flipping the lever of the lock. This obviates the need for poorly fitting or loose parts that can fall into the water.

The installation of this SuperStick Anchor Pin is straightforward as the model can easily slide through any hollow mounting, or hollow welded support, on the boat.

If brackets are used, they must be bolted on the side of the vessel and then the shallow water anchor locked in.

The SuperStick Anchor Pin is dropped into the water and retrieved using the same procedure as that of YakGear YakStick Anchor.

This means that the anchor can be quickly dropped into the bed using the T-handle to guide it on where it is to spike the ground; and when it is time to move on, the owner uses the T-handle to manually lift the anchor out of the water.

Pros of the SuperStick Anchor Pin shallow water anchor
  • 7-feet long or 9-feet long shallow water anchor.
  • Inexpensive to buy
  • Made from high-quality airplane-grade fiberglass.
  • Lightweight and easy to maintain
  • Comes with a high-quality T-handle.
The Cons
  • Its operation cannot be automated.
  • Only works on soft beds

Bottom-line

The SuperStick Anchor Pin is a compact, strong, and high-quality manually operated that comes in 2 models, the 7-feet long model, and the 9-feet model.

It must be manually pushed into the bed, which makes it suitable for use in shallow waters with muddy beds or soft beds.

However, with good user reviews and superior build quality, this is the pick of the bunch when it comes to affordable, manually operated shallow water anchor systems.

Shallow Water Anchor Buyer’s Guide

Anchors are designed to tie boats to the seabed or ocean bed so as to prevent
the boat from drifting with the water currents or wind.

They do this by hooking or sinking into the bed of a large water body. This hooking action gives anchors their holding power, that is, the ability to hold down the boat to a specific location in the ocean or sea.

Therefore anchors hold the boats at a desired steady position which can allow the boat crew to fish, collect samples from the water body, or just relax and enjoy the breeze and scenery.

The emergence of the shallow water anchor

Image Credit: minnkotamotors.com

Initially, anchors were built for holding sea vessels steady in deep waters. These anchors were originally large and difficult to store.

This triggered a revolution in anchor design which led to the development of compact and highly effective anchors.

Further development in anchor design, as well as the incorporation of new technology, led to the innovation of compact anchors with high holding powers that could be used to tie down boats into the beds of shallow water bodies.

The mass of an anchor allows it to dig into the bed of a water body which allows its metal flukes to be driven into the bed where the flukes hook onto the bed rocks, boulders, and hardened sand formations.

Components that make up the anchor

Stock & Flukes

Flukes are large wing-like projections that are connected to the stock of the anchor. Usually, flukes are made from metal sheets that are hinged onto the stock via the crown.

Apart from the stock and flukes, the other main parts of a standard anchor are the shank, crown, and tripping ring.

The Shank

Image Credit: Power-Pole.com

The shank is basically the stem of an anchor, and it determines the direction of how the anchor is pushed into the bed (usually set upright or vertical to allow the anchor to spike the bed) or pulled across the bed as the flukes dig in and set
(or bury) the anchor.

At its top end, the shank is connected to the rode, also called anchor chain or anchor cable, which attaches the anchor to the vessel.

At the bottom end of the shank is fitted a strong horizontal bar called a stock which serves to angulate the anchor so that the flukes dig into the bed.

When the stock rests horizontally on the bed, then the flukes will have been completely dug in to the bed.

The Crown

The crown is positioned at the point where the shank meets the stock, and this crown serves to connect the shank to the stock as well as connect the flukes to the stock.

Tripping Ring

The tripping ring is positioned in the crown and it serves to connect a tripping
the line to the anchor.

A tripping line is a specialized weighted rope that pulls the anchor across the bed so as to allow the flukes to set in.

Shallow Anchor Benefits (Compared to standard anchor)

The use of standard anchor presents 2 key problems when compared to the benefits of the shallow anchor system.

To begin with, the process of setting and retrieving the anchor causes the flukes to rip the seagrass off the seabed hence destabilizing the delicate ecosystem of the seabed.

This also causes the anchor to carry seagrass and debris into the marine vessel when the anchor is hauled in.

Secondly, the flukes can be poorly set in which causes the boat to drift about as it is not firmly fixed to the seabed.

The Pole Based Anchor

To counter the challenges posed by the standard anchor in shallow waters, anchor designers developed a pole-based shallow water anchor.

The basic shallow water anchor is bolted to the back of the vessel via a strong bracket.

The actuator mechanism

It has two poles labeled the upper and low arms, which are both operated via an actuator mechanism. This actuator mechanism raises and lowers the arms.

When raised, the bottom end of the lower arm is positioned just above the bottom edge of the hull; and when it is lowered, the lower arm descends below the hull and into the water where it continues to descend till it is driven into
the seabed.

This means that the lower arm (pole) only pierces the seabed, and this ensures that the sea-grass is not stripped off the seabed.

Likewise, if the lower arm is driven into an adequate depth, then it can steadily hold the vessel. This allows the shallow water anchor to solve the 2 key problems associated with the standard anchor in shallow waters.

Varying modes of power

The actuator mechanism can be an electrically-powered linear actuator that draws power from an electric battery, or it can be a manually-powered actuator.

High-quality shallow water anchors have a battery-powered linear actuator.

What to look for when buying a shallow water anchor

Image Credit: Power-Pole.com

The four main qualities that one needs to look for in a shallow water anchor are the holding power, reliability to set(sink firmly into the bed), resilience to damage, and capacity to withstand veering.

Likewise, one must check the length of the arms as this length determines how far deep the anchor can be lowered through the water body and into the bed.

Image Credits: Pixabay.comMinnkotamotors.com, Power-Pole.com, Carid.com

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