Imagine, it is a beautiful morning and you take your jet ski out for a run. The wind is brushing against your face and you are enjoying every bit of the morning magic. Suddenly you see a view that catches your eye. You want to stop, lay back, and click a picture or two but you can’t as you are right in the middle of a water body.

Or for instance, imagine, you dock your jet ski and go to a shack for a quick bite after hours of riding. When you come back you see your starboard damaged because it collided with a nearby jet ski (which is quite common). You are really angry but it is no one’s mistake and you cannot blame the water right?

Well, these scenarios could have ended differently if you had an anchor in your storage. In that setting, you would have enjoyed the view and also have a stress-free time at the beach. Well, that’s what an anchor does. It takes all your worries away and gives you the flexibility of parking anywhere and anytime.

I know you must be thinking, why to invest in an anchor when you can beach instead?  Well, I wouldn’t recommend beaching because of multiple reasons. But we will talk about it later in the blog.

Now coming back to anchors, how to choose the right one? Well, your pick depends on the specification of your water toy and the environmental conditions you wish to park in. For example, a sand bag anchor is perfect for calm waters with muddy ground conditions and they work wonderfully for light-weight PWCs. However, if any of these elements are mismatched, the efficiency of the anchor is compromised. So, knowing what works well for what is important.

Don’t worry, worry it is no rocket science. You’ll get a hold of it as we proceed. I am sure by the end of the blog you’ll be able to find your perfect anchor. So read it till the very end.

WHY AVOID BEACHING?

                DISADVANTAGES OF BEACHING:

1. Short- term disadvantage of beaching:

• It is not a viable option everywhere. If a beach is rocky and has granular sand, beaching can scratch your hull.
• If you beach with the bow facing the shore on wet sand or near the sea /ocean, your Jet Ski can sink in sand in minutes. 
• However, if you beach your Jet Ski facing the shore, chances are that a falling tide, a wave, or even a large wake from a big boat can move your vehicle ashore.

2. Long term disadvantages of beaching:

• Constant beaching is bad for the fiberglass.
• Long term beaching leaves impeller/ wear rings damaged.
• If you beach regularly, chances are that the sand can jam the cooling system.
• Beaching can also get the water line jammed, stripping the original power off the engine.

Learn more on how to beach your jet ski effectively

ADVANTAGES OF ANCHORING

• Anchoring resolves all the issues related to beaching.
• It gives rider the flexibility of parking wherever they want whenever they want.
• Anchoring is like docking but better. With anchors, you can save your PWC from the damages of docking, where closely lined up water toys sometimes collide with one another during high tides.
• Jet Ski anchoring makes Jet Ski fishing easy.

Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying an Anchor for your Jet ski

Size of PWC and Environmental Conditions

Cost

Money that you are willing to pay also plays an important role in screening the anchors for you.  Here is the list of the common types of anchors and their price range.

Anchor Type	Cost in the United States	Cost in Australia	United Kingdom
SANDBAG ANCHOR	Mid Level	Low Level	Mid – High Level
MUSHROOM ANCHOR	Mid – High Level (depending on the size)	Mid Level	Low – Mid Level
FLUKE ANCHOR	Low – Mid Level (depending on the material used)	Mid Level	Mid – High Level
SCREW AUGER ANCHOR	High Level	Few Options	Mid Level

Material

The material used in the making the anchor plays a major role in its properties. Here are the three main materials used in making Jet Ski anchors:

GALVANIZED STEEL	STAINLESS STEEL	Aluminum
Points to remember: Anchors made from steel are of two types: One being mild steel and the other being high tensile steel. High tensile steel is two to three times stronger than mild steel. Both these steel types can corrode so galvanization is important in both.	Points to remember: Stainless steel is similar to mild steel apart from the fact that it does not corrode. Anchors made with stainless steel are of two types, stainless steel 304 and 316. Out of them, 304 is more corrosion resistant and expensive.
PROs Inexpensive, strong and corrosion-resistant when galvanized CONs Galvanization can wear down over time. It is less attractive than stainless steel	PROs Looks very attractive, is strong, and is corrosion resistant CONs Very expensive; however, even a single scratch affect its appearance	PROs Lightweight CONs More expensive than steel. Not as strong as steel

The Perfect Anchor For Your Jet Ski

Danforth / Fluke Anchor

• Fluke anchors are the compact versions of the classic anchors that are used in ships.
• Best for anchoring in the middle of the water.
• They come with fold-up flukes and are even suitable for muddy and sandy areas. 
• Perfect for Jet Ski fishing, these anchors give you the ease of parking in the absolute middle of nowhere.
• They’re slim, long, and have several flukes.
• They are very versatile and can catch against rocks, mud, or sand.

