Abstract: A method and apparatus for stopping an impeller-driven watercraft is includes distributing a plurality of submunitions in advance of a path of the impeller-driven watercraft. Each of the submunitions includes a buoyant member, a first end cap, and a second end cap; the second end cap is heavier than the first end cap. A lanyard connects the first end cap to the second end cap, optionally passing through the buoyant member. At least one of the submunitions enters an intake vent of the impeller-driven watercraft and attaches to a blade of an impeller of the impeller-driven watercraft, causing cavitation and imbalance, thereby slowing the impeller-driven watercraft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) terminal for confirming positions of ships and rescuing the ships during a marine disaster in a marine search and rescue system and an apparatus and a method for monitoring an operating state of the EPIRB terminal. The EPIRB terminal comprises: a sensor unit for sensing the sinking of a ship in which the EPIRB terminal is provided; a generation unit for generating a distress message corresponding to the sensed result of the sensor unit; and a transmission unit for broadcasting a distress signal including the distress message. The sensor unit comprises: a water-pressure sensor for outputting a water-pressure detection signal by sensing the water pressure in the inside of the ship; a moisture sensor for outputting a moisture detection signal by sensing the moisture inside the ship; and a separation sensor for outputting a separation detection signal by sensing the separation of the EPIRB terminal from the ship.

Abstract: Fluid activated retrieval devices for retrieving an object from a fluidic medium are presented including: a hollow base having a cavity formed therein, where the hollow base includes, a port disposed along an outer surface of the hollow base, the port configured to provide passage of the fluidic medium to the cavity, a diaphragm disposed along the cavity and proximate to the port, and an anchor disposed along the cavity for securing a line; a deployable float housing removably attached with the hollow base, the deployable float housing having another cavity formed therein, where the deployable float housing includes, a buoyant chamber disposed along a distal end of the other cavity, a spool for receiving the line, the spool disposed within the second cavity and attached with the deployable float housing; and a reactant disposed in the cavities.

Abstract: According to one preferred embodiment, the present invention can have a housing with a cap on one end. A flag support and a flag can project from the cap. A sleeve can be movable between the ends of the housing. A mechanical assembly is contained within the housing, and includes a rod, a plug, a tensioner and a reel. The tensioner can control the amount of tension on a line that is dispensed from the marker buoy. The line self-dispenses under the load of a weight connected to the line. The sleeve, operable in a first position, helps to maintain a vertical orientation of the housing within the water. Yet, the sleeve in a second position can prevent unwinding of the reel and maintain the flag in a storage position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the motion of a cable-driven autonomous moored profiler. The profiler includes one or more buoyant members for buoying the profiler in the fluid, a winch, and a feedback controller for controlling the winch. The winch includes a spool, a device providing for varying rates of turning of the spool, and a flexible cable for winding onto and unwinding from the spool. A first end of the cable is carried by the profiler. The controller monitors an indication of the tension in the cable and controls the device in response thereto.

Abstract: A compound buoy. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are buoy systems that include: a surface buoy; a subsurface buoy comprising an elongated outer body; a connector disposed on the lower surface; and a winch having a line, the line coupled between the surface buoy and the subsurface buoy. The buoy system has first configuration in which the upper surface of the subsurface buoy abuts the surface buoy, the abutting relationship held by tension in the line, and the buoy system has a second configuration where a distance between the surface buoy and the subsurface is limited by a length of the line spooled off the winch. In operation, the subsurface buoy supports more of the subsurface load than the surface buoy.

Abstract: A buoy provided preferably for ascending in the water from an initial submerged position. The buoy comprises a buoyancy element positioned at an upper portion of the buoy in the ascending direction. Further the buoy comprises a storing structure for an elongated member positioned below the buoyancy element in the ascending direction, wherein one end of the elongated member is connected to the buoy and the other end of the elongated member is connected to an object submerged in the water. The buoyancy element is provided to obtain a rotation of the buoy around its central axis thereby paying out the elongated member while the buoy is ascending essentially vertically in the water.

