How to make a Tripline Anchor Buoy for Safer Anchoring

Learn how to make a tripline anchor buoy. The Buoy marks the exact location of your anchor so you always know where it is and let other boaters know so they will be less likely to drop there anchor over your anchor chain. The trip line makes retrieving your anchor much easier.

[@CaptainLang]

I forgot to say that you can make extensions to the trip line to use when anchoring in deeper water. I have a 5 foot and 10 foot extensions with Snap Shackle or Fast Eye Snaps on the ends

[@capnmatt41]

That pulley and weight on the trip line buoy trick is very clever. Thanks for this video!

[@CaptainLang]

Thank you!

[@Misteribel]

Love how the anchor buoy is standing up straight. It really makes it stand out. Most anchor buoys (including mine) I've seen are just small yellow or white buoys, without any markings, often easily confused for a mooring buoy. Cool tip!

[@NantoNovipazar]

Great idea, I am making one now. Perhaps you can add reflective tape on the top of the fender to make it visible at night.

[@robertrussell743]

Best illustration as to how to use a trip line I've seen or read.

[@CaptainLang]

Thank you for your kind words.

[@fpdima]

I never heard of a trip line anchor until I stumbled across your video. Great idea and thanks for the information.

[@CaptainLang]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@danrobinson4405]

Wow - brilliant! I can't believe everybody doesn't do this. Just knowing where my anchor is will be a huge improvement.

[@waterboy8999]

I always use a trip line here on the West Coast Scotland, the best feature is knowing where the anchor is and prevents someone dropping theirs on top.

[@Tb0n3]

OH HEY LOOK A MOORING BALL!

[@hippiewithacowboyhat]

To the commentor who said was egotistical, its no different spacing than in a mooring field. If in an anchorage and someone else!sets too close, theyll be over your anchor and youll have no way to get yours up to leave. This is a great way to help insure good spacing and that you have access to retreive your anchor to leave. Whole lot less nusance than knocking on your neighbors hull at 5am asking them to move forward 20 feet so you can pull anchor.

[@jackbrown5269]

This idea is so simple and so smart and even so cheap!! Thanks for sharing!! You don't need then to buy a self-winding buoy that costs a lot of money, the only thing is that this DIY buoy has no night, maybe it's possible to add a sealed waterproof light with a small solar panel and a light sensor

[@CaptainLang]

Thank you for watching and commenting. I have a few more DIY projects in the works so spread the word.

[@andyl8025]

Excellent! Love the step-by-step instructions - I will definitely be dong this!

[@ProjectAtticus]

Super cool idea! Thanks for sharing!!

[@TaylorsAuthenticTraditions]

Excellent presentation and a safe method. You do a fine job. Thank you for your time and info sir.

[@philipdonegan9716]

Wow! Another great tip getting the buoy to stand upright

[@eric-gl5lq]

Finallly, a seaman-like solution ! Many thanks for sharing :)

[@SailingStarCatcher]

Outstandingly simple explanation.

[@nickmn6108]

Excellent idea, never heard of it before. Thank you.

[@AV-wi1vk]

Well, this is a great video, helped me a lot.... Greetings from France. Keep up the good work.

[@MrNickstevenson63]

Just stumbled across your channel. I'm new to sailing and am finding your videos very informative. Thank you for posting.

[@Thomasuki267]

Really helpful, I've only been sailing for two full seasons, got a bigger anchor than came with the boat and someone told me I need a tripline, now I know what he meant and how to use it (I would have asked him but we were both heading somewhere during the brief conversation). So helpful, I'm subscribing. Thanks Cap'n.

[@CaptainLang]

Thank you for your kind words and thank you for subscribing... I will be putting out more videos... Hopefully soon.

[@gooddeedssailing]

Great video! Thank you very much! 😊

[@dp5475]

That was funny, you said 30 ft of line and i thought man that's not enough for a lot of anchorages i do, then you cut to the little bay where you'd test it and i thought, man that looks like a shallow anchorage, almost like one near me when i was in Mission Bay..... HEY! 😉

[@951porsche951]

As simple as it is good, you do not want to see my early solutions haha And thanks for being a real man not using windlass

[@mr.morgan5643]

Thanks Captain Lang!! Outstanding video!! 🐢

[@mr.morgan5643]

Captain lang, I subscribed to your channel, you have some great videos I look forward too viewing them all!!! Thanks again! Fair Winds, Sv HONU 1981 Falmouth Cutter

[@lutzweb]

THOSE are the video WE love, seaman experience shared to other seaman. WELL DONE Captain! really like your video, please make more > I subscribe!!!

