Anchoring a Boat - How to use a boat anchor

Anchoring a boat and how to use a boat anchor properly can be challenging for a new boater. If you want to know the basics of how to anchor a boat this video shows how to properly use your boat anchor to anchor your boat - primarily new boater tips. I show setting an anchor and how an anchor sets in the river bottom. I also cover how to trip an anchor or releasing an anchor. In addition I show and discuss some of the different types of anchors including mushroom anchor, river anchor and danforth anchor or fluke anchor. There is a lot to know about boat anchoring and I cover the basics and fundamentals of anchoring for beginning boaters or new boaters.
Buy the Chapman Piloting & Seamanship Book - amzn.to/3srFWcR
Buy a 15 lb mushroom anchor - amzn.to/3AYvGvL
Buy a 15 lb river anchor - amzn.to/3mifD7I
Buy a fluke/danforth anchor with chain and rode - amzn.to/2W72gwn
As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
01:52 Common types of boat anchors for recreational boats
02:27 Danforth anchors or Fluke anchors - how they work
04:05 Setting an anchor for your boat
06:45 How a river anchor works to hold your boat
08:26 How a danforth or fluke anchor works to hold your boat
09:27 Releasing the anchor or tripping the anchor
10:51 Releasing the anchor or tripping the anchor by yourself
11:49 Anchor line, anchor chain or anchor rode
12:50 Cutting your anchor line in an emergency
15:35 Additional resources about anchoring your boat
#boatanchoring #boatanchoruse #howtoanchoraboat
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[@steveinla8963]

Well, you missed an important step in releasing the anchor: always, and I mean always, start the engine. If for some reason the engine fails to start and you have raised the anchor, you're now in an uncontrollable craft that's usually heading a direction you don't want to be going in (towards rocks, the shore, or other boats). My friend gave me a book when I bought my boat 26 years ago: "Getting Started in Powerboating" by Bob Armstrong. I learned a lot from it. R, Steve

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

That's a really good point! We don't always start our engine, but we usually do to free up the anchor.

[@salizabeth1115]

This is great advice in any situation where you’re releasing the boat…Even if you’re just leaving from a dock in calm water make sure the engine is running first. I cringe when people untie a boat before starting the engine.

[@steveinla8963]

@@salizabeth1115 Hi Sarah, what kind of boating are you into? I used to take the kids tubing, butt they grew up. Now it's just the occasional day at the lake enjoying water.

[@robertspringer4019]

Very true. Great tip.

[@jolkraeremeark6949]

Good advice that you learn in a hurry without it!

[@garethjones9115]

I literally bought my first ever boat today. No experience whatsoever but really excited as the prospect of learning...safely. Your videos are brilliant and have given me such invaluable insight. Thank you so much.

[@joncooke9515]

Congrats! Best advice I ever got; never approach anything in your boat faster than you’re willing to crash into it.

[@Jason-un9ps]

Nice, congrats! I'm in the same boat (😂). What'd ya get?

[@really3316]

Common sense and safety 1st ! Welcome to the boat world.

[@MonzaTom]

I've owned my boat since 1988 and this video was still pretty informative. Well done!!!

[@sjpavur]

Wayne, as a total beginner, just looking into buying a first boat, your videos have been invaluable! They are interesting, the info is both valuable and practical, and you add just enough humor to make them enjoyable as well. I am looking forward to watching all of them! Thanks

[@mariterbrueggen2140]

Outstanding way to demonstrate anchoring. I learned a great deal even after years of boating

[@mariacutshall6925]

WOW! Amazing video; thank you very much for the kindness of teaching new things for old boaters. Blessings to you and your family 🇨🇴🇺🇸💝💐🙌

[@srossano]

Excellent video. Exactly what I needed as a new boater.

[@traceye.6428]

Best illustration of anchoring I’ve ever seen! Thank you so much!

[@dustin7734]

I initially didn't plan on watching the entire video, but your storytelling skills truly captivated me.

[@colemant6845]

Good video... There are MANY THOUSANDS of Anchors on the bottom of the seas left by boaters who "Cut and Run" because they could not figure out how to release their anchor. I dive and have many of them... some very expensive ones!

