ghostlymoron
Well-Known Member
Has anyone tried making a Danbuoy. I have had vague thoughts along the lines of 1l Coke bottle, fibreglass tent pole, foam fill, fluorescent paint etc.
DIY Danbuoy
- Thread starter ghostlymoron
- Start date
BobnLesley
Well-Known Member
I successfully refurbished an old one like this, so build from scratch should be feasible, though you'd need to think carefully about what and how to secure the base weight.
On ours the original foam float had crumbled away in places, I presume as a result of impact damage/UV degradation/old age. I knocked off the loose stuff, encapsulated the remainder in a 4" x 16" length of plastic drain pipe, centralised by way of plastic pegs stuck into the remaining foam, sealed the top and most of the bottom with masking tape and injected some DIY spray foam into the void. Once it'd cured I peeled off the tape and pipe (vaseline inside of pipe before fitting) trimmed off a few bits of excess foam and painted it with about four coats of flourescent orange paint.
On ours the original foam float had crumbled away in places, I presume as a result of impact damage/UV degradation/old age. I knocked off the loose stuff, encapsulated the remainder in a 4" x 16" length of plastic drain pipe, centralised by way of plastic pegs stuck into the remaining foam, sealed the top and most of the bottom with masking tape and injected some DIY spray foam into the void. Once it'd cured I peeled off the tape and pipe (vaseline inside of pipe before fitting) trimmed off a few bits of excess foam and painted it with about four coats of flourescent orange paint.
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
I built one once.
I used a part of a broken fishing rod that I scrounged from a fishing shop and the float was an old small bouy which conveniently was moulded with a hole through the middle. I cast the weight in lead in an old tin can, and then found I'd made the weight too big and the whole thing sank (fortunately with a line attached). Once I'd pulled it in and sawed a bit off the weight and stuck a flag on the top, it worked perfectly until someone grabbed at it in a seaway and broke it in two...
I used a part of a broken fishing rod that I scrounged from a fishing shop and the float was an old small bouy which conveniently was moulded with a hole through the middle. I cast the weight in lead in an old tin can, and then found I'd made the weight too big and the whole thing sank (fortunately with a line attached). Once I'd pulled it in and sawed a bit off the weight and stuck a flag on the top, it worked perfectly until someone grabbed at it in a seaway and broke it in two...
chas
Well-Known Member
Old fishing rod - took the rings and the handle off and beat some old lead pipe into shape and pushed it up the rod and sealed it in. Float was an old cylindrical foam filled flot found on the beach. Very light, works well and comes apart for stowage.
Sixpence
Well-Known Member
Yes /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
One length of tubing, plugged at one end to stop lead ballast from falling out, filled with enough lead to weight it down then plugged to hold lead at one end.
Three litre plastic bottle, perfect hole for the tube so drilled another hole at the bottom
Inserted tube through bottle and made a hole big enough for the foam injection tube
Forgot to allow the air to escape /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Foam injected, but started forcing itself past the neck and bottom holes, so tried to stop with fingers while holding the spray can. Couldn't stop the leaking at both ends with only two hands so let go of the can, which promptly launched itself with the back pressure, a few feet away. Scrambled to grab it as the foam found yet another way to escape and stuck it back in the hole but now it wasn't a tight enough fit, so I've got foam squirting out from three places /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Realised the air wasn't escaping so made tiny holes where I could see air bubbles, the foam found the holes too /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
By now I'm covered in foam, holding a plastic bottle that's oozing foam all over the place, looking like some kind of venemous creature from outer space /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif so I put it down and tried to read the instructions on the can (now covered in foam) to find out how to clean myself up (should have checked that first /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ) and left it to it.
Came back an hour later to check on progress and the damn thing had stuck to the floor, so broke it away (leaving most of the foam on the floor ) and removed the injection tube. No longer squirting all over the place I left it overnight and cut the bottle off the following day. So many huge airpockets in the foam just below the surface it was useless /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Maybe I'll just buy one when I can /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
One length of tubing, plugged at one end to stop lead ballast from falling out, filled with enough lead to weight it down then plugged to hold lead at one end.
Three litre plastic bottle, perfect hole for the tube so drilled another hole at the bottom
Inserted tube through bottle and made a hole big enough for the foam injection tube
Forgot to allow the air to escape /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Foam injected, but started forcing itself past the neck and bottom holes, so tried to stop with fingers while holding the spray can. Couldn't stop the leaking at both ends with only two hands so let go of the can, which promptly launched itself with the back pressure, a few feet away. Scrambled to grab it as the foam found yet another way to escape and stuck it back in the hole but now it wasn't a tight enough fit, so I've got foam squirting out from three places /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Realised the air wasn't escaping so made tiny holes where I could see air bubbles, the foam found the holes too /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
By now I'm covered in foam, holding a plastic bottle that's oozing foam all over the place, looking like some kind of venemous creature from outer space /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif so I put it down and tried to read the instructions on the can (now covered in foam) to find out how to clean myself up (should have checked that first /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ) and left it to it.
Came back an hour later to check on progress and the damn thing had stuck to the floor, so broke it away (leaving most of the foam on the floor ) and removed the injection tube. No longer squirting all over the place I left it overnight and cut the bottle off the following day. So many huge airpockets in the foam just below the surface it was useless /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Maybe I'll just buy one when I can /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Evadne
Well-Known Member
I have a picture in my mind of a foam-filled garage with two eyes and a hand holding a Coke botttle sticking out. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I was going to make one, but after ten years decided that I was never going to get around to it.
