I have a need for a wreck anchor, but not the cash. I have a friend who is a great welder, and can build about anything. Any ideas on how to make one yourself? Thanks in advance for the info.

4 pieces of rebar and some stainless pipe

four pieces of rebar. one straight piece in the middle with an eye welded to each end. Then three pieces bent into J's welded onto it.
tying a piece of line to the eye in between the three hooks helps you pull a stuck anchor without trying to bend the bar or rip a cleat off your boat. good luck. the rebar is cheap but the chain, shackles, and line arent' cheap.

GOOGLE,WRECK ANCHOR,SEARCH

I have made a few wreck anchors and seen lots hung on the bottom that didn't work as intended. You must size the rebar for the size and power of your boat. Too small and she will pull loose when you dont want it to. Too large and she becomes part of the bottom, along with shackles,chain and rope and hopefully you didn't damage your boat or foul your prop before you gave up on it. Very cheap to make and easier to use than store bought which usually have short hooks which are too hard to straighten and too hard to bend back, requiring a piece of pipe for leverage. I used 4 pieces of 1/2 rebar cut 20" welded along side each other for the center of my anchor.This gives you the weight to get to the bottom quickly and it is very easy to weld the hook pieces up againts the shank. I make the 5 hooks out of 1/2 also 20" long. Overlapping only about 6" of the hooks to the center. This leaves 14" to bend into your hook shape. I use 3/8 to make the loops at both ends for shackle attachment. This has worked fantastic on my 31 Tiara. Only having to weld on new hooks to the same shaft as the old ones become brittle. I had to make the hooks out of 3/8" for my 25 Grady. Just make sure the hooks are long enough that you have enough leverage to bend the hooks straining yourself only a little and you will be able to pull it free with your engine and then bend it back by hand. Keith