Minn Kota DeckHand 40
A proven freshwater anchor winch for walleye and bass boats with a 20 to 40 lb anchor. Saltwater boaters should look elsewhere.
Amazon $340.73$340.73
The Minn Kota DeckHand 40 is the better anchor windlass overall, rated 3.0 to 2.9. The Minn Kota DeckHand 40 leads on warranty and pull. The TRAC Pontoon 35-G3 wins on value. The TRAC Pontoon 35-G3 costs $140.76 less ($199.97 vs $340.73).
TRAC Pontoon 35-G3
The budget pick for a pontoon or deck boat up to about 24 ft. Those who want to drop anchor from the helm should look at the AutoDeploy models with a remote.
Amazon $199.97$199.97
Prices were last checked November 2, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.
Which should you buy?
- Choose the Minn Kota DeckHand 40 for warranty (2-year warranty vs 1-year warranty) and pull (anchors up to 40 lb vs anchors up to 35 lb).
- Choose the TRAC Pontoon 35-G3 for value ($5.71 per lb of anchor ($199.97, 35 lb) vs $8.52 per lb of anchor ($340.73, 40 lb)).
Scores side by side
Each factor is scored 0-100 against the same fixed reference points for every drum anchor winches anchor windlass; a clear win is highlighted. How we rank explains each one.
| Factor weight | Minn Kota DeckHand 40 | TRAC Pontoon 35-G3 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3.0/5 | 2.9/5 |
| Pull 20% | 81 anchors up to 40 lb | 70 anchors up to 35 lb |
| Line speed 15% | 50 line speed not published (neutral score used) | 31 65 ft a minute |
| Value 30% | 45 $8.52 per lb of anchor ($340.73, 40 lb) | 74 $5.71 per lb of anchor ($199.97, 35 lb) |
| Features 10% | 0 none of the three | 0 none of the three |
| Warranty 25% | 25 2-year warranty | 0 1-year warranty |
Specifications
| Minn Kota DeckHand 40 | TRAC Pontoon 35-G3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| Style | Drum winch | Drum winch |
| Line speed | - | 65 ft/min |
| Voltage | 12 V | 12 V |
| Fit | ||
| Anchor up to | 40 lb | 35 lb |
| Boats up to | - | 24 ft |
| Rode | 100 ft of 800 lb test nylon rope | 100 ft of 3/16 in braided rope |
| Free fall | No | No |
| Wireless remote | No | No |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 year |