Anchor for Osprey 216 23 foot dual console

[who4ever]

Hi.  New boat owner here.  I have a 2000 Osprey 215 23 foot dual console.  It has a Danforth anchor in the bow.  My boating friend says I should get a new one because the stem of the anchor (where it attaches to the chain) is too thin.  He might be right, it does look rather thin.  Since I don't have a stern anchor and was planning to buy one anyway for when I get the nerve to anchor up off a beach, I figured I would use the current bow anchor as the stern anchor since it would get used rarely and just buy a new bow anchor.  Sound like a plan?  What weight anchor is proper for the boat?  Any particular brand or seller you can recommend?  How about a line for the stern anchor?  How long do I need.  Do I need to buy a chain also for the stern, or would a 3/8-1/2 line be sufficent for it as the secondary anchor?  Also, I don't believe my bow anchor line has depth markings on it, so I don't know how much rode I have let out.  With what do you mark the anchor lines and how far apart?
Thanks

[fitz73222]

Danforth #8 6' of rode for every 1' of depth you intend to anchor in. Really doesnt mean much until you get into stiff current or depths over 40' again, current dependant.

[gran398]

Chain is a necessity. Makes the anchor sink and dig in quicker. Eight feet minimum for the stern anchor. Up to twenty feet on the bow anchor for deep water.

[who4ever]

Thanks both for your responses.

[who4ever]

Getting back to my original posting.  Do I really need a chain for my secondary anchor, that I will primarily be storing in the console and using it maybe 2 times a year, from the stern, to carry it up to a beach and manually dig it in the sand?  Its not the expense, its just the weight and the room that this will take up.  

Also, how do you guys mark the depth of your anchor lines so you know how much line you have let out?

Thanx

[seabob4]

Getting back to my original posting.  Do I really need a chain for my secondary anchor, that I will primarily be storing in the console and using it maybe 2 times a year, from the stern, to carry it up to a beach and manually dig it in the sand?  Its not the expense, its just the weight and the room that this will take up.  

Also, how do you guys mark the depth of your anchor lines so you know how much line you have let out?

Thanx

You can try these...http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... _sku=36667

[GoneFission]

I like the idea of 2 anchors, one as a "lunch hook" - used for quick & easy setup.  Minimal chain and not too heavy - you can use it for easy days with light wind/current and shallow water.  For the lunch hook, I use a 8-10 lb quick release with 4-5 feet of regular chain.  

The "main hook" is for serious or deep water anchoring, or when the wind or current is up.  I use a 17 lb Danforth with 6-8 feet of double heavy chain.  It's more of a pain to get out and deploy, and harder to bring back up, but I am pretty sure that it's going to hold when it needs to...  

I wind up using the lunch hook probably 75% of the time...  

[gran398]

Getting back to my original posting.  Do I really need a chain for my secondary anchor, that I will primarily be storing in the console and using it maybe 2 times a year, from the stern, to carry it up to a beach and manually dig it in the sand?  Its not the expense, its just the weight and the room that this will take up.  

Also, how do you guys mark the depth of your anchor lines so you know how much line you have let out?

Thanx

You need chain. The anchor may not set/and or drag without it. If nothing else, as John said, six feet or so.