Anchor found magnet fishing bayou

[Tigerdude]

found this anchor today. Small steamboat anchor for small bayou. How old do you think it is?

 

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[UnderMiner]

Neat! That will make a great nautical themed display!

 

[GetBusyDiggin]

nice find. I've tried magnet fishing in the Atchafalaya River but no luck yet. My magnet has trouble picking up old corroded steel like that. Well done!

 

[A2coins]

I agree about display idea doesn't look like it would be for a very large boat but does look old any marks or name on it anywhere!!!Thanks for sharing!!

 

[ScubaDetector]

That looks like a very old anchor. However, WAY too small for a steamboat. That might hold a 14' rowboat. Was it found in brackish water or fresh water? I really don't know how to protect them except get the rust off and coat with paraffin wax so no more moisture gets to it. Somebody else might know. That would make an awesome display

Biggest anchor I have found was 8 tons. Never brought it up though!

 

[ironman123]

Very nice looking anchor.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

, WAY too small for a steamboat. That might hold a 14' rowboat.

Down here in Louisiana there were hundreds of small steamboats running the bayous for lumber companies, and working Lake Ponchartrain, etc... It wouldn't surprise me a bit if that was from one of those. Cool find!

 

[Tigerdude]

I agree. I'm not talking a Mississippi River steamboat but a bayou steamboat. Before the railroads, they were the main means of moving small amounts of cotton and sugar in the bayou country of south Louisiana. By the way, I re- submerged the anchor until I figure out how to preserve it. It's been in fresh water but has a lot of soft rust on it. I would like to keep it as is but I'm afraid as it drys the rust will fall off.

 

[Trezurehunter]

That is one great find. I agree with the others, I think that would make a very nice display piece.

 

[trapperart]

Very nice congrats

 

[DownNDirty]

That looks like a very old anchor. However, WAY too small for a steamboat. That might hold a 14' rowboat. Was it found in brackish water or fresh water? I really don't know how to protect them except get the rust off and coat with paraffin wax so no more moisture gets to it. Somebody else might know. That would make an awesome display

Biggest anchor I have found was 8 tons. Never brought it up though!

Two ways to remove the rust-either using electrolysis or soak it in apple cider vinegar and wire brush it. To preserve the metal you could use melted paraffin wax, or rub liquefied Briwax on it.

 

[Tigerdude]

I have a little experience with both methods qqbut I'm afraid there is little good metal left. I was thinking about dipping it or spraying it with Penetrol. Has anyone tried this stuff before. I'm trying to preserves its shape

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Any soft loose or flaky rust will have to come off, it'll just keep flaking anyway. Electrolysis is probably your best bet, but just keep checking on it to make sure you take it out when the loose stuff is gone. Possibly having it blasted with walnut shell (instead of sand or glass bead) would clean it up without losing any more good metal......Something that big I don't know how you'd wax it.... maybe heat it with a torch and do a section at a time? If the metal is good and clean maybe several coats of clear lacquer...

 

[digger460]

Nice one! Great display piece