The anchor retrieval float rig consists of a 12" or 15" diameter round fender, attached to a short painter, which in turn is attached by a carabiner to a 6" diameter stainless steel ring. The ring is open on one side, and can be slipped over the anchor rode. The carabiner is used to close the ring.

Basically, the boat is used to pull the anchor and chain off the bottom. The float and ring are used to change the angle of the rode so that the anchor is lifted up, instead of being pulled sideways when the boat drives off.

To use this rig:

• The carabiner is removed, and the ring slipped over the anchor line.
  
  
• The carabiner is replaced to lock the ring onto the rode. The float and ring are tossed into the water.
  
  
• The boat is driven off at a 45 degree angle to the rode . The boat pulls the rode up through the ring. The float changes the angle of the rode so that the anchor and chain are lifted more or less straight up towards the ring, instead of being dragged sideways.
  
  
• Eventually,  the anchor chain makes its way through the ring, followed by the anchor stock.
  
  
• Once the anchor stock is in the ring, tension can be removed from the rode. The weight of the chain keeps the anchor from falling back, and the float raises the anchor and chain to the surface.
  
  
• At that point, all the person tending the anchor has to do is pull in the float.
  
  
• Once on board, the ring is removed from the rode, and the anchor is ready to deploy again

One perennial problem with this technique is stowing the round float. We have taken to tucking it under the bow rail, where it is mostly out of the way.

We have not tried a regular fender to see if it will work, but that might be another possible solution.

Sounds simple, eh? And it is. But like many simple things, there are a few "gotchas" that you need to be aware of, in order to avoid some frustration. We'll cover those points in the next section.