Power anchor installed under the deck

[BartMan]

I've had the same model installed for over a year with no issues (regular mount on top of deck). I have an 18# mushroom and it holds my 24' well on a muddy bottom rivers and lakes. I love the thing, but you must be sure you are getting the latest version with the metal gears. Customer service was excellent. One of the parts was missing when I bought it from Amazon and they overnighted it no questions asked.

[storminyoung]

Awesome Idea! I have 2 of the same winches waiting to be installed. I have an aluminum deck, so I may actually bolt mine up right to the decking for a little extra clearance. Mount one front and rear, with a nice little splash guard for the rear one. I may have to try and mount the front one the same way as the OP and shoot the rear one out the side, to help with T-anchoring. Gonna have to do a little backyard engineering this weekend.

[bluecollarpilot]

Great idea and great install! I think I may look into this myself

[cleatus]

Thanks guys, I haven't splashed the boat yet, I'll let you know how it works when I do.

storminyoung:
"Awesome Idea! I have 2 of the same winches waiting to be installed. I have an aluminum deck, so I may actually bolt mine up right to the decking for a little extra clearance."

You need some clearance above the hoist for the anchor palms when it retracts into the davit, the bigger the anchor, the more clearance needed. otherwise, it will hit the under deck... if that matters.

[storminyoung]

You need some clearance above the hoist for the anchor palms when it retracts into the davit, the bigger the anchor, the more clearance needed. otherwise, it will hit the under deck... if that matters.

I was under the deck last night doing a little brainstorming over the davit clearance. Trying to decide if I want to make a completely new style to work with your plans or just adapt the OG style to fit the anchors. I need the extra clearance since I'm using 20lb river anchors front and rear. I also decided to build a false floor in my rear battery compartment and mount the rear winch in there instead. I plan on pulling all 3 batteries out, mounting the winch to the deck with only the Davit sticking out the rear of the boat. Build a remove-able stand to place the batteries on and install a few eyebolts through the decking to attach ratchet straps to and tie everything down snug.

[cleatus]

sounds like a plan!

I've seen a vid of a guy who mounted one under a seat, and ran the anchor line through a hole in the deck.. to a pulley mounted to a cross member.. to a davit mounted under the bow.
worked good, i think he was using a fluke.

good luck w/ your project.

[PlaynDoc]

that was one of the first things i bought for my boat, and am kicking myself to this day.....

mine was mounted on top of deck, as usual....

motor wore out after 3 trips to the lake....

now, that WAS in 2011..... if the motor is stronger....

I LIKE THAT SETUP.

[cleatus]

that was one of the first things i bought for my boat, and am kicking myself to this day.....

mine was mounted on top of deck, as usual....

motor wore out after 3 trips to the lake....

now, that WAS in 2011..... if the motor is stronger....

I LIKE THAT SETUP.

You prolly had one of the units with the plastic gear, they all have steel now, i opened mine and checked. It also has a re-setable circuit relay in the power lead for overloads.
Did you get a warranty replacement?

[plbgbiz]

I installed a Powerwinch Deck Mate 25 on the deck at the bow just off center to not impeded access through the gate. It's on a 25' Voyager tri-log/center console. It has been in for four years with only one issue.

Two years ago I submarined the bow in an unexpected storm. The "sealed" motor apparently was not. It was seized up when I returned to the slip the next week. It took several weeks but the replacement finally arrived at a cost of about $75.

The shroud on top seems to protect it well enough from the rain but the water was almost to the rails at the console. Lost a couple of ice chests and no major injuries to my pasesengers. Everyone was seated behind me and I was doing my best to keep the nose up. Unfortunately as I came down from a wave a five footer rolled over the front and sent the motor into the air. It was over in a matter of seconds but felt like forever.

I am a lot more cautious nowadays about keeping an eye out on the main lake when hiding in a cove to fish.

[storminyoung]

*Update* I got a chance to take the 'toon out this weekend with both winches installed. The front is mounted under the deck, in the front and the rear is installed in the rear cabinet I house my batteries in. I havent had a chance to get any pictures yet, but, I will try this week.
Everything worked great and was so much faster and easier than messing with those anchors by hand. However, one major/minor drawback I quickly found out was the noise. HOLY COW, the front winch was loud, but, tolerable. The rear one was so loud I thought boaters across the lake were going to hear me. I'm sure the combination of directly mounting the winch to the aluminum floor and installing it all in a aluminum cabinet has created a miniture amphitheater. If you plan on doing any fishing, which is my main purpose to get the boat out, you will def. need to look into ways to soundproof the cabinet. Looks like I got a little more finishing work to do before we go back out. I will try to up date this with a few pics and hopefully a solution to the noise later this week.

[cleatus]

"Update" for me too, I am pleased with how it works so far, no problems at all.
Feels good to sit at the helm and push a button to retrieve, and we are on our way. Great addition for the folks with back or leg ailments, or if ya just like gadgets.

Storminyoung...the noise...
my davit roller made a hell of a screech when I tested it in the yard, I pulled the roller/bolt and greased everything with marine grade wheel bearing grease, fixed the problem. give it a try.
and
what size anchors ya got?

[storminyoung]

cleatus - I've got 20lb'ers front and rear. My noise is actually motor or drive noise resonating thru the flooring. No real noise when I drop anchor, I greased both davits before I bolted everything together. I have some 1/8" rubber sheeting I plan on putting between the winch and the flooring and see if that helps. May even line the rear cabinet with it, if it helps.

[Ezgoing]

I apologize for the late post but I just joined and saw this. I have the same power anchor but I installed mine on the rear deck, off the left side of the boat. This was not an ideal location but was the only place I could install it where it was not in the way.

My wife has Parkinson so I need to keep the front entry as clear as possible for her boarding.

I like the idea of installing it under the deck the way it was done here.

I am thinking about installing underneath the rear of the deck, under the ladder.

My main concern is the unit getting wet and shorting out.

Is it still working without any problems? You now have several months of experience with it. Do you think it would work as well from the rear, since the rear of the boat sits lower in the water than the front of the boat?

Do you think there would be any problems with the engine if it was mounted underneath the right rear of the boat, underneath the swim ladder? I would be using the trolling motor to set and retrieve the anchor so the engine would not be running while the anchor cable was in the water.

Again I apologize for responding so late to this thread. But I was blown away by this method of installation. I wish I had seen this post before I installed my unit last week. However I will just seal the bolt and electrical holes and pretend they are not there.

[Capt Sully]

Overtons starting today (Sunday) has the Trac Deckmate 35 on sale $159 with Free remote and Free shipping.
Base on what you have been saying about it, and having no problems. I ordered one today and will have it before next weekend. I'll post my views after my install and usage.

[Bamaman]

Very nice mount, but what's up with the rice beer?

rice beer? hahaha

it all comes out the same, ya never buy beer, ya just rent it.

WE DON'T EVER BUY BEER, WE JUST RENT IT FOR AN HOUR OR SO!