Anchor buoy line winder. Check this out!

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_101815_100011001_100000000_100011000_100-11-1
I was looking around the Bass Pro Shops site and found this $5 anchor buoy that has a built in winder! Ordered one to test out, I mean at that price what is there to lose. Looks like you mount the base somewhere and wind the anchor right on in. What do you think guys is this going to be a winner?

I checked those out at BPS and they are marker buoys not really big enough for any current. Cool design though.

Here's my take on the whole anchor buoy line winder thing.  Of course here in Portland I often have to anchor in 60-80 feet of water for my sturgeon fishing so having a few hundred feet of line is required.

Brian  (btw, my initials are also BPS)

Brian can you wind yourself up to the buoy with that reel in current?

Mark,

I'm not sure what you're asking.  The reel is below the buoy in the water most of the time. I have the quick release lanyard and let go of everything if I need to.   The bouy and line are neutrally buoyant and don't pull the buoy down, but do act a bit as a drogue causing the current to pull on it a bit.   As for reeling it back up, I pull up the buoy and winder then paddle up stream until the line starts to tighten again.  Then I reel like crazy as I float back downstream.  The only moderately hard part is lifting the anchor the 60+ ft from the bottom to the kayak.  I haven't had a problem getting it stuck yet, but frankly the current was pretty light this winter around here.

Brian

Same idea all in one. Works great but looks stupid.

 Sorry, I was wondering if you were able to wind yourself up to your anchor not buoy. My bad.. I was wondering if that reel had enough torque to pull up to the anchor and lift it.

Gotcha Mark,

There have been a couple times where the winder didn't seem to have enough torque and I simply reached down and pulled with my hands or I held tight and paddled upstream with the kayak to pull from another angle.

BTW, these extension cord winders are like $5-$7 at Lowes or Home Depot.

Brian