Late last fall in McKinley I saw the ultimate winter pole.

A stainless steel quarter barrel. The so called "Pony Keg".

Air tight. Crush resistant. Convenient hand-holds on top to attach cable/chain.

I have never purchased one (that would be a lifetime supply of beer for me) so I don't know what the deposit is. $50? $100?

I tried to attach, what I imagine would happen with winter logs that are not mostly submerged. Sorry about the goofy drawing.

Lots of ideas about winter sticks. The QB idea sounds good, but you'd have to make sure the bung hole was sealed. I'd probably put the eye bolt through a small aluminum plate and weld it to the barrel. Paul had suggested to me using a log, but tapering the ends so it could "squirt" out of the ice. I like Gary's idea, but if I understand him correctly, his log is submerged just under the water. Granted, nobody should be moving very fast through the mooring field, but is there a danger of someone hitting it? I'd hate to damage someone's boat. Of course, Gary is the first one in and last out, so those ice boats passing over his mooring aren't a problem! Gary, please let me know when you're pulling your stick and maybe I'll bring my dink and look your setup over. I can't spend another spring looking for my mooring!

Doug

is there a diver in here? or is one needed?

brainula wrote:
I have never purchased one (that would be a lifetime supply of beer for me) so I don't know what the deposit is. $50? $100?

I'm absolutely positive you could find someone to help you empty your winter stick if it were full of beer. I would certainly volunteer my esophagus as conduit to such a noble end.

raisehull wrote:
is there a diver in here? or is one needed?

Gary has the skills. But I'm afraid he's getting old and wise. He'll probably dive on your mooring--in the bahamas?

I'm a diver with everything but a wet suit. Wouldn't expect to be down all that long (i.e. cold water), so it's underwater lighting that I'd rather have in the churned up bottom murk of McKinley.

Doug, as for my winter log, yes, I occassionally find new screw (i.e. prop) marks gouged into her come spring. That, of course, is none of my concern, as it's the (likely drunken) fools doing a high speed run through a known mooring field (full of LOGS!) at night that are damaging thier vessals, not I.

My log is marked and visible to anyone taking the caution to actually look for it, though it's admittedly low in the water. But, hey, I've never hit, much less run over a log at night! But if interested, I'll let you know when I'm swapping it out.

Don't recall if I've ever mentioned it (probably did), but there's someone in McKinley, Bree, who uses an actual vehicular wheel for a mooring bouy (obviously with a tire on it, lol's). On the one hand, it looks rediculous. However, on the other... it's a self contained rubber 'bumper' when returning in-bound. Could likely even leave it in year round. However, were it me, I'd ensure that I had a TUBE inside the tire, lmao!

I may go talk to the owner this summer. If it survives as a year round thing... I can get a cheap wheel, every few years at a junk yard. Existing lug holes would allow bolting a day-glow flag on it, voila, you'd be set.

Well, until some jerk with a knife decides he's mad at you...

If some jerk with a knife decides he's mad at you... the condition of your mooring might be your last worry.

Touche, Gordon!