October 2017 Newsletter: Be Safe

As we approach the winter season please be aware, and let others know, where there are docks that have “bubblers” around them.

The ice can go from being thick and safe to being extremely thin and dangerous in a very short distance. With recent warmer winters and changing ice conditions it has become even more important to have a line or throw rope at your ready, or even better, available on your dock. Below are some easy, cheap and hopefully fun directions that David Rubin has given to make your own “throw rope”. It might not be needed often, but if it is, it will be invaluable. Make An Inexpensive Throw Rope. A throw rope is a good thing to have on the end of your dock or in your boat. It doesn’t provide as much floatation as a life ring but it is easier to throw and store and a lot less expensive. You can purchase throw bags from marine supply and kayak stores or make one yourself, but a throw bottle is the easiest and cheapest to make.

You will need:
1 1-gallon bleach bottle
Polypropylene rope 50’ or less. (not nylon, which sinks).
1 can of spray insulation foam (any hardware store will have this)
A knife and a piece of wire hanger with a hook bent on the end.

Step 1: Make a small X-shaped cut in the bottom of the bleach bottle. Make it just large enough to feed through the rope. Feed through the rope and tie a loop on the rope end coming out of the bottom of the bottle.
Step 2. Take the wire hook and fish the free end of the rope out of the bottle and pull all of the rope through.
Step 3. Shake the can of foam vigorously for a full minute and then insert the nozzle as far into the bleach bottle as possible and, while slowly pulling out the nozzle, spray in the foam until the bottle is not quite full.
Step 4. Wait at least two hours. If the foam isn’t coming out of the end of the bleach bottle, spray in a little more and wait again. Wait at least eight hours before using the throw bottle.
Step 5. Tie a loop in the free end of the rope and coil around the bottle. A Hint. Painting the bleach bottle a bright color is a good idea. How to throw the rope. Let the coil of rope drop off the bottle. Stand on the free end of the rope. Hold the coils very loosely in one hand and using an underhand motion throw the rope above and beyond thevictim. If you miss, recoil the rope and then try again