Sierra fisher wrote:
I have a pontoon boat, and had this anchoring problem this week on the
American River. My boat has a rear deck that is just a foot or so off of
the water. Below it is a pulley for the anchor.
Without the chain, I pull the anchor up to the pulley and out of the water.
With the chain in the line, my anchor will be suspended in the water a
little less than the length of the chain.
If I could find a heavy ball, maybe 3" in diameter, and attach it just above
the anchor, it might pull the anchor over. Then my anchor would be
suspended just at the water level.
What if this ball, or perhaps a diving weight, was attached via a ring that
could slide up and down the rope?

When I lived near the Delta by San Francisco a chain on the anchor line
was needed due to the fast current and wave action to keep a boat in
place. Now living near a lake in the mid west and also using a pontoon
I don't bother with a chain for the very reason you stated. The trick
is using the proper anchor and plenty of anchor rope to get the anchor
to dig in. Using a chain is not necessary in all situations and lakes
are one of those situations.

Jerry