Name:	Edwardo -	Reply
Subject:	Weight for orange buoy
Date:	3/10/2020 4:20:32 PM

How much weight do I need to anchor an 18” orange buoy to place in front of my dock?  It’s in about 15 feet of water in a pretty quiet cove. How much chain or cable?  

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Weight for orange buoy
Date:	3/10/2020 4:44:46 PM (updated 3/10/2020 5:11:55 PM)

What I did was pretty simple.  I bought a 5-gallon pail from Home Depot and a stainless steel eye hook with a bolt on the bottom.  Filled with concrete, placed the eye hook in the concrete and let it set.  As for the length of rope or chain, it should be enough to hold the float above the high water mark based on where you place it.  I used rope for mine and its been in place for probably ten years.  A chain may be overkill but it would work well.

Below is an example where they actually removed the bucket from the outside of the concrete.  I didn't bother to do that.  Make sure if you leave the bucket you take the handle off.

Name:	F1Fan -	Reply
Subject:	Weight for orange buoy
Date:	3/11/2020 9:35:39 AM

If you want to get really fancy you can double-length the rope, tied off at buoy. That allows you to shorten it up to keep the buoy over whatever you're marking if needed when water drops. Of course if you're just trying to keep folks from buzzing your pier probably not needed.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Weight for orange buoy
Date:	3/11/2020 10:03:47 AM

That's what mine is for and it moves remarkably little during winter pool.  Mine is in about 10 feet of water in the summer and 3 in the winter.  Have been impressed with how long the rope has lasted although when I replaced my buoy last summer it was a nasty, algae covered mess.

Name:	John C -	Reply
Subject:	Weight for orange buoy
Date:	3/11/2020 4:31:10 PM

I agree with the above. Plus, if you bury the weight it exponentially increases its holding power.

Name:	Rooster -	Reply
Subject:	Weight for orange buoy
Date:	3/11/2020 9:07:23 PM

Thanks to all who responded to this inquiry as Ihave 2 on order and was wondering same thing!??

Name:	Aupops -	Reply
Subject:	Weight for orange buoy
Date:	3/11/2020 10:11:57 PM

What are the guidelines for placement of these bouys to mark your dock/swimming area?

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Weight for orange buoy
Date:	3/12/2020 8:49:57 AM

They are not supposed to be any more than 25 feet from your pier and cannot block a navigable channel.  If they do they will be removed.