How to Anchor a Float House

An anchor keeps your float house stationary.

Anchors that are used for permanent fixtures such as a float house differ significantly from those used on boats and ships. Boat anchors have to find a compromise between effectiveness and convenience, because they are frequently raised and lowered. Float house anchors are generally only placed once, which means that the bigger and stronger they are, the better they will work, and you don't need to worry about how easy they are to pull up or store.

Things You'll Need

• Large, heavy objects
• Chain
• Welder
• Wire
• Padlocks
• Boat or raft
• Bolts

Instructions

1. Acquire two to four anchors that are as large as you are able to move, given the amount of help or the size of the equipment that you have available. You can buy commercially made mushroom anchors that are appropriate for large craft or float houses, or you can fashion your own anchor out of anything from a huge rock to an old truck axle.

2. Attach chains to your anchors. You can weld the chains onto the anchors or wrap the chains around the anchors and wire or lock them on.

3. Drop the anchors in the location where your float house is going. You can do this from a boat, a raft or from the float house itself. Firmly secure the opposite end of the chain to the craft before dropping the anchor. If you have two anchors, drop them 10 feet fore and aft of where the house will go. If you have four anchors, drop them 10 or 20 feet out from where the corners of the float house will be. If the water where the float house is going has nautical traffic or is less than 15 feet deep, consider whether your anchors might present a navigational hazard before dropping them.

4. Attach the chain ends to metal brackets that are firmly bolted to the side of the float house.

References

• Boat U.S.: Ground Tackle: Selecting Anchors and Rodes

Resources

• Stick It Anchor Pins: Shallow Water Anchoring System