Buoys in Straits of Mackinac

[calvillo]

As of July 18, buoys remain in Lake Michigan on the Ward (2), Sandusky (stern), Northwest (bow), McBrier (believed - not visited recently). The Maitland buoy is believed missing. The buoys on the Minneapolis and Young were lost and have been replaced. In Lake Huron, the Stalker, Cedarville bow and Barnum are buoyed. The Cedarville stern still has only a small line with a jug holding it up. All others have standard buoys. Hopefully it will shortly have a regular buoy placed.

 

[captndale]

As to the amount, any amount is good, these get eaten up mostly because the shackle pin gets lost at depth and renders the shackle useless.

I install and maintain moorings on the wrecks that I take divers to in Lake Michigan. Allow me to share a technique I use to prevent the loss of shackle pins.

I usually use a 5/8" polypropylene line for the main part of the mooring line. It extends from the wreck to a buoy set 15 to 20 feet below the surface. A Nylon line goes from there to a second float at the surface. I splice a galvanized thimble into the bottom end of the poly line. A chain goes through the thimble and around a strong point on the wreck. A galvanized shackle connects the ends of the chain together. When putting the assembly together on the surface, I tie a piece of nylon string through the hole on the end of the shackle pin. I then thread the string through a link of the chain a couple of inches from the end and then tie the other end of the string to the side of the shackle. That way, neither part of the shackle can be lost from the chain.

Hope this helps.

 

[calvillo]

Thanks Capt Dale!

 

[dsc2679]

The Stalker has a buoy on it, to the bow windlass. The Maitland is buoyed on the forward port rail. The vis on the Maitland was superb and good on the Stalker yesterday. Safe diving.