Abstract: A passively-actuated lanyard clamp is disclosed that provides an improved ability to deploy a terminal weight or anchor in a body of water without some of the disadvantages for doing so in the prior art. An embodiment of the present invention comprises a mechanically-bistable latch for clamping a lanyard, wherein the latch is passively-actuated by a force that develops as a result of the terminal weight reaching the bottom of the body of water.

Abstract: A buoyant assembly has a central reel and end rings. The central reel has a central support section with end sections. The end sections of the central reel are coupled to the end reels. The central reel and end rings are fabricated from a buoyant elastomer. A line has an interior end coupled to the central support section. The line has an exterior end with a weight secured thereto. The line has an intermediate length there between coiled around the central support section. Handles are adapted to move between retracted and extended orientations. The handles are adapted to be moved to their extended orientations for winding line onto the central support section. The handles are adapted to be moved to their retracted orientations when floating in water with the line unwound to mark an underwater site of interest.

Abstract: A fishing marker float with hand reel for easy reeling and/or winding of string and weight back onto the marker float. One aspect of the inventive device includes a main floating assembly with a shaft for installation of a float end, string and weight and hand reel crank. The main float is a plastic structure that includes a float end and a two diameter shaft that as a one piece assembly is able to float. The sub float is a plastic structure that slides onto the small diameter shaft of the main float, is free to turn around the said small diameter shaft and is able to float. The weight is a lead or other bendable non corrosive yet of decent mass that attaches to the large diameter shaft of the main float using a 60 foot piece of nylon string. The reel crank is a handle that attaches to the end of the small diameter shaft of the main float so the sub float can be held with one hand while winding the string around the large diameter shaft of the main float.

Abstract: A SCUBA diving flag/float assembly is used to support a GPS antenna on the surface of the water for use by divers in performing underwater navigation. An associated GPS receiver is integrated with a dive flag line take-up mechanism such as a spool or SCUBA diving line reel. The dive flag line and cable interconnecting the GPS receiver to the GPS antenna is integrated within a single assembly, or in an alternate embodiment, braided together forming a single tether. Alternate embodiments include optional sensors such as a flowmeter, compass, tiltmeter, depth gauge and diver techniques to compensate for navigational errors due to a water current pushing a dive flag/float away from a diver. Alternatively, a GPS receiver may be mounted on or in the dive flag/float assembly and navigational information relayed to the diver under the water.

Abstract: Safety swimwear with an automatically retractable buoy secured in a manner not interfering with play in and out of the water, the float providing no buoyancy for the child but having sufficient buoyancy to remain on the surface and thus serve as an aid in locating the child whenever the child is submerged. The connector for the float is a permanent part of the swimwear so as to determine the location of the float relative to the wearer and increase the likelihood of the use thereof. In some embodiments, the detachable buoy may take the form of a beach toy.

Abstract: A spot marking buoy. A flotation body, cylindrical in shape with rounded ends having a groove around the periphery of the flotation body creating a reel with one end of a string attached to the reel and the other end of the string attached to an anchor weight. The flotation body employs angular cores to receive a rubber locking cord which is affixed to the flotation body by the use of crimps or knots on the ends of the rubber locking cord with said crimps or knots being larger in circumference than the angular cores. And surface grooves on each side of the top end of the flotation body to receive and secure the rubber locking cord when in use and when storage. Included are recessed counterweights, an anchor weight and anchor weight housing for storage and a built in hand grip for reminding.

Abstract: An automatically retractable buoy secured to the trunk of a child in a manner not interfering with play in and out of the water, the buoy providing no buoyancy for the child but having sufficient buoyancy to remain on the surface and thus serve as an aid in locating the child whenever the child is submerged.

