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choppedliver · 12-09-2009, 08:04 PM

Was out at sand island a few weeks ago and threw out my regular anchor onto the beach. It worked ok, but thought its really not the ideal solution. So I went home and googled "sand anchor". The first result that came up was the sand spike http://www.sandspike.com/sandspike.shtml. I was like holy cow thats expensive. $50 - $90 for an anodized aluminum spike???? Sure its pretty, but holy ^&* its just an aluminum spike!

So I built this, one of my first TIG welding projects. It's pretty heavy duty stuff, 1/8th 6061T6 Hardened architectural grade tubing and angle.

It's not anodized, like T Top aluminum, but who cares, it's an anchor. I took a wire wheel to it and it looks purty. It will turn colors from weather exposure because it's not anodized, but once again, who cares its an ANCHOR. It won't ever rust, its light weight, and it cost me a hell of a lot less than a purple sandspike.

This one is 17" long which is bigger than the smallest one on that sandspike page and should hold most common boat sizes. They say their 15" one will hold a 24' boat, mine is longer and looks to be wider as well, since mine is 3 inches wide ( 1.5 inch per side of angle ). So I would guess it will hold at LEAST a24' boat.

Let me know what you guys think, would be happy to build one for anyone else of ANY size, have plenty of aluminum.

12-09-2009, 08:04 PM	#1
choppedliver Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,393	Sand Anchor? Was out at sand island a few weeks ago and threw out my regular anchor onto the beach. It worked ok, but thought its really not the ideal solution. So I went home and googled "sand anchor". The first result that came up was the sand spike http://www.sandspike.com/sandspike.shtml. I was like holy cow thats expensive. $50 - $90 for an anodized aluminum spike???? Sure its pretty, but holy ^&* its just an aluminum spike! So I built this, one of my first TIG welding projects. It's pretty heavy duty stuff, 1/8th 6061T6 Hardened architectural grade tubing and angle. It's not anodized, like T Top aluminum, but who cares, it's an anchor. I took a wire wheel to it and it looks purty. It will turn colors from weather exposure because it's not anodized, but once again, who cares its an ANCHOR. It won't ever rust, its light weight, and it cost me a hell of a lot less than a purple sandspike. This one is 17" long which is bigger than the smallest one on that sandspike page and should hold most common boat sizes. They say their 15" one will hold a 24' boat, mine is longer and looks to be wider as well, since mine is 3 inches wide ( 1.5 inch per side of angle ). So I would guess it will hold at LEAST a24' boat. Let me know what you guys think, would be happy to build one for anyone else of ANY size, have plenty of aluminum.