DIY bluewater float

    So I was inspired by George's float project the other day.


    My dogs have this toy which is basically a big 12" egg made of little over 1/4" thick injection molded plastic.


    Let me back up a bit. I have a foam filled lifeguard can and rob Allen hard float. I like them both and use them regularly for various dives. I have always felt that they are both too buoyant though for using to hunt soft fleshed fish without a bungee. I don't like bungee because they break and have to replaced.


    I have wanted a smaller float or series of floats to have gradual pressure.

    So I made these. I used the egg, us composites 4lb two part expanding foam, climbing nylon tubing rated to 4000 lbs tensile strength, and two beefy tuna clips from neptonics.


    Each has 433cu in of volume compared to the RA float w 671cu in.
    The first one came out a little off because I wanted the ends a little longer to encourage them to wobble if they are pulled under yet be able to stay out the water as much as possible while being towed


    Always mix foam in small batches.


    Taped the ends and poured half the foam while spreading out the webbing inside. My thinking is that the foam is now inside of the loop so if a significant vector of force is exerted it would have to pull the interior foam out through the hole to fail.


    The eggs are strong to begin with but after foam filling and letting it cute I can now stand on it with no flex


    I am pretty pleased with the final product

    i like to spear fish

    Thanks guys. I forgot one of the best parts


    Each egg-12.95 on amazon
    Foam- $29 shipped. Enough at least three, call it $10 per float
    The tuna clips were 3-4$ each, call it $8
    And the webbing was 25 feet for 9-10$ I used less than a yard per


    So I spent about 33$ total for each of these floats and can make a third for an extra 13$


    That would be three if these float for less than one RA hard float.



    EDIT. webbing was feet not yards

    i like to spear fish

    Edited once, last by LunkerBuster ().

    Dude, those look like theyd be perfect for a kayak diving float if one chooses to forgo using a reel off the yak.

    Jeb, can you post the Amazon links, also where did ya get the webbing so cheap? and finally...lol... the toys are hollow or did you have to scoop the guts out?? Actually one more, you said you poured half of the foam while spreading out the webbing, I am confused as to when you poured the other half... W e morons need blow by blow or we will cave man it :D


    Forgot to shout at ya for not doing this a month ago before i paid for hard floats!! Love the work dread!!

    A bad day at sea is better than a good day in the boatyard
    George Steele

    Edited once, last by Dude george ().

    Quote from Dude george

    Jeb, can you post the Amazon links, also where did ya get the webbing so cheap? and finally...lol... the toys are hollow or did you have to scoop the guts out?? Actually one more, you said you poured half of the foam while spreading out the webbing, I am confused as to when you poured the other half... W e morons need blow by blow or we will cave man it :D


    Im just glad you asked, i was gonna let the obvious just slip away unknown


    Thoroughly impressed over here Judah by the way

    Scupper Pro Gives You Wings!

    Did I just notice that the eggs were cut in half in the foam picture? Details man details :)

    A bad day at sea is better than a good day in the boatyard
    George Steele

    Okay. Sorry. I was not clear


    The eggs were never cut in half. They are hollow vThat is just the seam from the injection molding. I dremeled out a slot on the bottom. And used a hole cutter to cut out the 2" disc from the top.


    I took my length of webbing and threaded it through the hole and down to the slot at the bottom. Pulled it through, fed on a clip and reinserted it into the slot. Then I pulled it up and did the same through the top. Then secured it to itself with a fishermans bend to tie it.



    Next I pulled three inches of webbing out of the egg at the narrow end and taped it there pulled to the side. At this point I pulled the same length through my top cap. This left me with extra length of the webbing inside the egg. As I poured I used a chopstick to separate the webbing inside. Since it is one loop I had two lengths so by separating them I have a solid core of foam in the middle so if it is pulled to one side it can pretty much never be pulled THROUGH the float.





    When I said I poured it in two passes I did two one cup mixes. Half a cup of each part per pour. I did the first while holding the webbing apart and the. Let it stand for 20. Then I poured the second mix, put the hole top in place, taped it down VERY WELL(foam pushes out!!) and gave it a quick hard circular shake to disburse the foam equally around the cavity



    Today I used a flashlight and checked for gaps. One of the floats, the first one, had a 3x4x.5 area where the foam is not touching the side. I was disappointed but the other one is flawless and rock solid. I just have to use the imperfect one as the second float in a chain I guess.




    Thanks for looking. Any criticism and critique is always welcome

    i like to spear fish

    Really digging the new avey.:thumbsup2: Judah:D You just inspired me to get one without a dead fish.


    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    Edited 2 times, last by Don Paul ().

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