[@D2O2]

Maybe you will come across one of mine. Had one stuck in about 40 feet of water to what must have been an entire tree. When attempting to pull it up, bubbles would rise to the surface in about a 50' diameter around the anchor. The more I pulled, the heavier it got. After about an hour, I pulled as much rope in as I could and cut the line.

[@gtxoiltastebad]

@@D2O2 why didn't you jump in water and free the anchor

[@D2O2]

​@@gtxoiltastebadIt was about 40 feet down and I wasn't about to dive down that far for a $20 anchor.

[@gtxoiltastebad]

@@D2O2 40 feet is doable and not that difficult. If you a boat man you gotta take those parts too.. It's not about the price . It's about abandoning your trash ?

[@fredmiller4110]

​@@gtxoiltastebadyou can't dive down 40 feet and swim back to surface carrying a boat anchor so go pound sand.

[@Justfor1day]

Wayne...I am new at this having just purchased a 12' Hull for fishing mostly...you explain things professionally and yet in the simplest of ways too. I continue to watch your videos.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thank you and congratulations on your first boat!

[@OneCord2Short]

Thank you, informative video, exactly what I needed to hear as an amateur/beginner boater.

[@tonydtom536]

Nice explanation of how anchors work!

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thank you!!

[@stevedockery3534]

Very informative video Wayne. I've mostly had troubles of getting my danforth to stick / hold. Now I feel a bit more confident that I can do this, even alone. Thanks a lot my friend. Steve

[@mattwaters6987]

Great video Wayne. I can't believe i never carried a knife in my on board utility bag. I do now after seeing this video. You are the man. Many thanks! 😊

[@keithwilliams2766]

Best anchor video I've watched so far. I've been boating for 40 years and didn't know the first thing about the basics of anchoring. Have a mushroom claw type I've used with my ski boat and constantly have to "reset" it. Getting ready to take delivery of a tritoon boat and will definitely get a Danforth style.

[@steveinla8963]

Look into a box anchor.

[@keithwilliams2766]

@@steveinla8963 just purchased a 26 pound box anchor over the Memorial Day weekend after listening to many seasoned pontoon boat owners. Seems to be the best choice for the freshwater lakes in my area.

[@steveinla8963]

@@keithwilliams2766 Hi Kieth, box anchors hold very well. They also release easily too. I saw another boater use one once and it worked well for him. So, I cobbled one together one afternoon just before I left for a 4th of July trip. (I was in a hurry so I didn't make hinges to allow it to fold up.) That anchor held very well too in a cobblestone bottom and rough water. I hope yours works out well for you. Let us know how it works for you. Good Luck! Cheers! Steve

[@harbourdogNL]

"I've been boating for 40 years and didn't know the first thing about the basics of anchoring." How is that even possible?

[@keithwilliams2766]

@@harbourdogNL you do your boating with the same crowd, go to the same places, do the same routine, you'll learn nothing new. I have zero saltwater experience which takes boating to a whole new level, for which I have much respect. There's a lot we assume we know until we really don't know. But rest easy. I know a lot more about anchoring now than I did six months ago.

[@tomrunning357]

In welding school I made a danforth anchor for a graded project. It took 10 years before I could afford a boat to try it on. It is a mighty anchor for it's weight.

[@jackspeer2127]

Never watched an anchoring vid til about a year ago. Anchoring is not a simple process, it can get quite technical. I was surprised to learn that the anchor line, chain and rode all are matched to your boat according to the size and weight of the boat. And as you said the anchor itself needs to be matched to the type of bottom you will anchor to. So if you plan on boating on several types of bodies of water, you might consider owning more than one anchor. good vid Wayne.

[@sherryedwards9571]

This is a great video!! The visual aids and information given were done very well, thank you!

[@happybeans415]

Thanks for the video! gonna do my first anchorage this weekend and this was a great visual demonstration.

