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An effective way to manage your anchoring
position is with an anchor trolley system. This allows you to anchor
your boat with the bow facing in any position that you wish, you can
position it at the bow, stern, or anywhere in between, making it easier
to fish a certain spot without having to turn or twist in the cockpit.
The trolley system also makes it easy to retrieve your anchor and bring
it aboard so it does not hang down in the water while cruising. This
set-up also doubles as a wade line and works well with any kayak or
canoe. Installation is simple, requiring a small amount of tools,
know-how and time
 Step
One
Begin
by locating where on the bow and stern you will mount the strap eyes.
Pick an area as close to the ends as possible. If you can reach inside,
then use the screws and nylock nuts, if not, then regular SS sheet
metal. screws will suffice. Apply a small amount of RTV sealant or Shoe
Goo to seal the holes water tight
Step Two
Once the strap eyes are mounted. Take an
8 inch length of shock cord and double it over. Tie an overhand knot at
the end forming a loop. This will hold your micro block and keep the rig
taut to the deck, making the system quiet and neat in appearance.
Step Three
Insert the loop into either the front
or rear strap eye, it doesn’t matter which, and seat the knot against
the strap eye.
Step 4
Install a small S.S. caribiner onto the
loop. The caribiner makes removal of the trolley easy for cleaning and
maintenance of the hull. All you have to do is unclip at both ends and
the whole works is removed
Step 5
Clip the micro block onto the carabineer.
The idea of the cord connections at both ends is to keep the block flat
to the deck without twisting and without the use of noisy, corrosion
prone metal hardware
Step 6
Repeat steps one through five at the rear
of the boat. Remember. Be sure to use that sealant. Otherwise the
connections between the hull and hardware may weep water into the hull.
Step 7
Take the trolley rope and run it through
the rear pulley. Feed the line half way through then run the line
through the front pulley
Step 8
Take the end of the rope that runs out of
the REAR pulley (this very important as you anchor trolley does double
duty as a wade line). Tie a nylon “D” ring to this end using a slip or
barrel knot as pictured.
Step 9
Clip your large aluminum carabineer onto the
“D” ring with the gate down. Run the tag end of the line running from
the bow through the carabineer. Be sure the ropes are not twisted or
wrapped around each other. Pull on the rope end until the lines are
really taut. Pinch the ropes together as shown and hold. Unclip the
carabineer from the “D” ring.
Step 10
 Pull
6 inches more line through the carabineer. This will take up slack
during the knot tying process. Tie off that end with the barrel knot
shown. To tie this knot, run the line through the biner, hold the
running line and tag end about 4 to 5 inches up the running line. Wrap
the tag end loosely around both lines about 5 to 6 times. Run the tag
end through the loops you just made and pull tight.
Step11
Locate where you want to locate the
gripper anchor cleat. I chose to mount mine to the left, just behind
the seat so clothing would not get caught on it as I entered and
exited the kayak. Drill your holes using the appropriate bit and be
sure to apply that RTV sealant to the back of the cleat. Secure using
bolts and nuts or large screws.
Step 12
I like to use small nylon hooks mounted
on the hull to keep the trolley from riding into the cockpit area and
they also make for a neat appearance when viewed from the sides. Where
you install them is really up to the shape of the hull. I just put
them equally spaced apart on the deck to create a more symmetrical
appearance.
Wading Line
 Picture
at the left shows how the system doubles as a wade line. The knot that
secures the “D” ring to the trolley line stops against the rear pulley
when the snap hook is undone and the line played out. This set-up allows
you complete access to the entire kayak and all it’s hatches. Once your
done, you simply snap the caribiner back onto the D ring and it is once
again an anchor trolley.
The Finished Product
 
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