My belief is why make the oarsman do all the work of anchor pulling? Make those "lazy" customers/passengers share some of the work. Total system price of abuut a $100: Run a 12 ft piece (For a 16 ft drift-boat) of 3/4" galvanized conduit (Home Depot) from your factory stern mounted anchor pulley bracket. The conduit bends easily to the contour of your boat. Mount it to your boats floor-board every 2 ft with wood screws and conduit brackets*. (My 16x54 Willie has about a 1" floor-board) Run your anchor rope down the conduit. Mount a foot release/pulley system (Available at Clackacraft in Oregon and others) between the two front seats yet slightly forward of the seat, still not directly where the passengers feet will be when they stand.
*If you are worried about tripping over the 3/4" conduit, then don't run it down the center of your boat. Buy 14 ft. Put bends (four 45 degree bends) in it to run alongside the floor-board and mount it with the side mounted conduit brackets.
This system still works if you fish alone. You either have to step over the seat to release the anchor or cut/place a gap in the conduit with a cleat by the rowsman seat for you to use when you're by yourself.
Now the rowsman is only rowing....and barking out orders for dropping/lifting. Gives the rowsman more time to set up when pulling anchor above a tricky piece of white water. Best system I have used yet.
x