Abstract: An energy conserving moored buoyant ocean profiler wherein an instrument carrying vertically traversing buoyant member of low buoyancy is interconnected with a second buoyant member of high buoyancy to travel in the opposite direction at lesser distance, such that the potential energy of one buoyant member is increased as the potential energy of the other is decreased, thereby conserving energy as the instrument carrying buoyant member is raised and lowered.

Abstract: A reversible, weighted float, useful as a fishing bobber or marker buoy, comprises a buoyant sphere with first and second connectors fixedly attached on either end of its polar axis. The first and second connectors having eyelets at the distal ends thereof for securing an attachment line thereto. First and second cylindrical caps are releasably engageable with the first and second connectors, whereby the cylindrical caps substantially enclose the first and second connectors. Weight is selectively placed in either one of the cylindrical caps causing the sphere to stand in an upright position with the cylindrical caps in perpendicular alignment to the surface of water, independent of size and any attachments.

Abstract: A highly visible container protected polyurethane foam flotation buoy, with a transparent polycarbonate housing enclosing a plastic line spool which is supported by a stainless steel axle which has a stainless steel rewind handle, with nylon roller, and a adjustable nylon brake assembly. Housing is secured to bottom of flotation buoy, housing assembly and spool assembly which are used in the deployment and take up of anchor and anchor line comprises complete flotation unit. Anchor is a five pound steel core enclosed in PVC with a stainless steel connection bolt. In use anchor will have descended to bottom and buoy will be on top surface of water connected by anchor line and will not drift off marked spot.

Abstract: An adjustable depth marker buoy for marking a spot beneath the surface of water. The buoy includes a float for floating on the surface of the water and a reel assembly disposed in the float. The bottom wall of the float has a weight depending therefrom that maintains an upright orientation for the buoy when it is in the water. The reel assembly includes a spool of anchor line, a non-threaded rod, a threaded rod, a nut assembly that threadably moves along the threaded rod and slidably along the non-threaded rod, and a pointer assembly that moves slidably along the non-threaded rod. When the spot is located, its depth is determined. The pointer assembly is then slide along the non-threaded rod, until its pointer points to depth scale indicia on the depth plate corresponding to the depth of the spot beneath the surface of the water.

Abstract: A marker for use by boaters to mark spots in a body of water includes a water-tight, hollow cylindrical main body that floats and which serves as a buoy member. The main body is capped at its opposite ends by end caps that are apertured. An elongate hollow tube is positioned within the hollow interior of the cylindrical main body so that it extends between the apertures. A spool member having a preselected length of line coiled thereabout is rotatably mounted atop the upper end cap and line extends from the spool through the interior of the hollow tube to the bottom of the body of water when the marker is in use, there being a weight at the free end of the line. Beads of progressively larger size relative to the free end of the line are secured to the line, each bead being positioned at a preselected length of the line that represents a particular water depth.

Abstract: A small, lightweight, reusable marker buoy is provided for marking a selected location on a body of water. The marker buoy has a buoyant float formed with an upwardly open well within which is mounted a rotatable anchor line spool. A conduit directs anchor line from the spool, through the float body, and out the bottom of the float where it is attached to a weighted anchor. A spring biased friction plate within the well provides resistance to rotation of the spool and a nut that secures the spool on an upwardly projecting spindle can be tightened to press the spool against the friction plate with a predetermined force to provide a preselected resistance to rotation of the spool and thus a preselected tension on the anchor line. In use, the resistance is set to allow the weighted anchor to draw anchor line from the spool as the anchor sinks but to resist further deployment of anchor line from the spool due to wave and wind action after the anchor has fully deployed.

Abstract: A line tending device includes a clutch hub that controls the paying out or extension of a line when the line is under tension. The clutch hub includes an O-ring around a hub outer surface and under which the line extends. The O-ring permits the line to extend in direction substantially parallel to the axis of the hub that supports the O-ring, but the O-ring exerts a load on the line to tighten and effectively clamp the line against an edge of a flange on the clutch to prevent the line from extending when the angle of the line relative to a hub axis exceeds a preselected amount. The line tending device, is adapted for providing floating markers in a body of water.

