If you’re out in the lake and have been paddling for quite a while, you’re going to be mighty tired and want to settle in to enjoy the fishing. To let you rest and cast your line, you’re going to need something to keep your paddle board from drifting away with the wind or the currents. What you’ll need, is a paddle board anchor.

A SUP anchor will keep you sturdy and settled without any worry of blowing away. There are several types of anchors you can look into, the two main types you’ll see though are the grapnel anchor and a sand anchor.

These anchors have specific purposes, but what are they? How do you know which one you should get for your paddleboard? Keep reading and we’ll break it all down for you.

What Should You Know First?

Anchors are specific, they are largely dependent on the body of water you’ll be settling in. Some things you really should know before you decide on the anchor type. These are things like the weather you’ll be anchoring in, what is on the bottom of the lake or body of water, how much combined weight will your anchor have to handle?

While you might think every anchor is the same, these different factors will largely affect how useful a specific type is for you. If you use the wrong kind of anchor as well, it can easily not work for you, or the anchor itself could end up broken. It is important to do your research about where you’ll be heading so you can prepare accordingly.

Types of Anchors

As we covered above there are multiple types of anchors for you to choose from, but the grapnel and sand anchors are most common. Why don’t we talk a little bit about each anchor and give some recommendations on brands we trust to do the job.

Grapnel Anchors

This is likely the most common anchor you’ll see marketed and chosen by paddle board fishermen. It is distinct because of its grappling hook shape and it is designed to be able to catch and hold onto whatever terrain is at the bottom of your body of water. It is especially good for digging deeply into sand or catching on rocks.

You’ll see most of these anchors packaged up in bundles that will come with a carrying bag, a weight, the line, and hooks to keep everything secured. You can, of course, buy everything separately, in case you end up needing a longer line, but these bundles make it affordable and easy to get everything you need all in one. The arms of the grapnel will usually fold for easy storage as well.

Grapnel anchors we recommend looking into are:

• Extreme Max 3006.6548 BoatTector Complete Grapnel Anchor Kit: Your options for your anchor are painted/galvanized, stainless steel, or a galvanized deluxe package. All of them are 3.5 pounds and for both galvanized options you can pick up the kit for under $35.

• Gradient Fitness Marine Anchor: Also weighing in at 3.5 pounds, this kit comes with a 20-foot line that is water-resistant and a padded bag to keep your anchor from scratching up your board. This kit comes in just under $40.

• MarineNow Portable Folding Anchor Buoy Kit: Another 3.5-pound anchor, this one has a little bit of a long line at 25-feet. Similar to the other two this one has a pretty standard kit and comes in just under $35.

• SurfStow 50010: The real pull of this one is that it is suitable for gripping most bottoms including mud and sand. It weighs in at about 3.3 pounds and can reach a depth of 15 feet. Recommended for fishing or even yoga.

While grapnels work well in both hard and soft bottom bodies of water, they are highly recommended when you’re dealing with rocks or harder surfaces. This is because they can catch more easily on rocks which is highly beneficial if you’re needing your board to really stay put.

If you do think you want to invest in a grapnel anchor, just be aware that they are generally recommended for calm waters. If you’re wanting to use it on a river or in conditions where the currents may be too strong, a grapnel anchor might actually slip and won’t give you the stability you’re looking for. If you plan only using it in calmer conditions though, you should have no trouble.

Sand Anchors

Sand kits are another great option that is both waterproof and easy to use. It is essentially a sturdy bag that’s filled with enough sand to keep your paddle board weighted without having to worry about if your anchor will be able to catch and stay in place. One of the best parts of most modern sandbags is that they often double as a waterproof bag to keep your things in while on your paddleboard if you aren’t planning to anchor.

Most of these kits will come with a waterproof bag that can be filled with the sand of your choice, as well as a line, a buoy, and water-resistant clips. These anchors are good for mud, sand, and rocks as they act as a weight instead of having to ensure it gets hooked just right.

There are a few we really recommend as they have proven to be reliable and worth the price.

• Compass Surf XL Sand Anchor Kit: This durable sand anchor is made from PVC material and doubles as a waterproof dry bag for days you don’t need to anchor. It works on all sorts of bottoms and will keep you stable even when the waters are a little less than calm. Fits 20 L.

• Obcursco PWC Anchor 2 in 1 Sand Bag Anchor: Like all of the sand anchors on this list, this doubles as a 20 L dry bag if you’re not planning on anchoring. Made of high quality, heavy-duty PVC material so you don’t have to worry about rips or leaks. The rope can handle a max of 2200 pounds of tension to ensure your board won’t go anywhere.
• Skog Å Kust SandSåk 2-in-1 PWC Anchor & Dry Bag: This bag also can handle 2200 pounds of tension and can be filled with up to 50 pounds of sand. It also has a handy-dandy strap at the bottom to make emptying out the sand simple and effortless.

Sand anchors are good with any bottom, just make sure you get one heavy enough to keep you steady if you’re planning on being on rougher waters. Because it is weighted, it makes it slightly more ideal than a grapnel when the currents are a little more aggressive.

Final Thoughts

Whichever anchor you choose, it is important to trust the anchor you’re investing in. If you plan to fish or even to do some paddleboard yoga, you’re going to want something that keeps your board stable for a long while. Research where you’ll be paddling out so you’ll have a good idea beforehand what kind of anchor you should bring.

The right paddle board anchor can make or break your trip, so as long as you pick up something reliable you’ll be great. Wondering what else you should invest in for your next sup trip ? Here’s my recommendations.