we used a mini Bruce anchor. Everyone who sees it laughs! I think it might have been one of the demo models they use at a boat show.

I keep it, and about 15 or 20 Ft of 1/4 inch chain followed by 50 or so feet of 3/8 or 1/2 inch nylon line, and it all fits in a pail. If we are going to the beach we don't normally take it. We just pull the dink up on shore. If we were swimming/snorkeling we would drop it in the PoertaBoat to take with us.

We also have a couple of times we used the chain to jumper a warn line on a mooring at Puerto Escondido.

Going down the west coast we did not swim. The water was to cold for us old geezers....

Greg