[@alexdibenedetto8486]

Wayne, great video, thank you so much! I'm certainly another "learn stuff as I go"-guy, and I wanted to add a piece of personal experience related to the "IN AN EMERGENCY" section. I've been in a situation where cutting the line was the only option, so I did. Now, in hindsight, I thought: I had a buoy available on-board, I should have cut the anchor line, attach the end to the buoy, let the line go and the buoy would make my anchor line available without having it attached to the boat. Like this, you get out of a potentially stressful "emergency" situation without losing the anchor. Take some time, think it through, you may pull and play with the anchor, without having it attached to the boat which can be a constraint (in my case it was). If the conditions are not optimal to get the anchor out, you may come back the next day.

[@ujoel2]

Struggled with a Danforth for 20 years... finally decided to invest in a Rocna and holy crap what a difference... we instantly get a rock solid set every time now. I'd recommend for anyone looking to buy a boat to just count the $200-600 cost of a Rocna as a mandatory expense for owning a boat and get one.

[@56nitehawk]

Outstanding demonstration. Thanks

[@brandoncox3227]

Phenomenal video. Brilliant. I am glad you noted that different anchors work better for different materials on the bottom. Such an important thing. Also, you can generally look up the size of your boat and what weight of anchor would be good for it. They also provide information on how relatively well your anchor will hold at given wind speeds.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@stevegiblin270]

Great education I will get Chapman Piloting book too! Thanks 😊

[@darrylmcleman6456]

When anchoring up for Halibut fishing in deep water we like to attach a" scotsman" or "large plastic floating ball" so in emergency we can untie the boat from the ball and anchor setup and retrieve anchor later. Use the ball and boatspeed to refloat the anchor! CHEERS from Westcoast Canada!

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Yeah that’s REAL anchoring - kinda like a personal mooring ball.

[@cwmaxfield2000]

I wish everyone would use an anchor bouy and a light at night.

[@cwmaxfield2000]

And not crowd other boats. 😬

[@BOLO_Crappie]

Great video. The best Anchor tutorial I've seen.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thanks!

[@splithoof9567]

Not being a boat owner, I found this video to be very informative on a subject I had no idea about.

[@jeepgirl1653]

Very good vid on anchoring. I have a couple of points I would like to add. First, a cleat may work to attach during a picnic aboard with light seas, but it is not the ideal point. I always use the bow ring for this task. It is the strongest piece of hardware on the boat. It also lowers the angle to the anchor. This can lower the length of scope or increase holding force. 10 ft. of chain is the minimum. Don't under estimate it's value. And when you haul up that clump of earth troll your danforth on a rear cleat 3 ft. below the surface for a 100ft.

[@nonenowherebye]

What we do with our 7500lb sailboat is tie a bridle between the two bow cleats. Line comes over the anchor roller, and is tied to one of the cleats. The loose line is then run around the other cleat, back around the anchor line and then tied off on the other cleat so that the strain is distributed across both cleats. Of course, our cleats are probably stout enough to lift the whole boat.

[@sukandigunawan207]

This anchor works logically and is easy to put and lift, especially with the addition of a stopper at the bottom so that the chain doesn't come back up, thank you

[@nicksperry9936]

Thank you for the video on anchoring. I've boated all my life. I have never anchored though. This will be very helpful.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@garyguiseppone278]

Thanks, Very well explained. You seem like a great guy.

[@mw9984]

Great video! Thanks!

[@shawntucker5429]

Thanks Wayne. Great video and great tips!

[@Hahehhwgajshah72726..]

Some great tips mate.My tips are having a bow roller on any boat with a section of channel that runs from the tip of the bow to the anchor well.Also I mark a thick line on my anchor rode with permanent marker every 1 meter in black and every 5 meters I mark 2 lines in red permanent marker. Say I want to let 30 meters out I count out 6 red markings, 17 meters? 3 red and 2 black. Very accurate/quick and easy. My boat sits 1 meter off the water from bow to water line so I allow for this when making the first marking. Far to many people don't allow enough line out when anchoring especially in strong currents/waves/wind.Your anchor should never just lay on the surface of the seabed as it can drag . Keep up the great work.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Marking the rode is a great idea! Especially helpful when having an assistant because we can easily tell them to let it out "4 marks". Thanks for the tips and for watching and commenting!!

[@Hahehhwgajshah72726..]

@@WayneTheBoatGuy Give it a go.Works a treat.Love all your videos mate.

