Looking for club member advice

[srislash]

So as the title states but to refine a little more... To the fellas whom have set up the race course or whoever has good knowledge of.

Last year we lost all of our markers. Construction was pool noodle, white irrigation pipe, and nylon rope tied to whatever was at the bottom for weight. I imagine the nylon broke down to to UV and that is why we lost buoys one by one through the year.
So I think the lines should be the good braided white rope that can be acquired at marine stores. I am curious which tackle has been used to keep a consistent course as the lake level does go up and down 6ft or so through the year(non tidal).

Thank you for reading and any advice' given, Shawn

West Coast PropBusters.

[Peter A]

Hi Shawn
We use large net floats, but they are hard on boats! Braided rope is godd. To deal with the changing levels, as we run on a stormwater pond and the level can come up a meter or more in a day, we use a counterweight system. If you use pool noodle floats (or whatever) , then put a d shackle or a small pulley on the bottom. The rope from the anchor then goes up and though the pulley and back down to a weight that enough to hold the float in place but not sink it. I've done a little sketch, I hope it makes sense.

CCF07032016_00000.jpg

[srislash]

Thanks Peter, yes that is something like I was thinking. The aforementioned Marine store will have stainless hardware. My concerns were whether or not a basic shackle or pulley on the bottom of marker buoy. Remember these parts are all X 8.

[Peter A]

You can probably get away fine with a shackle on it's own. We have pulleys, but sometimes the rope will jam in them and it can be a pain to sort when the tides up!

[srislash]

You can probably get away fine with a shackle on it's own. We have pulleys, but sometimes the rope will jam in them and it can be a pain to sort when the tides up!

Perfect, that is the answer I was looking for. I am going to price things out now,

[T.S.Davis]

buoy sketch.pdf

Here's another way. No moving wheels to get funky. Not gonna help with 6' of elevation change though. A foot or so and you're still good. This way if a buoy gets destroyed and sinks you still have the old location as the submerged buoy stays put pretty well. With the top painted neon I can find it under the water and drop a new one in a few minutes.

No scale on my sketch but you'll get the idea.

[srislash]

Ok so next question. How much weight does the ballast need to be to hold the marker in place? I am thinking a couple lbs? I guess it would depend on wind conditions and such.

Terry, your drawing makes sense and I think would hold the buoy better due to the water resistance on the float under the surface.

[Peter A]

Counterweight will depend on the bouyancy of the float. The large net floats we use (purse seiner type) have two steel rims welded together as anchors. One was not enough as they would float away if the tide went higher than the rope. the c/w is around 2kg for ours. A bit of testing to get the right weight is probably needed.