Tagging under water raft anchors
 

This is a yearly problem for us and we are desperate to find a solution!!

We have a floating raft and each summer it is a task to find the anchors!! We've tried attaching detergent bottles at the end of summer ... Floating them at the surface. Floating them below the water line etc. Each year the marker is not in place the next summer!! It's so frustrating!

Does anyone have ideas on how we can mark the anchor so we're not diving and searching each year?? My husband is not so young as he once was. ;)

Lisa

Get some coated wire from Lowe’s, HD, etc. Tie one end to the mooring chain, then the other end to a tree on shore. Leave plenty of slack. Wire will sink. In spring, follow the wire back out to anchor chain. Disconnect wire. You can either wind wire back up and use it again, or just leave it on lake bottom until fall. Repeat process at end of season.

Wire like a dog tie out?

Far too much training has gone into this one!!

We use a tactic similar to Seaplane Pilot's suggestion.
See these older threads:
https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...ad.php?t=21297
https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...read.php?t=480

When I change out my mooring chain every few years, I save the old one. Too thin to hold the boat, but great for attaching to the new chain in the Fall. Pull it toward shore. It lays on the bottom. I get it close enough so it's below the ice line, but shallow enough to reach from a boat with an iron rake in the Spring.

Thanks Bear Guy. We've tried adding a float for the last couple of years and it's been a failure. We have to remove the chain, we had one STOLEN a couple years ago! (There's a screw lock, it didn't happen without help.). We've floated a bottle at the surface and under water. Found 1 of 2 this year. Needed something consistent. We're going to have to run a line to shore next year and hope ice fisherman don't mess with it.

Get some yellow polypropylene hollow braid floating rope which is used for swim lines because it floats. Attach about six feet to the anchors, and it will float straight up vertical, making it easy to locate underwater because it is bright yellow and you have a general knowledge where it should be located.

Comes in 3/8" or 1/2", is sold by the foot and is a low price.

No floating line
 

FLL, bad advice. The last thing you want over the winter is floating line. The line / cable needs to lie on the bottom and be secured to something on land.

Dave

I use inexpensive parachute cord. I clip one end to the chain and drop it in the water and tie the other end to a tree on shore. In the spring, I use the parachute cord to pull myself out in the boat to the chain and attach the mooring line. Works much better than drawing the short straw and having to be the one to swim down and get in in early May!