I am gonna get of the which
anchor is best theme for a moment and partially disagree with CD's anchoring technique of using his motor to back down on his
anchor hard.
I've seen lots of people doing this making multiple stops and hauls before their anchor sets. I think a hard backing can tend to pull out a lightly set anchor in softer bottoms.
Our preferred method is to let out 1/3 of our planned
rode and then snub up, letting the wind/current drive the boat back on the
rode OR in the absence of current...to lightly back down until the bow snubs up in
line with the anchor. After we feel the boat catch on the anchor, we let out the remainder of the rode and again let the wind and current do their work in setting the anchor or lightly back down until the rode comes in a straight
line to the bow. Our experience is that it takes time for an anchor to fully bury and applying too much force too early just makes for multple attempts. This is the way we anchor in all bottoms...but find it to be particularly helpful in soft mud.