[@robertsurprenant1205]

Great tips! Thanks Wayne. No one wants to mess up they're gel coat. I can already see myself having to practice setting and release.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

It can be challenging on some boats when there's wakes and waves as the anchor is being retrieved!

[@alexopweg]

The best explanation ever !!!

[@ansmiy]

Awesome review for first timers! Planning to make our first voyage today and taking you with us!

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@TheFishingHobby]

Very helpful video. I've always used mushroom style anchors on small fishing boats and kayaks...purchased a pontoon boat last summer and over time I've been able to mostly figure out how to use a danforth/fluke style anchor but I learned a couple of nice tips on your video that helps paint a more complete mental picture for me. Well done and I am now subscribed to your channel!

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thanks!

[@mattbrown5511]

I learned a lot. Thank you.

[@garycleaveland2645]

Thanks Wayne. Another good video.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thanks 👍

[@vadeum]

W

[@swfblacksheep703]

Boating my entire life on SWFL. Sea Claw Anchor is 100% the best no hassle anchor EVER invented. I literally have never thought about anchoring because they always work.

[@oysterhoister1993]

Cheers man, i have grown up sailing and this was really informative, I live in Norway with pretty rough wind and I’ll try to make a vid like yours some day with my experience. Thanks and much love from Norge

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thanks!

[@janvanaperen]

Excellent value

[@phillipallan2863]

Thanks. GREAT video for BEGINNERS like ME

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

You're welcome!

[@michaelhoneycutt7138]

Good info. I have an anchor like you shown. I had anc idea how it worked but had a few questions on how to drop and set it. Thanks. 👍

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Glad it helped

[@jamesmclellan8768]

Thank you this was very helpful

[@fred5566]

Thank you for sharing the how to get her done

[@Revviews]

Great video and practical advice that I can use. Perfect!

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thank you!

[@AV-wi1vk]

Well, this is a great video. Would be nice to see it in 'real time' on the actual boat... Greetings from France. Keep up the good work.

[@hectorrendon5313]

Thanks for the information!

[@moriver3857]

For those that can swing it, a bow anchor roller is their best friend. Great video.

[@mmchoto577]

Great video brother keep it up! Thank you

[@loudroarYT]

This was great!!! THANK YOU for sharing this! I am now youtube certified. :)

[@stevegiblin270]

That was great info! Steve from. New England!

[@johncox2831]

good vid thanks very well done . did help

[@jvjoe4376]

Nice job!! Thanks for posting. Peace!

[@geniuspackardbell369]

Very clearly and interesting. 😊

[@gregmore3505]

Thanks. Great video.

[@bricehale6593]

Im learning great guide an teaching abilities

[@DaydreamAboutNiceThings]

Great video ! A lot of good info !

[@salotematanayawa8530]

Have an anchor and just learned from you bow to go about it thanks another vinaka

[@eml5086]

Thank you!

[@hudson8865]

Thank you very much.

[@brianallen6341]

As a newbie 20 plus years ago communication problem happened and we forgot to "weigh anchor" before leaving. I wondered what was going on with the motor in the beginning until the anchor line snapped. Figured out the mistake and lost an anchor.. Stay safe out there folks and get some more good training. Boating is actually a dangerous thing as well as fun but when things go wrong on the water they can go Really Wrong Fast!

[@isabellaprice1501]

Thanks this helps a ton 😄

[@mikemckeown9477]

Good videos keep it up !

[@charlesbrewer6552]

