Quote:
Originally Posted by DickR
While on the subject, when you go to take the raft out after the swim season is over, clean out an empty 1-gallon laundry detergent jug (orange is best for visibility), and tie it to the end of the chain, or perhaps 4-5 feet from the end if you leave the jug tied to the chain over the summer. Leave a loop in the rope for snagging at the start of the following swim season. After the raft has been detached, let just enough water into the jug so that when you release the assembly the jug sinks to about 3-4 feet from the surface. As the jug is dragged down by the weight of the chain, more of the chain is supported by the lake bottom, until the weight of chain above the bottom equals the buoyancy of the jug. The jug will be positioned so as to be below the ice over the winter and deep enough so fall/spring fishing boats won't hit it, while being close enough to the surface to locate and retrieve later. This arrangement will let you get the raft reinstalled without having to dive to the bottom for the chain.
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Been there, tried that... The easiest way is to tie a rope to the chain and drop it to the bottom, attach weight to the rope to sink it, and run it to shore. Tie it off to a tree. In the spring untie, jump on the raft, reel yourself out to the anchor and clip on. Weighing the rope down keeps it from getting caught up in ice or snagged by fishermen.