Box anchor for a houseboat

I am trying to convince someone with a houseboat that the box anchor is the best anchor. Who has used one with a houseboat? Did it hold well in all conditions?

Use a sledgehammer and 3-4' long metal stakes and tie it off properly on shore otherwise it will probably end up on shore but not how you want it.

I would not anchor a houseboat, too much mass.
Do what Jonathan says, tie to stakes on shore, and tie well!

Wow! Thanks for answering my question. On the lake we go to everyone anchors houseboats. Especially since this is a fiberglass bottom house boat and the lake has a rocky shore. I dought they want a hole in the bottom of the boat.

Well then just find out what others are using on your particular lake. Maybe 2 box anchors in a "V" off the bow then? The thing is out here on West Coast water depth can vary from 10-15' to well over 200'. Having an anchor and line for that would be cumbersome.

Depends on the size, but I've never seen a box anchor as big as we needed for our 16x72 houseboat. We had two Delta Fast-Set plow style anchors. The bigger one was in the 55 lb range, and would hold it no problem in a rocky bottom lake. We saw 35 mph winds one time, and it never slipped once it was set. Our lake is pretty deep in some areas, but 300' of 3/4" anchor rope and a few feet of chain was always enough.

The bad part was that we didn't have a windlass, so my back and shoulders were considerably stronger after owning our houseboat for a couple years.

It is only a 38' houseboat.