Nice video Wayne. I guess you have a pretty light boat by the length of chain on your anchor. You did not mention the importance of the chain. The chain acts as a weight to hold the anchor line parrallel to the bottom, it is the upwards force that will break an anchor out and cause it to drag. (OK sometimes the mud is such that it will clog the anchor and stop it from holding, BUT) The idea is to have the anchor lying flat on the bottom so it only sees a horizontal force. The chain also acts like a shock absorber. As the boat surges backwards in a current or a wind gust, you do not want a shock load on the anchor itself. The chain acts like a shock absorber by having to rise off the bottom before any load is placed on the anchor itself. Hence the importance of sufficient anchor line. In good weather about 3 times the depth, in difficult conditions , high current or wind with gusts, 5 times the depth or even more if you are worried. The more chain you have out the safer you will be, although chain gets very heavy when you have to pull it up. I have a 30 ft yacht and I carry 4 anchors from light weight to very heavy. In good conditions (for lunch) in a calm bay I might use a light anchor with minimum chain and then rope. For a relaxing sleep overnight in strong winds I use a heavy anchor with 20 meters of chain before the rope starts. That anchor has never dragged on me! I wake up some mornings and the anchor is lying on it's side still with the chain drag marks in the sand telling the story that boat stayed still just on the chain! As I said a good video, I just felt you did not emphasise the importance of having suffficient chain/rope out to ensure a horizontal load on the anchor, minimising any tendancy to "lift" the anchor as the boat pulls back on the line.

[@stephenshippos4604]

He did say that about the chain 12:05

[@roxanneisham8785]

Thank you!!!

[@andrewgoodall2183]

Good explainer. Well done.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thank you!

[@thelittlestmig3394]

I would recommend marking depth on anchor line. It's pretty much the simplest and lowest tech way to measure depth when anchoring or doing something else depth related.

[@hassunhus]

Excellent job.......👍

[@baldyhead1]

Great video !

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thanks!

[@troystancil4500]

Great video 👍🏾

[@mrzoinky5999]

Good job on your video!

[@victoriamanley9961]

Great. Thx

[@chongmoua3410]

Great video

[@hisforever4937]

We just bought a pontoon and we are not border people, we bought it completely cluelessly! This was an excellent video on anchor info thanks for being so visual, I learn best that way👊🏻

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thanks!

[@nonenowherebye]

The key thing for having a good anchor set is to have enough chain as part of your anchor rode. We have a 7500lb sailboat, and gunkhole our way around the waters of the Salish Sea. We have our danforth anchor, followed by 50 feet of chain, followed by 200' of nylon rode. Anchoring is pretty simple, drop the anchor and chain to the bottom, back down on it, then let out enough scope, and tie it off. With just a 20lb anchor and the 50 feet of chain, the anchoring system will fully resist our 10HP engine in reverse. We sleep very well at night relying on this. We rarely go beyond a 4:1 scope.

[@jefffrasle2978]

Thanks so much. I thought knew how to do it, but had no idea about length of rope and setting it.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

You're so welcome!

[@operationrestore3308]

Thank you good sir!

[@phillipdavis9006]

Thank You , Sir. You have delivered me from anchoring a 17.5 foot Aluma Craft, The river anchor has not worked in a current or winds....

[@stephenshippos4604]

Awesome

[@braderyoutube1983]

ty sir. it really helps me ❤

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Happy to help

[@FemptMurderOrgy666]

Having a knife to cut the anchor line is a big deal. Here in North Texas, and East too, this is a big deal. All the lakes are shallow flooded fields or woods, so there are many trees, stumps, and shrubs. Great for fishing (I am not an angler at all), so many anchors, regardless of type get totally stuck. I have abandoned many claw and mushroom anchors. Water is 100% turbid so there is no seeing them from the surface, let alone diving to recover them. My wife likes magnet fishing and has found many rotted anchors that have been submerged for who knows how long. Wayne you are a boating boss, such fun and helpful content. You are a true resource.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thanks! And those are all VERY good reasons to cut and leave an anchor!

[@poundsonwood]

I don't know squat about boats, and owning one doesn't interest me. But having a curious mind, I have wondered about how various anchors work. I enjoyed learning something new from your video. Thanks.

[@michaellake5269]

Try a daisy chain on your ropes. Easy to do and works great.

[@rbhillner]

Great video, I just found this video. Thank you. ( former Power Squadron Instructor )

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cwmaxfield2000]

If the anchor is impossibly stuck pull rope up short, add a mooring buoy. retrieve another day as a courtesy and it doubles as a mooring for other boats needing anchorage. Snorkel gear is important on larger boats. Its necessary for my 25 ft sail boat. Or any boat over 16 ft or longer.

