Re: Recommendations
You could keep a line from the bow eye over the rail & the windshield to the area around the helm. If you don't want to keep the entire anchor line attached you could have a thimble (eye) at the end to attach the anchor line onto before you drop it. When you are ready to deploy just put the chain & anchor over the side as you drift or back down, this keeps the anchor rode from fouling your prop. If it's windy just let the boat drift back from the deploy point. BTW, plastic crates are very good carriers for anchors, chains & rode.
If you will anchor in varying depths you can put marks on your rode at set lengths so you know how much line is out. Just pull part of the rode onto the boat through those guides on your bow and tie off on a cleat when you need a shallower anchorage.
I have a shorter than optimal length of chain on my anchor (8'), and I have a separate length of chain that I can add for the storm I hope to never be caught in.