[@onlineaccounts4440]

Very helpful and informative. Thanks!

[@WhatYachtToDo]

Great idea. We love it!

[@CaptainLang]

Thanks so much!

[@gniglio]

Please Captain, make a video on anchoring in different weather conditions

[@CaptainLang]

Thank you for your comment/request. To be honest I have never anchored in rough weather. I have always checked weather very carefully and planned ahead so that I wouldn't have to. I do need to make some videos on anchoring.

[@gonzosierra1]

Excellent

[@dalmasc]

Best trip line!!! Thanks for sharing.

[@OlegMasterOfMind]

Thank you Captain!

[@emiliano.nucera]

Excellent! practical and easy !

[@TroyReedUTUBE]

I love this idea. going to make one for my boat

[@lifeisnotabitch]

this is a great idea! thanks for sharing.

[@CaptainLang]

Thanks for watching!

[@georgenettlesjr1466]

Can you please tell me the model number of that block if the Rope slides through thank you wonderful idea

[@johnmajewski1065]

Simple well displayed 😊

[@rickytran5216]

Good job Captain Lang!!!

[@GD-ns8wf]

Thanks for this. I will try it

[@Noscams00]

Dang! Really great idea! Thank you for your videos

[@CaptainLang]

Thank you for you comment and compliment!

[@brenthann2623]

this is a great idea.

[@jejoko]

That's great until the weight line and trip line gets all tangled up in itself. Just shackle your chain to the low side of the anchor and use a trip to attach the chain to the shaft.

[@davidbuie3316]

This is awesome. I'm going to do this from now on.

[@searscr1]

I like that idea. Will use.

[@atreyuprincipalh4043]

This great God bless thank You

[@dude999642]

Brilliant.

[@elmerexpress]

Simple Genius!

[@stustecker5397]

Great video!

[@Nigeno]

Excellent....thankyou.

[@CaptainLang]

You are too kind...Thank you for your compliments.

[@michaelkiteboarder3184]

Thank you - thank you 🙏🏻 😊 for this video

[@CaptainLang]

You’re welcome 😊

[@santamulligan676]

Thanks captn

[@gaivu343]

Well done 👍👍👏

[@leleetran9738]

Excellent !!!!

[@Nigeno]

Brilliant also!!!!

[@pspaper]

Do you ever find the lines wind or tangle under the bouy? Or does the weighted and tension line keep them apart

[@CaptainLang]

While I haven't had any tangles I think even if they did it would not result in a dangerous problem. Even if it got tangled you should still be able to pull up the anchor with it.

[@georgenettlesjr1466]

What is the model number for that rolling piece I can I find it

[@CaptainLang]

Any stainless steel block will do. Just rummage through your local marine store and find one that's the right size for the line you want to use.

[@ushi120]

Buoy Trip lines are a very bad idea, or should I say it is very egoistic. If everyody use a buoy trip line for his anchor as you mentioned. The available space is reduced dramatically for other yachts in all this beautiful anchor- bays around the world. There are better systems or techniques to recover your anchor without reducing the space for other yachts. Greetings from Stuttgart

[@CaptainLang]

I agree with you when it comes to crowded anchorages. However, there are many places that are wide open and the bottom conditions may be unknow. Thank you for your comment...the more information sailors have the better they can make wise decisions.

[@myvidlocker]

Haven’t read all the comments, so this may be redundant,, but to me, your credibility went way down when you started referring to the fender as a “bumper”. New boaters watch these videos to learn and you aren’t doing them any favors teaching them incorrect terminology. When I teach new students I find myself saying things like: see that thing on the deck? It isn’t a “rope” it’s a line,, and a lines has a name which describes its purpose. It’s a halyard, or a sheet, or a downhaul etc. If you know the correct term, use it, teach it. If you don’t well I’m not sure what to say but pretty sure I don’t need to spend much time on this channel.

[@rustic35]

Haha

[@deborahdoyle6743]

Excellent