Patent ID: 7430977

Claim:
An anchoring device for remotely starting a trolling motor on a boat, steering the boat with the trolling motor, and dropping an anchor connected to a rope comprising: a spring loaded anchor release device comprising: a top housing for sliding over a bottom housing, wherein the top housing contains a centrally positioned anchor rope pin for releasably holding an anchor rope, a spring surrounding the anchor rope pin, and at least four threadable guide pins, and further wherein the bottom housing comprises a spring housing with an anchor rope pin seat for receiving the anchor rope pin, and a plate secured to the bottom housing for receiving the at least four threadable guide pins and fasteners to engage a deck of a boat; a latch assembly mounted to the plate, wherein the latch assembly comprises; i. a latch bar secured to at least two exterior guide pins, ii. a trip-latch hinge finger adapted to removably engage the latch bar; and iii. a solenoid aligned with the trip-latch hinge finger for striking the trip-latch hinge finger and releasing the latch bar, enabling the spring to move the anchor rope pin away from the anchor rope pin seat, wherein the solenoid is further connected to a power supply; a receiver disposed within a control box adapted for receiving a signal to energize the solenoid to strike the trip-latch hinge finger; a remote transmitter for transmitting the signal to the receiver for energizing the solenoid; and a linear actuating device comprising a connection to a plurality of relays contained within the control box for steering a trolling motor when the linear actuating device receives a signal from the control box.