Abstract: This nautical buoy is used to monitor the surface projection of a deployed anchor by floating above the anchor. This is accomplished by a connecting tether-line (16) from the buoy to the trip-eye of an anchor (48) attached using a shackle (18). As the anchor is lowered using the vessel's normal ground tackle, the tether-line (16) is deployed by unreeling from the buoy until the anchor rests on the bottom. The tether-line (16) is then secured from further deployment using a tether-line restraining tab (19) and the buoy is tossed overboard so as to float above the deployed anchor. A steady or flashing, light can be affixed to the top of the buoy to identify its location in subdued-light conditions. The buoy can also assist in retrieving an anchor, while aboard the vessel, that has been fouled on bottom vegetation, rocks, and/or other debris. Retrieving the anchor is accomplished by pulling on the tether-line (16), thus applying tensional forces nearly opposite to the frictional forces fouling the anchor.

Abstract: A submarine deployed sea-state sensor includes an elongated housing having nose cone and an aft end. The housing having a forward buoyant chamber for receiving an accelerometer and for causing the sensor to be buoyed up to the surface, where it will thereafter float in a spar buoy fashion. The housing has, aft of the buoyant chamber, a damping assembly including a longitudinally extending motion damping body, a communication link deployment subassembly and a lifting body, with both the damping assembly and the lifting body attached to a communication link interconnecting the accelerometer and a submerged platform so that, when the subassembly deploys a portion of the communication link between the lifting body and a submerged submarine and this portion of the communication line becomes taught, the lifting body is pulled from the housing and the motion damping body is pulled by the lifting buoy into a distended position from the main portion of the spar buoy.

Abstract: The present invention is a hands free dive flag connector comprising a retractable lanyard dispenser releasably attached to dive gear on a scuba diver. Complementary hook and loop materials are attached to the dive gear and the retractable lanyard dispenser to form a releasable connection between the diver and the hands free dive flag connector. A lanyard is retractably wound on a spool in the retractable lanyard dispenser and attached to the spool at a dispenser end. A spring in the retractable lanyard dispenser maintains tension on the lanyard between the diver and the dive flag attached to the lanyard. A lanyard connecter is attached to the second end of the lanyard adjacent to an extended lanyard portion extending from the lanyard dispenser. The lanyard connecter attaches to the dive flag.

Abstract: A line tending device includes an anchor weight, and a hub that can be supported by a float. The hub has a clutch mechanism that controls the paying out or extension of a line for the anchor weight. The clutch includes an O-ring that will permit the line to extend in direction substantially vertically downward, substantially parallel to the axis of the hub that supports the O-ring, but which exerts a load on the line to tighten and effectively clamp the line against an edge of a flange and prevent the line from extending when the angle of the line relative to a hub axis exceeds a preselected amount.

Abstract: A timing buoy comprising a flotation buoy having an outer shell. A switch in communication with the outer shell and activatable in response to forcible contacts to the shell. A timing device responsive to the switch to start and stop a timing sequence in response to a forcible contact to the shell of the buoy. An embodiment of the invention may also include a transmitter and receiver to start and stop a remote timing device in response to contacts on the shell of the buoy which actuate the switch. The invention may also include a method for timing a watercraft event by positioning the inventive apparatus in the path of the watercraft and enabling the watercraft to strike the buoy to start and stop the timing sequence of the timing device.