[@CapeAnnImages]

Great video however the the anchor line is the "rode" the anchor chain is just that "anchor chain". By the way that chain you used the length is ok for a 16' boat or under. Double that chain length for a boat up to 26' . And it's always a good idea to have two anchors on your boat! Best Regards, Jay

[@dubab.249]

Around 1980, the US Navy tested a Danfort anchor of only 10 kg, + 30 m of chain with a maneuvering ship for oceanic ships in ports. After digging in, they could not move, upon inspection, the anchor went a meter into the sand, two meters into the silt. only a rope with a buoy at the joint of the anchor is needed for extraction and the anchor does not remain.

[@thenauticalnomadmactire]

an additional tip for single handing an anchor you can just pull up faster and that will give you the forward momentum to help free the anchor so you don't have to head back to the weal and throttle if you even have them on your vessel.

[@bjsmith9191]

Thanks for this video. What was the name of the app you said you used?

[@johnwills9303]

Great video. Just one observation which may or may not be something that is ok to do. When you mention cutting an anchor rope the concern that I feel is that it could pose a risk to other boats vis a vi fouling a passing boat's prop!! Of course that is assuming the whole line doesn't sink. I've heard of a tip that if it must be cut to attach a small fender/bouy to the end of the line to serve as a location for the anchor so a harbourmaster would know where its at. Or if you have a friend who likes to dive you have it located LOL. Just an observation. Love the content.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Good points!

[@sophiegrunge7041]

What do you recommend for a floatie at the beach with waves? Are the Danforths too sharp too pull up and if it bumps me as I pull it out would it cut my skin easily like a knife or are the blades not that sharp?

[@kennethsmith8844]

You did well! Once I told my friend “ throw in the anchor” he didn’t have it tied to boat! 20 feet of Snake River ice water. He wanted to dive for it but I said no

[@BeowulfNode]

Another tip for releasing the anchor from the bottom is: - once you get the anchor line vertical, then tighten the line and tie it to your bow cleat (careful not to get your fingers squished), - then the up and down motion of the boat on the waves will release the anchor for you. It should be clear when this has happened as you can then easily pull up the anchor. This works because it is setting of the anchor wrong on purpose, so that it will release. I'm normally out on the ocean, so there's almost always waves for me.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

I HAVE pinched my fingers trying this technique!

[@BeowulfNode]

@@WayneTheBoatGuy rather than go straight for the proper tie off, I'll usually just wrap the rope around the cleat 2 or 3 times before tieing off to reduce the chances of losing a finger.

[@sjpavur]

What a great tip! Now that you mentioned it, I recall experienced boaters doing that when raising their anchors!

[@johncarbutt4311]

The anchor chain is a critical portion of the anchor. I use 8’ of heavy chain to help the anchor dig in and hold.

[@the4hunters]

Genius

[@dannytravis7118]

I made 4 river anchors for my boat for river fishing. I bought 8 pieces of 12 inch long rebar took 4 empty paint cans and 1 bag of concrete, 4 loop bolts about 8 inches long with a nut and large washer. I took my 9mm pistol and shot once on opposite sides which put 4 holes into the paint cans. I put the large washer on the loop end bolts and screwed the nut on about half an inch of threads out of the bottom of the nut. I drove 2 pieces of rebar through the bullet holes and placed washer and nut near the rebar and filled the bucket with concrete and let dry. For about 20 dollars and an hour of labor I had 4 good anchors for the river. My intended use is just 1 at time, but if it gets tangled too badly in tree roots I can cut it loose and I'm only loosing about 5 bucks. Regular anchors new start at 20 bucks each. It totally depends on what body of water I'm in. In lakes with sand, gravel and mud I'll use my fancy store bought anchor. In the river around a lot of underwater trees, roots and other snags I drop my homemade anchor. When I was 10 years old we had a quad hook anchor and it got hung up. And dad had me strip down to my underwear and go fetch the anchor which I got it but dang that water was cold. It didn't take me long to make some new anchors that we could cut off. Dad did odd jobs for people on the side after his factory day job and we removed and replaced some very old windows for an elderly lady. The old windows had metal weights on each side to hold the windows open. I took 2 of those weights put the eyes for rope facing the same way and dad welded them together. Not the best in the world but it worked and we never did get it tangled so bad we couldn't just pull straight up to get it loose.