PRODUCT NAME: Best Marine Anchor for Jet Ski

FEATURES:

• This anchor comes with four hinged flukes.
• It can be locked open when deployed or held closed by a circular collar that’s fitted to the shank.
• Holding power on rocky, weedy, and sandy substrates is great.
• Weighs 3.5 pounds and measures12 x 3 inches when folded.
• It takes up very little space in the storage.
• This anchor comes with a nylon storage bag to prevent the scratching of the storage unit. It also consists of a 40-foot anchor rope, a stainless steel hook and a floating buoy ball.

PROS	CONS
Comes with a 1-year money-back guarantee	Only for lightweight vehicles
Rugged, durable and is built to Last	Works seamlessly for rivers but not so much for seas
Comes with a good length of rope

PRODUCT: EXTREME Max Boattector Complete Grapnel Anchor Kit

FEATURES:

• This grapnel anchor kit comes in two sizes, one in 3.5 pounds and the other is 5.5 pounds.
• Perfect for personal watercraft in choppy waters.
• This anchor comes in a kit that contains a nylon storage bag padded from within to perfectly handle the fluke anchor.
• It also comes with a marker buoy, four shanks that can fold, and a 25 feet polyethylene rope.

PROS	CONS
The rope comes with a steel snap hook which is good for heavy-duty anchoring and easy attaching.	The kit can’t handle saltwater. Careful treading is required.
Shanks of this anchor can dig into weeded surfaces, rocks, and even coral.

INSIGHTS:

• These anchors are infamous for getting stuck in rocks. So, to save yourself from this problem, you need to put on a trip line. You will find a place to tie the line at the grapnel end of the anchor.

• Tie enough line to make it to the surface. After which, attach a small float there. So, now if your anchor gets stuck, you can just grab the trip line and pull. The anchor will come right out. 

Product	Opinion	Available Location
Kwik Tek A-5 PWC Fluke Anchor	Recommended	Australia
BeGrit Small Anchor Kit	Recommended	United Kingdom

JET SKI SAND BAG ANCHORS

• Sandbag anchors are perfect for the calm water.
• Famous for taking minimum to no space in the storage compartment, these anchors are easy to carry and are very durable.
• They work in both shallow water and deep water.
• As these anchors are made with polyester, they do not cling around in the storage unit.
• For these sandbags to work as anchors, they need to be filled with dead weight. The most popular way to do it is to carry all the other types of anchor in it.
• These anchors are waterproof and they come in vibrant colors so that they can be easily spotted underwater.

PRODUCT NAME: Sea Doo New OEM Sand Bag Anchor

FEATURES:

• Sea-Doo Sandbag anchor comes with a molded floater and a plastic hook attachment.
• It also comes with a nylon strap that’s about 16 1/2 feet in length, which is long enough to anchor any water toy.
• This anchor is bright yellow in color so that you can easily spot this anchor even in not-so-clear waters.
• The anchor is compact and light-weight. So, maneuvering is quite easy for the rider even when the anchor attached to the rear end.
• It has space for 45 pounds of wet sand.

PROS	CONS
Heavy-duty anchor	Comes with a hook that is not big enough to attach to the bow cleat.
Made with polyester that’s built to last.
Affordable
Portable

PRODUCT NAME: Jet Logic A-1 PWC Sand Anchor

Features:

• Includes a six-foot rope system which is perfect for shallow waters.
• It comes with an extra-large snap hook made of acetyl for faster and easier anchoring.
• The sandbag measures four inches long, six inches wide, and 8.5 inches tall, and can hold both sand and rock, up to 35 pounds of either.

PROS	CONS
Easy to use snap-hook.	Works well only in shallow waters.
A super durable tri-laminate anchor bag to withstand various environmental conditions.	Comes with a hook that is not suitable for heavier vehicles and currents.
It comes with an over-sized , well finished acetyl snap hook.	Side seam likely to strip after regular use.
	Doesn’t perform in choppy waters.

MUSHROOM ANCHORS

• Mushroom anchor system looks like a typical mushroom.
• Its functioning is pretty similar to that of a sandbag anchor that uses nothing but weights to secure PWCs
• For flatter waters and lightweight PWC, the mushroom anchor system is a great choice. However, if the water gets rough or the weather turns windy, this mushroom anchor becomes inefficient as it drags along your PWC.
• The downside of this anchor is its weight and the threat of it scraping the storage unit while you drive or bounce your vehicle.

