Throwing a box anchor from the cockpit and tying it off at the bow is the better way to go. There have been several threads with the anchor locker topic lately. Do a search. Anchor lockers seem to be more liability than they are convenience.

To the contrary, I've watch many captains try to pull up their anchor from the cockpit and lose the battle in windy conditions. The wind catches the boat sideways and pushes it HARD. If you're at the bow, the boat is lighter there and you can keep the boat headed toward the wind and waves, and therefore pull the anchor up and out. I'm not saying you need an anchor, just that you need to be smart with the conditions and use physics to your advantage, not against you.

Retrieving the anchor in a wind or current is difficult no matter where you are in the boat. But, I think many of us are referring to one-man-shows here. The best thing to do is have someone strong enough to pull up the anchor, and someone to drive the boat at the same time.

If I'm in a dicey situation, the last place I want to be is way up the bow away from the sticks. I fell off the bow of my boat when tying up to a piling in a heavy wind years ago, with the engine running, and my (former) useless GF in the cockpit. Trust me, that was a horrible experience.

A couple other options are to spin the boat and let the anchor line meet you at the stern via the wind or current. I store the Box Anchor and it's line (it does not need a chain, another plus) in a large duffle bag, with a car fender pad. I've posted pics of such in the past.

Or, if you have to, pull the anchor up, while at the bow, and tie it back off again where the anchor is hanging just below the water line. Then idle, forward (slowly) or backward to clear water and finish pulling in the anchor.

Bottom line is, if I am by myself and the conditions are bad ( wind, waves, current etc.) I am not going to try and anchor close to anything that could cause a problem! I carry 2 anchors under my back seat a Fortress and a Delta Fast set, I used to have a Box anchor and I wasn’t a big fan of it, It would not hold right or reliably in Hard packed sandy bottoms. The Delta Fast set I used to replace it works way better for me.

why anchor by yourself????

Mna i anchor by my self alot. mostly casue I can leave work early, and work from the boat.... laptop and cell phobne with a cold beer in the sun..... best office ever.

or just becasue I am there before the rest of my crew, and they ride out with other and meet up./

My 26PQ had the locker, the large Box Anchor by the guys out of AZ meant for holding 35ft cabin cruisers fit it there perfect. That anchor would hold a cruise ship. We all know storage is a big deal in boats that’s why the locker was nice, meant for holding wet ropes and anchors. Plus stowing the ropes away was easier compared to coiling a rope in hand and putting away in a bag or floor. You always get tangles when anchoring your next trip.
New boat 34 Vyper, off to the fiberglass guy next month to put a locker in. In perfect conditions no wind no rain grabbing the anchor from the swim deck is great but as previous post have stated add some wind and you have to pull from the bow unless you think you are He-Man, can He-Man swim?

Best money I’m going to ever spend putting the locker in except for the 1500hp going in this month;-) Can’t wait for the ice to be gone.

post some pics when completed.

If you get tangles with your anchor line try the Mega-Plait 12 strand pre spliced anchor line made by New England Ropes, I have it on my second anchor and it is way better than your standard anchor line for coiling and storing.

I to want to see pics of an anchor locker install and would love to know pricing...... Would really open my shopping choices up