Abstract: A pair of buoy winding apparatus includes a housing having a pair of opposite end portions and a central cavity defined therein between the opposite end portions and being open at a side thereof for receiving a marker buoy therein, a support shaft mounted to one opposite end portion of the housing and having an end protruding into one end of the central cavity, the end of the support shaft being adapted to rotatably engage one end of the marker buoy so as to rotatably support the one end of the marker buoy, and a drive motor mounted to the other of the opposite end portions of the housing and having an output drive shaft extending therefrom with an end protruding into an opposite end of the central cavity, the end of the output drive shaft being adapted to non-rotatably engage an opposite end of the marker buoy so as to rotatably drive the marker buoy, in response to actuation of operation of the drive motor, about a rotational axis defined by and between the support and drive shafts and extending between the

Abstract: The invention discloses a highly visible marker buoy of the self-setting type the anchor line of which may be power wound to facilitate retrieval of the buoy after use; the marker buoy is equipped with spin indicators to prove that the anchor line is descending to the bottom of a body of water; fluorescent and phosphorescent materials are provided to increase both daytime and nighttime visibility.

Abstract: A portable buoy marker assembly includes an elongated hollow buoy tube having a flotation plug therein for providing flotational capability thereto, an end cap releasably attached to one end of the buoy tube and adapted for quick release therefrom, an elongated flexible line attached at one end to the buoy tube and extending through and from the buoy tube and attached at the opposite end to the end cap, and a reel attached to the flexible line and being adapted for winding a substantial portion of the length of the flexible line thereabout. The reel with the flexible line wound thereabout is positioned within the lower portion of the buoy tube and the remaining portion of the length of the flexible line is positioned in the buoy tube between the end of the reel and the end cap fitted on the lower end of the buoy tube. A weighted object is mounted on the remaining portion of the flexible line. Also, a lanyard is attached to the buoy tube for attachment to diving equipment.

Abstract: A compact, retrievable and inexpensive marker buoy has a primary housing in the shape of an hourglass having a throat in the center, and a base. The primary housing has a waterproof chamber situated closer to one end than the other and a non-waterproof chamber at the opposite end. A lid at one end provides access to the waterproof chamber, which chamber contains an unattached battery, a signal receiving device, and an electrical device which are linked to a releasably attachable hook. The base has a corresponding device attached to the hook. A tether is connected from the base to the primary housing unit. A transmitter transmits the necessary command signal to the receiver from above the water.

Abstract: A buoy is provided for storing a line connected to an underwater object, having a hollow casing formed of resilient plastics material and having two side portions each with bearings. A reel for carrying the line has shaft portions rotatable in the bearings. The reel is a buoyant hollow body also formed of flexible plastics material and is provided with a fluid inlet for inflation from an axially collapsed state, in which the reel and its shaft portions can be fitted between the side portions, to an inflated state wherein the shaft portions are rotatably held in the bearings.

Abstract: A marker buoy for marking a particular spot on the bottom of the sea despite heavy seas. The buoy includes a hollow cylindrical chamber whose outer surface forms a spool. A length of line is attached to the chamber and wound around the spool with an anchor attached to the free end of the line. An elongated hollow tube is attached in axial alignment to one end of the cylindrical chamber. A cored foamed polystyrene ball whose diameter is slightly greater than the diameter of the cylindrical chamber is slidably mounted on the elongated tube. A cap affixed to the free end of the tube prevents the floatable ball from sliding off the tube. The buoy is placed on the surface of the water with the axes of the chamber and tube parallel to the water's surface. Small holes in the chamber gradually fill with water as the line runs out following the descending anchor.

Abstract: A device for use in a jug fishing apparatus has a closure lid portion adapted to be securable onto a male threaded lip of a conventional wide-mouth plastic jar. A spool portion forwardly emergent from the closure lid portion and having axial and radial bores accommodates a length of spirally wound fishing line which passes through the bores. A circular flange forwardly emergent from the spool portion and penetrated by the line has a rearwardly facing convex surface and forwardly facing concave surface.

Abstract: A marker buoy for temporary indication of various fishing positioning is provided to include buoyant structure to rotatably accommodate a spool therebetween, with the spool rotatably operative through a rotary tool to effect selective winding and unwinding of a support tether line mounting an anchor to the support tether line. A modification of the invention includes various marker flag structure and scent dispensing arrangements in association with the organization.

