Tying buoys and what's the best anchor?

[Prem1x]

Anybody have "best practice" approaches for how they tie up their buoys to an anchor?

What kind of anchors are you using? Bricks, cinder blocks, iron weights, sandbags?

Are you using a disconnect mechanism, like a carbiner or similar?

How do you shorten/extend the length of the rope? Are you wrapping the rope around the weight and letting it unravel as it falls? Using a second sinker for the extra rope at the surface?

I'm using bricks and a knot that slides along the length of itself, but I'm looking for suggestions.:clown:

[Cane700]

I have an old set of Jet Pilot buoys that use sandbags. There is a stopper on the rope that allows you to adjust the length while keeping the extra slack in the bag. I would guess you could use a similar technique by tying the extra slack to your weight. Running a second weight close to the surface might be a little risky if you run over a buoy and it whips up an hits your ski.

[Big Kahuna]

use Milk jugs filled with sand, or Detergent jugs.......... etc............

I just leave a little bit of slack in the ropes, but where we have them, we leave them out...........
you could attach a weight about 5' down from the bouy so to pull any slack underwater.........

[Prem1x]

I have an old set of Jet Pilot buoys that use sandbags. There is a stopper on the rope that allows you to adjust the length while keeping the extra slack in the bag. I would guess you could use a similar technique by tying the extra slack to your weight. Running a second weight close to the surface might be a little risky if you run over a buoy and it whips up an hits your ski.

Yeah, I am not too keen on a sinker weight. I can't believe you still have JP buoys. Mine got tore up within the first year. :banghead:

[Scorn800]

For Bouys- we use kid hopdy-hops- Sponge bob or spiderman are best
For anchors- bricks or old ski parts- like cranks and cracked cylinders
We set a couse in the same spot so set the rope lenghts once and we're good.

[Cane700]

Yeah, I am not too keen on a sinker weight. I can't believe you still have JP buoys. Mine got tore up within the first year. :banghead:

I never had much opportunity to use them. They're too fussy about buoys in public waters around here.

[FLY6584]

I bought small 1.5lb grapel anchors from West Marine.

They retail for $13.99 a piece, but luckily I work there over the summers so I only had to pay $1.87 a piece. That just goes to show you how much markup there is on boating supplies. I really like them. The rope wraps around them very well.

[skinnyman]

5-7 lb dumb bell wrap the rope in the center tied to bouy.
Drop and ride

[Prem1x]

dumbells are expensive, aren't they, Larry? I do the same with the bricks, but I don't think they'll be heavy enough in Lake Travis's chop. The guys here bring cinder blocks!

I've been eyeing those grapel anchors. They're cool! but too pricey are retail.

[michael950]

I priced cinder blocks for a projet I did in the spring, the 8x8x16 are $1.75?

10# weight @ Wal-Mart $4.55. More than enough weight for the bouys AND takes little to no space. 5 # weights probably $2 - $3

Grapel Anchors $15 to $25


I went with the weights b/c I only have 4 bouys, but also to avoid the hassel of luging around cinder blocks or brake rotors.

[michael950]

There are also concrete pads (used for leveling sheds, post supports, etc.) which are flat and you could drill a hole in the center for the rope, might also work.

[Cane700]

Cinder blocks are great but its alot of work lugging them around. I've seen the dumbells used and I think they are the best way to go unless the water is real rough.

[Shonuff]

I use 10 gram teardrop sinkers.

[David M]

we use old iron window weights, they are easy to find, usually free, easy to handle in the tray of of a standup or runnabout, the perfect weight, and have a hole cast in them to tie to

[chookc]

We use old Harley Davidson brake discs or truck clutch plates and 6mm chain at about 3 meters long. the bouys have a 600mm long rope and shakles on thje end. Connect to chain and drop they go no where even in the surf