Abstract: An anchor hoist comprises a main body member having two side walls. The main body member is pivotally mounted to a pivot-forming boat fixture and has an inner and an outer rotatable sheave for receiving an anchor line or chain. The center-to-center distance between the rotary axes of the sheaves is greater than four times the diameter of the inner sheave, and is in practice about 50 cm. Arranged in the region of the outer end of the main body member is a pivotable support device which, in the in-use position of the hoist, engages a lower, further boat fixture. Pivotally mounted on the axis of the inner sheave is a line holder, e.g. in the form of a clam cleat, so arranged that when the anchor line is jerked said cleat will swing inwardly-outwardly to release the anchor. When using the anchor hoist of this invention, the anchor will be located at a distance from the side of the boat such as to avoid contact between the anchor and the side of the boat when the anchor is lifted or slipped.