Anchorbuddynz

General information

ANCHORBUDDY NZ – making anchoring easy

Retrieving the ground tackle from 30 metres or more of water is no fun if using the ‘arm-strong’ method. Grant Dixon tests a new spin on an old concept for raising the anchor effortlessly – without an electric capstan..

As a young fella fishing with my parents, I was assigned ‘ anchoring boy’ duties as soon as I was strong enough. This was fine in Kawhia Harbour when stray-lining for snapper in depths around 5-10 metres, and which rarely exceeded 20 metres. But at Whangamata here tarakihi were the target, the depth was often 40-50 metres plus. So subscribing to the theory that, while I wasn’t very smart, I could lift heavy things, I would be sent forward by the skipper to ‘grapple with the grapnel’.

Had we had an Anchorbuddy NZ back then, I might be remembering those anchor-retrieving workouts with a little more fondness.

The difference between the Anchorbuddy NZ and other products is quality of the construction (316 marine-grade stainless steel) and the fact the side can be opened using a clever clasp when feeding through the rope (so it does not have to fed through the device, which is tedious). The Anchorbuddy NZ can be used on ropes of between 6mm and 22mm in diameter, and its lifting ability is restricted only by the size of the drum / buoy deployed.

The Anchorbuddy NZ is quick to deploy-it can be attached as you drop the anchor – and the manufacturer claims it will lift the anchor about 10 times faster than most electric capstans. The Anchorbuddy NZ is manufactured by Buddy Craig, a retired engineer based in Tauranga. A keen angler and boatie, Buddy’s own craft features a number of refinements created to make life at sea easier. This device is guaranteed for five years.

For more information, check out our products or see a short videos about how to use AnchorBuddy NZ.