Making an improved invasive plant marker

Posted by on

While constructing some markers as described by the great information at:https://lakestewardsofmaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/IPP-Buoy-and-Anchor-Assembly.pdf

I saw an opportunity for improvement. When placing a marker, one often needs to shorten the length of the cord, by tying off part of it in a knot. I realized that by making a notched holder in the PVC tube, and tying knots in intervals along the cord, the length of the cord could easily be adjusted when placing the marker.


Here to how to make the updated markers

Materials

Item

Amount needed for each marker

  • ½” PVC pipe (Not PEX)

4”

  • Swimming ‘noodle’ with a hole through the middle


2” (see note #3)

  • Paracord (bright color)

1 ft longer than the desired length.

(11’ will make a 10’ marker)
See note #4

  • Washer

1

  • Brick (with hole) or cement weight in yoghurt tub



1 (look for bricks at your transfer station/dump)


Construction

  1. Cut 4" lengths of ½” PVC pipe. Use a hacksaw or PVC pipe cutter.

  2. Using a drill slightly larger than the diameter of the nylon cord, drill holes through one side of one end of the PVC pipe. Remove the material between the holes with the drill or with a hacksaw blade.

I found that using a drill press I could make a series of holes into a notch.

  1. Cut 2" lengths of noodle. Use a work knife with a long blade, or hacksaw.



  1. Cut the nylon cord to the desired length, plus one foot.

  2. Tie a loop in the end of the nylon cord.

  3. Thread the loop through the brick or anchor.

  1. Thread the other end of the cord through the loop

  2. Tie overhand knots about every 2’ along the cord.

  3. Insert the PVC pipe into the noodle float.

  4. Thread the end of the cord through the bottom of the PVC pipe towards the end with the notch.

  1. Thread it through the washer

  2. Tie a knot in the end so that the rope cannot come out of the washer

.

  1. Mark the float with a unique number. I also like to indicate the maximum length of the marker. I write it on the PVC tube and the float.

  2. For storage, I prefer to fold the cord and tie the folded rope into a loose overhand knot. This prevents twisting of the rope through rolling and unrolling.


Alternative to using bricks with holes

Steps to make anchors

  1. Drill a hole in the bottom of a yoghurt tub

  2. Cut nylon cord to the length desired, plus one foot.

  3. Thread cord through hole and tie a knot on the underside.

  4. Pour in cement, and let dry.


Cement weights with cord running right through.


Notes

#1 Test the buoyancy of the noodle against the weight of the anchor. Too much noodle will cause your marker to float. The anchor must be heavy enough to prevent the marker from floating away. The noodle only needs to support the cord, PVC pipe and washer.


#2 Weights should be cleaned well (and dried) before being reused.


#3 If the yogurt tub becomes brittle with age, break the tub off so it does not present any sharp edges.


#4 I have found 10’ length markers work well in our lake.