If you’re using a single-line array, along the length of the growline you’ll want to add buoys every 50-60 feet to help the kelp maintain proper buoyancy, as well as provide access points to your kelp. There are a few methods for attaching your buoy lines to your growline. We’ve found the simplest way to make this attachment is by pre-splicing either a loop or a soft shackle into the growline during gear prep. When outplanting, the seed spool passes over the loop, and then we tie on the buoy line.

A more traditional way to connect buoy lines to the growline is by splicing them directly. You can do this by parting the weft of the growline with a fid, passing the buoy line through the opening, and tying a figure-eight knot on the other side. This method works, but it can be difficult to part the growline if it’s under a lot of tension, slowing down outplanting significantly. You’ll also need to cut the seed string and splice it to the growline on either side of the buoy connection to protect it from breaking. For this reason, we’ve started using soft shackle connections instead.