I bought a "coastal" dahnbuoy, replaced the naff little carrier bag material flag, fitted a light to the top and a drogue. It fits into one of those small fender holders you see on the bows of MoBos. It was cheaper than buying the full monty ocean going one (as if you fall into a different sea once out of sight of land!!) but my main motivation was to get something more suited to my boat. The full monty ones have enough flotation to keep the titanic from sinking, as well as an extendable pole, which means it is never ready for use. They're more suited in size to a 50' AWB than a dainty little MAB.
I was going to make one, but after ten years decided that I was never going to get around to it.
I bought a "coastal" dahnbuoy, replaced the naff little carrier bag material flag, fitted a light to the top and a drogue. It fits into one of those small fender holders you see on the bows of MoBos. It was cheaper than buying the full monty ocean going one (as if you fall into a different sea once out of sight of land!!) but my main motivation was to get something more suited to my boat. The full monty ones have enough flotation to keep the titanic from sinking, as well as an extendable pole, which means it is never ready for use. They're more suited in size to a 50' AWB than a dainty little MAB.
ShipsWoofy
Well-Known Member
Do you mean a bit like this
By the way.. I dumped it a few years ago, it was rubbish!
I am all for make do and mend, build your own, but for the cost of a Jimmy Green danbuoy I wouldn't bother. The quality of build is quite pleasing.
By the way.. I dumped it a few years ago, it was rubbish!
I am all for make do and mend, build your own, but for the cost of a Jimmy Green danbuoy I wouldn't bother. The quality of build is quite pleasing.
William_H
Well-Known Member
I think much depends on how tall a post and flag you want. Racing rules dictate a size of flag above water which leaves you with a very long pole to stow away somehow.
I see kids and old folk with flag poles on bikes or electric buggies that are about 2 metes long and very thin/light. If this were extended at the bottom by a SS tube with weight attached you could have a very light pole with flag. albeit shorter than requirements.
Shorter/ lighter pole means less lead, means smaller float. All this means easier to stow and launch. I think I would look to fish net floats or small buoys for the float.
So if you want it for safety not to meet race requirements then you
could build one somewhat smaller if you wanted.
Incidentally a lot of older boats here have a poly pipe glassed into a hole in the transom. It extends into the hull under the cockpit on one side and is sealed at the end. The pole and flag are shoved into the tube so only the float and weight extend outwards. (Or the pipe is enlarged to take the float.) Obviously a rope is available to the helmsman to pull the whole lot out into the water quickly. Perhaps this idea was banned as I havn't seen it on modern boats.
Just a few thoughts good luck olewill
I see kids and old folk with flag poles on bikes or electric buggies that are about 2 metes long and very thin/light. If this were extended at the bottom by a SS tube with weight attached you could have a very light pole with flag. albeit shorter than requirements.
Shorter/ lighter pole means less lead, means smaller float. All this means easier to stow and launch. I think I would look to fish net floats or small buoys for the float.
So if you want it for safety not to meet race requirements then you
could build one somewhat smaller if you wanted.
Incidentally a lot of older boats here have a poly pipe glassed into a hole in the transom. It extends into the hull under the cockpit on one side and is sealed at the end. The pole and flag are shoved into the tube so only the float and weight extend outwards. (Or the pipe is enlarged to take the float.) Obviously a rope is available to the helmsman to pull the whole lot out into the water quickly. Perhaps this idea was banned as I havn't seen it on modern boats.
Just a few thoughts good luck olewill
AIDY
Well-Known Member
One of the yachting mags did an article on how to make one years ago may of been PBO or sailing today.
crisjones
Well-Known Member
I have made one using 20mm dia white plastic electric conduit tube - this is light and flexible enough for the job and cheap. Although anything over 6ft long can be a bit too bendy.
Plastic coke bottle filled with expanding foam for the float, wrap lead flashing around the bottom for the weight, try to make the outside dia of the lead match the id of a larger plastic pipe so you can cover the lead with this to prevent damage to gelcoat etc. A couple of screws through lead and pipe etc to keep it all in place with epoxy to finish it all off.
Then use an old high vis vest / coat to make the flag - incorporate the reflective strips into the flag for ease of spotting at night, you can also cover the coke bottle with same high vis material.
Plastic coke bottle filled with expanding foam for the float, wrap lead flashing around the bottom for the weight, try to make the outside dia of the lead match the id of a larger plastic pipe so you can cover the lead with this to prevent damage to gelcoat etc. A couple of screws through lead and pipe etc to keep it all in place with epoxy to finish it all off.
Then use an old high vis vest / coat to make the flag - incorporate the reflective strips into the flag for ease of spotting at night, you can also cover the coke bottle with same high vis material.
barnaclephill
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
One of the yachting mags did an article on how to make one years ago may of been PBO or sailing today.
[/ QUOTE ]
Just found it in my library of scans. PB0 420 of December 2001, a one-page article of it, gaining the Denny Desoutter award. 648 kb if you want me to e-mail it.
One of the yachting mags did an article on how to make one years ago may of been PBO or sailing today.
[/ QUOTE ]
Just found it in my library of scans. PB0 420 of December 2001, a one-page article of it, gaining the Denny Desoutter award. 648 kb if you want me to e-mail it.