Abstract: A marker device for marking an underwater location is provided and comprises a heavier-than-water weight member including a reel thereon, an elongated connector line attached to the weight member and wrapped on the reel when the marker device is not in use and unwrapped from the reel when a location is to be marked, an inflatable/deflatable marker balloon on the connector line and stored on the weight member in the deflated condition when the marker device is not in use and removed from the weight member for inflation when a location is to be marked, and valve means communicated to the marker balloon for permitting introduction of gas therein to inflate the balloon and release of gas therefrom for deflating the balloon.

Abstract: A winding device is used for winding a weighted line onto a buoy marker. The winding device includes a receiver sized and shaped to receive and hold the buoy marker. A electric motor operatively connected to the receiver rotates the receiver and causes the line to be wound onto the buoy marker. An actuating means is connected between the electric motor and a source of power for actuating and deactuating the electric motor. The winding device further includes an automatic shut-off means for turning the motor off when the line is wound to a selected extent. The shut-off means comprises a switch actuator mounted adjacent to a switch and positioned to be engaged by a weight attached to the line when the line is reeled to the desired extent. The switch actuator, in turn, engages the switch and moves it to the "off" position upon being contacted by the weight.

Abstract: A plastic spool is rotatably mounted between the two plastic halves of a housing. A spring motor is mounted to the housing and engages with a gear train connected to the housing such that a spring will suffice to retract a length of line ten times as long connected to the spool and windable thereon. The housing has an opening which allows the entrance of water. The line is connected to a floating surface bouy and is automatically extended as a scuba diver descends to lower aquatic depths. Vanes extend radially from the spool and cooperate with the water to resist too rapid rewinding of the line onto the spool as a diver ascends. The housing has a hook-shaped handle for restraining of the reel and also has a clip which retains a writing instrument which may be used for underwater communication between divers by writing on a planar surface of the housing.

Abstract: A marker buoy, typically for use by divers, includes a lighter-than-water flotation component, such as a bladder (17) which can be inflated when the buoy is required to float and deflated when it is not required to float, so that the diver can easily dive with the deflated buoy and inflate it at depth, when required. A reel (19) of line (25) carried by the buoy is arranged to dispense the line therefrom when the tension in the line exceeds a chosen value.

Abstract: A marker buoy adapted to be held in the hand and thrown on the surface of a body of water to mark a location beneath the surface comprises a thin, hollow, water-tight box with a concentric aperture through the thickness dimension of the box. The box is constructed of upper and lower concave shells which are mirror symmetric through the medial transverse plane of the box, where the two shells are bonded to one another. Recesses formed between internal walls within the shells hold a reel assembly have a take-up spool located in the aperture, and a crankshaft fitted with a handle protruding through a side of the box. A flexible cord is attached to the take-up spool and wound around the spool by turning the crankshaft handle. The other end of the cord is attached to an anchor weight.

Abstract: A device includes two enlarged end portions joined by a medial portion. It serves as a light-weight sturdy plastic container for motor oil or as buoyant marker for marking areas in a body of water where fish have been located. After the oil is used, fishing line is wrapped around the medial portion of the container and a weight is attached to the free end of the fishing line. The emptied container is thrown into the body of water, the line unravels and the weight sinks to the bottom. This allows the floating container to maintain its position. Alternatively, a fishing hook can be attached to the end of the line.

Abstract: A hand-held line and reeling structure is arranged in combination with a flotation buoy typically utilized in diving events. A tether line is secured to the dive buoy at one end and wound about a hand-held portable device to effect winding and reeling of the tether line to permit ease of return of a diver to the flotation buoy. The winding and reeling device further includes a separable cage member, including a spool formed with a triangular cross-sectional configuration groove to receive in a convenient and non-snap manner the tether line that is directed through a generally triangular opening formed within the cage head.

Abstract: An improved water flotation release device for locating the submerged position of ships that have sunk. The device comprises an improved release buoy that is self contained and communicating and a releasing system that leads to non-violent and reliable release from the sinking ship.

