Invention: Stack-A-Buoy
Inventor: Blair Gotell
Inventor’s Location: Arichat, Canada

Blair Gotell grew up in lobster-fishing communities and understood how difficult the colorful flotation devices, usually made of Styrofoam, could be. He has heard the fishermen complaining almost every day about the piles of buoys required for lobster lines that were typically hauled in big nets in the back of a truck. On average, the lobstermen deals with about 250 buoys each season.
The turning point came when he saw a messy pile of buoys in a lobsterman’s backyard, that was almost as tall as the house. He knew he could invent something better.
So, Blair started thinking about an invention which will solve their problem.
He has now taken his invention Stack-A-Buoy to the final stage. He has got product development support of about $40,000, and he is talking to marketing and technical experts about his invention. The invention has a simple design, and will allow for simpler storage and transport by allowing the units to be stacked even while attached to rope. Each piece will be color-coded for ease of identification on the water.

He believes his invention will be useful not only for the lobster industry, but also for aquaculture, boating, recreation industry, marine transport industry, and other such areas.

He has filed for all the patents, and is now developing the final prototype.

Blair Gotell’s advice to aspiring inventors: “Don’t let the negative people hold you back!”.