How to Add a Swim Lap Lane to a Pool

Adding a swim lap lane to a pool marks an area other pool users know to avoid, which will help prevent collisions and unintentional interference with the lap swimmer. A lap lane helps competitive swimmers practice staying perfectly straight with their lines. Finally, lap lane markers absorb some of the turbulence in the water, making the swimming smoother and simpler within the lane itself. Use polypropylene rope, which is the only type of rope which is lighter than water and floats. If you use any other type of rope, your divider will sag between buoys.

Things You'll Need

  • Polypropylene rope (length of the pool plus a few feet)
  • Buoys (enough for one every four to five feet)
  • Tape measure
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the width of the lane you desire to install. Of course, this width also depends on the size of the pool. At least a four-foot width is necessary for adult use; six feet is the optimum width for competitive swimming.

    • 2

      Secure buoys every four to five feet along the length of the polypropylene rope. String the rope through the rings at the top of the buoys and tie each one in place to prevent sliding. The particular orientation of the buoy is not important, only that the rope is very tightly secured to the buoy's tie loop to prevent it from shifting.

    • 3

      Tie each end of the rope to the securing loops at the edge of the pool. The loops can be placed at whatever lane width you choose.