Abstract: A combined buoy and anchor device for fishermen comprises a buoy body with a hollow interior and having its upper and closeable by a lid, a reel rotatably mounted in the buoy body and to which is secured the inner end of a cable, and an anchor connected to an outer end of the cable. The anchor includes a shank and a plate detachable from the shank, the plate and the lid having interengaging formations so that the plate can be retained in place on the lid. The buoy preferably includes a generally cylindrical upper portion surrounding the hollow interior, and a reel-containing lower portion separated from the upper portion by a wall. The hollow interior of the buoy can be used for holding bait or tackle.

Abstract: An anchor locating buoy system is provided with a self-retracting anchor line. The buoy system automatically collects and stores any excess portion of line between a marker float and an anchor thereby minimizing the distance between the marker float and the anchor.

Abstract: The portable marine marker buoy having a transparent signal support housing which is carried by a float and is stabilized in the water by a depending weight assembly and which is restrained from drifting by an anchor which is deployed by an automatically locking anchor line dispensing reel assembly.

Abstract: A buoy for storing rope connected to an underwater article such as lobster pot comprises a buoyant casing having two side portions connected together and a reel rotatably mounted between the side portions and carrying a length of rope one or both outer ends of which are connectible to the lobster pot or the like article. A central portion of one end of the reel is accessible from a side of the buoy through the adjacent casing side portion, and this one end has a non-circular configuration adapted to be engaged by a winding device such as a so-called "pot-hauler". The side portions may be connected together by posts. An end of rope may be connected to the reel by a swivel link so that when the rope is fully paid out the buoy can remain on the surface of the water and can rotate relative to the rope. The buoy is preferably made with two identical side portions of plastics material, and may have rigid molded buoyant foam material held between the side portions.

Abstract: A marker buoy releasing mechanism for marking the location of a sunken boat includes an air tight housing having a differential pressure switch mounted therein for sensing the pressure within the housing and externally thereof. When the differential pressure sensed by the switch increases to a predetermined value, indicative of sinking of the boat, the switch will close to complete the electric circuit between a battery and an electrically operated device. When electric power is coupled through the differential pressure switch to the electrically operated device, it will be operated to actuate an inflating mechanism which supplies compressed gas to an inflatable marker buoy which floats to the surface of the water on the end of a tethering line.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for helping to ascertain the precise site at which a boat anchor should be dropped in order to secure a sought position of the anchored boat. The apparatus is comprised of a floating reel member having a spool which holds a length of line. A weight having a streamlined contour is attached to the free end of the line. A visibly distinctive buoy is attached to the reel by a tether line. When the apparatus is thrown into the water, the weight rapidly sinks to the bottom, whereupon no further line leaves the spool. The buoy indicates the location the boat would have relative to its anchor as represented by the streamlined weight.

Abstract: The present invention is a self-setting, illuminated buoy marker for anglers, made of a translucent material which is elongated in shape and has a bifurcated body of two end members connected to a narrow waist stem member. The marker has a lighting device inside of the buoy marker, which may be illuminated for night fishing and gives off a soft illumination which is only visible for limited distances so as not to spook the fish or to give away the angler's precise position. Attached to the buoy marker is an anchor line and an anchor assembly which unwinds and sets the buoy in a precise location that the angler selects and maintains the buoy in that position. When the buoy is in an operative position it is visible to the angler from any direction in both daylight and darkness, regardless of wind or wave conditions.

Abstract: There is provided a marker buoy useful to indicate the location of an underwater structure. The buoy is made from a material having a density less than water, including first and second elongated side members and a central portion therebetween. The central portion receives an elongated twine having a weight attached to its far end. Each side member has a stud extending away therefrom at opposing ends of the buoy. The buoy automatically rotates to dispense the twine when the buoy is placed on the surface of water, and is adapted to be manually rotated by manipulation of the studs to retract the twine.