Buoys from WallySkier

[LeonL]

Any of you guys using the Wally buoys with the big attachment loop? I currently use No. 6 bare copper wire made into a hook as attachments. (bend straight pretty easy with hard impact) My concern is the big soft loop and will the copper wire wear through and destroy the buoy. Any small surface area connection regardless of material would seen precarious due to the softness of the buoy material.

[mwetskier]

loop thru the big eye with half inch double side velcro strap and then put your copper wire through the velcro loop so it doesnt where on the rubber directly. the velcro should hold up good under water and home depo has long straps of it for cheep. u can thru the loop several times with the velcro to make sure it will hold

[BraceMaker]

I like that Idea @leonL - mwetskier's idea with the velcro loop would be good, or any type of cordage you have around the house would probably work similarly.

 

Alternatively you could probably take an old scrap garden hose that you probably still use but should replace, and cut sections then slot and slip over the bouy's loops to protect them.

[skibug]

You don't have to put any hardware on the loop of the bouy. Just use a 6 inch piece of bungee either tied to the buoy's loop or however you choose to loop it though and then a loop on the other end to go to your normal setup coming off of your sub-buoy. We have the little adjustable plastic hooks at the buoy end of our setups. These used to attach right to the polyform buoys; now they hook to the 6 inch piece of bungee.

[BraceMaker]

He is using wire so it pulls off. Permiting the bouy to release

[skibug]

Use a looser zip tie loop on the turn buoy loop and hook it with an adjustable plastic hook. The zip ties will give way when impacted.

[LeonL]

I'm happy with our release system, that of of a straightened wire. Just bend a hook back in it. No need to carry zip ties. When you have to carry extras someone inevitably runs out.

[mwetskier]

instead of heavy copper wire you can use very inexpensive aluminum fence tyes they use to install chain linked fence which will work the same way

[A_B]

We use 1/8 inch nylon line to make a loop with and then use plastic decorative fence fasteners to attach to poly line on the ball anchors. The plastic chain connectors open up when snagged. The nylon is not abrasive to the rubber buoys.

[skibug]

Out of curiosity, and I am guessing the answer is safety, why do you want them to break away? We have ours permanently attached with the bungee loop. They have been hit....dare I say....hundreds of time without issue. They are soft and displace very easily.

[A_B]

If you snag a buoy with the handle, you could pull up your anchoring system, or worse yet with a floating course, you could break a PVC arm or break old weakened hardware. Major pain to fix. I'd rather re-attach a few extra buoys every year that pop off than spend a day fixing the course.