You need a grapnel to get hold of the buoyline and haul it aboard. You can make one yourself by welding four 3 I 8th inch diameter claws to a 3/4 inch diameter stem. The stem should be 12″ long and the claws 6″ long. Bend the claws 120 degrees 2″ from the end. Make an eye by bending a 114 inch diameter and 7″ long bolt into a U shape and weld it to the stem. Secure the grapnel to the boat with a line about 65 ft long.

Making a grapnel

The floats and buoy are connected to the buoy line by a short piece of rope known as the leeline, so called because it floats to leeward of the buoy line in strong winds. It is made from 0,5″ polypropylene floating line, tied to the buoy at one end. This section should be 16′-20′ feet long, which is enough to bring the buoy aboard, join the leeline, and place its end around the winch without having to lift the float out of the water.

At the other end, where the leeline attaches to the buoy line, make a 12″ eye splice. Two additional eyes should be tied into the leeline for attaching floats, spaced 16-20′ feet apart. The eye used for fastening to the buoy line should be positioned 5-7′ feet away from the nearest float-eye.

If the floats are fitted with simple lanyards, the eye on the leeline does not need to be longer than 1 foot. However, if the floats are also equipped with eyes, the leeline eye must be large enough to pass the inflated float through it. For this reason, a 75″ float requires an eye about 3′ 9″ long, while a 60″ float requires an eye about 2′ 5″ long. A simple way to make these eyes is by tying a Lineman’s Rider.

Rigging the leeline