how to DIY Custom Fit Box Anchor

[txav8r]

Sideways pivot is fine to about 90 degrees and 45 degrees aft on either side. The rebar is fine but I wonder if it will be as resistance to bending as rolled steel? I used 3/8" bent 90 degrees and welded to the anchor as a triangle point. It allows more movement to the back and less to the side. Test it so you know how much movement you have before welding. Also, the cold galvanizing spray paint is zinc rich, and will serve you well if you don't hot dip it. Just don't let any scratches open up. Sounds like you have it working!

 

[txav8r]

Anyone else doing one of these, getting a metalwork yard to plasma cut the steel with flukes will make the build easier, then get a fabricator to bend the flukes and weld the box and control arm.

 

[Speedling]

How big should the flukes be? I cut a couple out of 4" stock so 4" on two sides and 5" the other way. Seems short to me after looking at pictures of the original product.

 

[txav8r]

The flukes aren't long but I don't have the exact dimensions in front of me. That's probably enough. I would put the same size for all 8 flukes. The angle is critical. Too shallow or too steep and you won't get the bite and hold that your looking for. And it is a different anchor than a typical danforth style and as such it's fixed flukes need to be in the correct angle.

 

[Speedling]

Progress!

 

[txav8r]

@Speedling Are the holes for rod that will be used as hanging rod? It's looking good! A project well done! I think you like many, will see the benefit of just spending $149 and in many cases, some have found them on the Internet for less than $130. It's a huge amount of work. Ask be if the $4K for labor to build the barn might have been worth it...naw, as my mom told me I said starting as a small child, " I do it me self"!

 

[Speedling]

@Speedling Are the holes for rod that will be used as hanging rod? It's looking good! A project well done! I think you like many, will see the benefit of just spending $149 and in many cases, some have found them on the Internet for less than $130. It's a huge amount of work. Ask be if the $4K for labor to build the barn might have been worth it...naw, as my mom told me I said starting as a small child, " I do it me self"!

The holes are there IN CASE it can hang, but honestly, I am thinking of making a little box/stand for it in the seat behind the drivers which is where I keep all my ropes etc. I don't think this thing will fit in the anchor locker. That and it's so heavy that my wife probably won't want to lug it around the boat, LOL! We keep 2 other anchors up front already so this will basically be for when I know I am going to Lake Michigan on a rougher day. Well, perhaps Shelbyville. I already named it "Armada" because it can hold an Armada of ships!

 

[Ronnie]

I just bought one of @txav8r box anchors from @Matt Phillips and love it even though I haven't used it yet. It is very well built and other than the mounting points the only difference between a standard box anchor is that it doesn't fold. I plan to replace my small box anchor with this one and make the standard box a spare or stern anchor. Neither fits in the anchor locker but that doesn't matter to me as I store my fenders and lines in there (under the ladder) since I use them a lot more often than any anchor and it is one of the easiest compartments to access (no one has to get up and it's nice and high). I'm a big fan of the box anchor and will probably take the other two anchors (a fluke and danforth) off my boat altogether. Great job Mel and thanks for the great deal on it Matt.