PRODUCT NAME: EXTREME MAX MUSHROOM RIVER ANCHOR

FEATURES:

• Extreme Max Mushroom River Anchor comes in a wide range of weights varying from 12 pounds, 18 pounds, 20 pounds, to 30 pounds. These wide-ranging sizes are helpful in determining what works well for your jet ski.
• Attaches very well to grassy bottoms, weedy surfaces, rocky terrain, and even hard mud.
• Comes with a vinyl coating preferred for mushroom types.
• Comes with flukes which help riders to hold on tight to the ground.

PROS	CONS
Comes in a variety of sizes and weights.	You cannot rely on this anchor in slow-moving currents or still waters.
Can be used for bodies of water with drifts and speedy currents, including lakes.	Not that easy to use. A little care is needed while using the anchor so as to get a deep grip on the ground.
Thick metal body ensuring durability

PRODUCT NAME: Danielson 20lb Mushroom Anchor

FEATURES:

• 8 inches high and 6 inches wide
• Can easily hold 22 ft boat
• Produces sufficient holding power in mud and weeds.
• Resistance to rust and abrasion lengthens life.

PROS	CONS
Durable, tough, and holds heavyweight J	Heavy to carry around
Corrosion-resistant	Doesn’t work in choppy waters
	Expensive

INSIGHTS:

1. When you are not using your mushroom anchor, make sure you wrap it with a towel or inside of an airbag to prevent the anchor from scraping the storage unit. You can also look for mushroom anchors with a vinyl coating to cut down on the scratching.

2. Mushroom anchors also come with an unspoken issue of sinking in the mud. When they sink, it becomes really hard to pull them up or carry them around. So, you have to be extra cautious while anchoring in soft sand.

SCREW ANCHOR

• Screw Jet Ski anchors are perfect for shallow waters and beaches. With this anchor, you can park your watercraft at any place of your choice by just screwing the anchor into the sand.
• Once you screw the auger deep into the ground, the hole starts filling with sand. This creates a “suction” between sand and the underlying water, preventing the anchor from “pulling-out”.
• On the shore, a screw anchor holds better than a folding grapnel anchor. However, screw anchors cannot be used in the middle of a water body. So, unless you spend a lot of time at the beach, investing in these anchors doesn’t make any sense.

PRODUCT NAME: Sand Shark Anchor

Features:

• Light, strong and easy to use.
• Comes with a 100 percent money back guarantee.
• Works for PWC and boat with size up to 18’.
• Made with thick aluminum.
• It can resist choppy waters too.

PROS	CONS
Durable than other metal screws	Expensive
Made with premium quality materials
Good impact resistance to hold the PWC to the shore
Portable
Easy to use

PRODUCT NAME: Kwik Tek Screw Anchor System

Features:

• Perfect for anchoring in shallow water or on the beach.
• It is a zinc-plated anchor that can be screwed into compacted sand or mud that is in 2 to 3 ft. water.
• It comes with a nylon rope that has a snap hook at each end. 
• The rope provided is about 8 feet long, enough to secure your PWC to the seashore.
• It comes with a padded nylon storage case to prevent scratches and unnecessary noises.

PROS	CONS
Durable	The length of the rope is not long enough for many users.
Good impact resistance to hold the PWC on the shore.	Works only on the seashore.
Comes with a floater and carry case.
Cost-effective.

COMMON FAQs

HOW MUCH ROPE IS TO BE USED FOR ANCHORS?

Generally, we use a 5:1 ratio. For example, you’ll use 25 feet of rope if you are in 5 feet of water. However, if you are using a chain instead of a rope the ratio has to be 7:1.

HOW TO PERFECTLY ANCHOR A JET SKI?

Now that you know what anchor is best for your jet ski, let’s learn how to effectively use it. The method you’ll adopt for the same will depend on what type of anchor you chose for your Jet Ski.

Once you are done screening, attach the rope as per the ratio mentioned above. As soon as you are done with it, drop the anchor where the bottom has a bite. Remember to keep your jet ski slightly away from the anchor. Mind it! Never keep your Jet Ski right over your anchor.  And ta-da! Your Jetski is anchored.

So as you may have figured out, not all anchors work for your watercraft. Anchors come in many different shapes and sizes. Some work for lightweight watercraft and some for heavy ones.

I am sure by this time you may have figured that not all anchors work for your PWC. 
Anchors come in many different shapes and sizes. Some work for lightweight watercraft and some for heavy ones. Some are for calm water and some can even anchor in choppy water. However, they all have one thing in common, they make parking your watercraft an easy affair.  
What are your go-to anchors? And, have I missed any on my list? Let me know in the comment box.