I like to anchor off the stern on a small boat.
Usually there's little or no good spot to store the anchor forward. A five gallon bucket should hold your chain and line, with the bitter end through a hole in the bottom or out the top and tied to something strong.It's really easy to set the anchor in the direction you're already going. Most of the time, the breeze into the cabin is welcome, but if you want or need (big waves) to point into the wind, just tie the anchor lie to your bow line and let out a bit more scope.When it's time to get underweigh, you are at the controls as you pull in the anchor, and it drifts out behind the boat as you pull it in, instead of drifting under the boat as it does from the bow.Up to maybe a Catalina 27, this works great. Bigger than that I think the bow with a roller (and maybe a windlass) makes more sense.Whatever anchor system you use, it needs to be ready instantly. It's your emergency brake. If you have an anchor, it's not much use stowed where you have to leave the helm and dig for it.Danforth type anchors are great in one direction. Here in BC and the Puget Sound, the Danforth type will pick up a ball of mud, flip over when the tide changes, and then you are anchored to nothing. I have had this happen several times. I still carry a danforth type for emergency use or where I have a sternt tie to shore (common here) but I like a CQR, Bruce, Northill, or other type with a fluke that digs deep and pivots if I will swing with the tide.