A Jon line is a cord used to secure yourself to the anchor line during your safety or decompression stops. This relieves you of having to hold on by hand, which can get tiring for long hangs in a strong current. You can also use a Jon line to get away from the crowd at 15 ft, while still being securely tethered to the boat.
There are a number of prefabricated Jon lines on the market that you can buy, along with several different gadgets to attach it to the anchor line, most of which are clever but not particularly reliable. For a few dollars, you can build a much better Jon line with parts from the hardware store. What you will need is:
- 6 ft of bungee cord - the kind with a fabric casing
- 2 brass snaps
- 6-8 wire ties
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Robert Bowles:
January 4, 2025 at 1:28 am
The Beach Haven was part of the Smith Oil Company fleet along with the vessels Brigantine, Sea Girt, Absecon, Cape May, Delaware, and a number of other vessels. They fished from New Jersey down to Beaufort, NC, and also in the Gulf of Mexico off of Texas and Louisiana. Robert Bowles was captain of the Beach Haven, Charles Bowles was captain of the Brigantine, and Russel Bowles was captain of the Absecon. They were brothers from Reedville, VA
Robert Bowles:
January 4, 2025 at 1:11 am
My father, William Robert Bowles was captain of the Beach Haven when she was a Menhaden fishing vessel and owned by Smith Oil Company. They moved the Pilot House from the bow that was over the galley and crew sleeping quarters to the stern over the engine room for her conversion to a clam boat. I believe Dad was awarded “Top Boat” in 1959 and 1960.