Dive Float Setup

[mccabejc]

I recently picked up one of those Trident dive floats (DF95 on this page: http://www.tridentdive.com/page118.htm ), and I'm trying to figure out how to rig the anchor line to the D ring on the bottom of the float. I've got 100ft. of 3/8" anchor line, and if I only want 20ft. of line out for a particular dive, how do I rig it? Thanks.

 

[ReneeC]

I took my line and tied little loops every 10 ft. Then I coiled the line into one of those small mesh bags you can get for washing lingerie in. I feed out what I need and hook the line and the bag off or tuck the bag into the pocket inside the float. Works pretty well.

 

[mccabejc]

Okay, after some thunkin', here's what I did:

First, to secure the poly 3/8" line to the anchor, I did a round turn and two half hitches thru the eye of the anchor. Here's an animation of that:

http://www.grogono.com/knot/roundturn/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg

Next, to secure the loose end, I spliced it into the anchor line. This is very easy, since the poly line I'm using forms a braided cage if you scrunch it lengthwise, and you just slide the loose end inside the anchor line. It comes with a "fid" (a tapered plastic cap), and you just stick the "fid" on the loose end, then thread the fid and loose end thru the cage of the anchor line for 6 inches or so. Pull the fid off, and the loose end is now inside the poly line. Pretty cool.

Now, to attach the line to the D ring under the float:

I figured the easiest way to do it is to form a loop in the anchor line after you've dropped the anchor to the bottom, then clip it to the float's D ring with a carabiner or equivalent. The rest of the anchor line goes inside the float. The way you form the loop is by using a "bowline on a bight":

http://www.grogono.com/knot/bowlinebight/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg

 

[Diver0001]

I recently picked up one of those Trident dive floats (DF95 on this page: http://www.tridentdive.com/page118.htm ), and I'm trying to figure out how to rig the anchor line to the D ring on the bottom of the float. I've got 100ft. of 3/8" anchor line, and if I only want 20ft. of line out for a particular dive, how do I rig it? Thanks.

What are you using the float for, Jim?

If you just want something that self-tensions then you can just run the rope through the D ring and attach a counter-weight to the other end of the rope that weighs some portion of what the anchor weighs. Attach it along the main section of rope with a carabiner (optional) and it will slide down and pull the buoy more or less over the anchor (accounting for current etc.). To deploy it you'd need to set the anchor before you deploy the float and counterweight.....

If you really needed it to stay like that then you could tie it off at the D ring just before you descend.

Renee's solution sounds easier but this one is "automatic" and makes an interesting play-thing

R..

 

[mccabejc]

Basically just a dive float with a dive flag on top. Local ordinance requires using a dive flag, plus I need it for an advanced class I'm taking.

I don't think I need the self tensioning/counterweight feature. I'll just drop the anchor, form a loop in the line at the surface, and hook to the float's D ring with a carabiner. And with a counterweight you have twice the weight to lug when you're swimming out to the drop down point. The carabiner is nice because you can hook other stuff to it, too.

 

[ScubaFrog01]

Okay, after some thunkin', here's what I did:

First, to secure the poly 3/8" line to the anchor, I did a round turn and two half hitches thru the eye of the anchor. Here's an animation of that:

http://www.grogono.com/knot/roundturn/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg

Next, to secure the loose end, I spliced it into the anchor line. This is very easy, since the poly line I'm using forms a braided cage if you scrunch it lengthwise, and you just slide the loose end inside the anchor line. It comes with a "fid" (a tapered plastic cap), and you just stick the "fid" on the loose end, then thread the fid and loose end thru the cage of the anchor line for 6 inches or so. Pull the fid off, and the loose end is now inside the poly line. Pretty cool.

Now, to attach the line to the D ring under the float:

I figured the easiest way to do it is to form a loop in the anchor line after you've dropped the anchor to the bottom, then clip it to the float's D ring with a carabiner or equivalent. The rest of the anchor line goes inside the float. The way you form the loop is by using a "bowline on a bight":

http://www.grogono.com/knot/bowlinebight/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg

Thanks for posting the link to Grog's Animated Knot-Tying page. that will come in handy in the future.

 

[BrianS]

Yep, that's a cool Knot page.

 

[O2BBubbleFree]

Thanks for the great site on knots!

First, to secure the poly 3/8" line to the anchor, I did a round turn and two half hitches thru the eye of the anchor. //snip//Next, to secure the loose end, I spliced it into the anchor line. This is very easy, since the poly line I'm using forms a braided cage if you scrunch it lengthwise, and you just slide the loose end inside the anchor line.

Are you open to a couple of suggestions?

I'm curious. Why did you tie it and splice it? I can see being worried about the free end of the knot coming loose, but why tie it in the first place? Just forming an eye splice (in the manner you described) is enough. The splice, will hold, really. Trust me.

It comes with a "fid"...

So that's what it's called. The rope I used for my noodle tank rack came with one, but they just called it a 'splice tool'.

Now, to attach the line to the D ring under the float:

I figured the easiest way to do it is to form a loop in the anchor line after you've dropped the anchor to the bottom, then clip it to the float's D ring with a carabiner or equivalent. The rest of the anchor line goes inside the float. The way you form the loop is by using a "bowline on a bight":

http://www.grogono.com/knot/bowlinebight/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg

Have you considered tying this end with a clove hitch?

Form the hitch then pass the 'biner or snaphook through the loops. It's much qicker and easier than the boline-on-a-bight. Also easier to untie.

Added: BTW, if you happen to reverse the loops on the clove hitch, you'll end up with a Girth Hitch, which would work equally as well.

 

[Charlie99]

I'm curious. Why did you tie it and splice it? I can see being worried about the free end of the knot coming loose, but why tie it in the first place? Just forming an eye splice (in the manner you described) is enough. The splice, will hold, really. Trust me.

I think he was just tucking away the bitter end.

With hollow braid I'd just use a simple "locked eyesplice".

While I trust you, I don't trust a buried splice in hollow braid for small eyes. Just shoving the end back into the rope to make a buried eyesplice is strong, but not secure. Particularly with small eyes, there is the risk that repeated shock loads and rubbing on the ring can work the splice back apart. Simply putting in a half hitch before burying the bitter end makes it a much, much more secure splice by making the load always come in parallel to the standing part. (For clarity, the photo is taken before tightening up the splice)