The Fall Float Sale is Scheduled for October 17, 2026
Orders will open Sep. 1 and Close Oct. 1
Photos by Kent Eanes
Float Orders are Closed and will open Sep. 1, 2026
Volunteer to Help TOGA Build Floats
Starting in September, we will be building floats at Camp Kekoka on Thursdays, 9am to noon. Contact Jim Dall, jimd@togaboard.org.
Upcoming: Fall ’26 Oyster Float Sale:October 17, 2026
~ Vic Spain, Jim Dall
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TOGA’s annual fall float sale and educational event will be held on Saturday, October 17 at Camp Kekoka, 1083 Boys Camp Rd, Kilmarnock, VA 22482, from 9 am to 12 noon. Pre-orders must be placed by October 1, 2026. Walkups are welcome and may join TOGA in order to purchase floats and supplies.TOGA will provide educational materials and personal consultation with Master Oyster Gardeners (MOGs) who will work with both prospective and experienced oyster gardeners. ​​​​​
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If you are not experienced, you may attend OYS-101: Basic Oyster Gardening on 9/17, Thursday, 12-2pm: Northumberland High School, 201 Academic Lane, Heathsville, Contact Richard Siciliano, Text or call: 240-270-1439, or richs@togaboard.org. It is best to attend OYS-101 prior to the order deadline of October 1.
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The sale includes Taylor Floats (Classic and new Taylor2), Flip Floats, Tidal Tumblers, Rough Riders, Bottom Cages, Boxed Bags, and Spat Tubes, which should be pre-ordered. See Designs and Devices. Spat bags, hats, shirts, aprons, and other TOGA logo items will be on sale, as well, but pre-orders are not required for them.
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Some of our cage configurations have changed. This fall, the 5 Liter floats from Ketcham Supply are out of stock. When we exhaust our inventory of 5L floats, we will substitue 4 Liter Bullet Floats, but using more of them to ensure adequate displacement (buoyancy).
The revised flip float is 36” by 23” by 6” and has 4 molded 4 Liter floats. The Tidal Tumbler uses one molded 4 Liter float.The Taylor2 will now use 6 4 Liter Floats.
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We will be selling a Spat Tube made from a minnow trap with the end holes covered to keep the spat in and the predators out. These can be used independently suspended with crab-pot line, or inside a Tidal Tumbler or a Rough Rider (two of these spat tubes will fit). We are also selling 9mm (medium mesh) Boxed Bags. TOGA float builders have created jigs to “Box” spat bags to a depth of 3 inches. We are also offering a Mini Tidal Tumbler, only 17 in. long. This became popular with school teachers because they are lighter and easier to handle.
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FLOAT PRICE LIST, Fall 2026
Please limit your order to 3 wire cages
and 2 spat tubes.
Pre-Built Floats and Devices
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Taylor Float with Top ...................... $145
Taylor Float2 with Top ..................... $115
Flip Float …..................................... $80
Bottom Cage .................................. $85
Tidal Tumbler.................................. $75
Rough Rider..................................... $65
Spat Tube........................................ $35
Spat Tube (modified minnow trap)...... $20
Boxed 9mm Bag............................... $20
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Build Your Own at our BYO Float Workshop 10/11
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Taylor Float with Top ........................ $120
Flip Float …....................................... $55
Bottom Cage …................................. $60
Tidal Tumbler.................................... $50
Rough Rider...................................... $40
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The following items will be available at the event (no need to pre-order)
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Spat (baby oysters), from vendors
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Mesh Bags (small or medium mesh)
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Crabpot Line
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Float Wire Mesh
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Shell bag material
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TOGA hats
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TOGA T-shirts and other items!
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Spare parts
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Used donated devices
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36" by 24" by 12". Holds up to 450 3-in. oysters.
33" by 24" by 10". Holds up to 350 3-in. oysters.
17" by 9" diameter.
36" by 24" by 12". Holds up to 450 3-in. oysters.
Orders must be placed by October 1, 2026. TOGA accepts checks or cash, and payment is due at pickup. In order to avoid state taxes on our float sales, we follow “Occasional Sales” policy for nonprofits in Virginia. As a result, if you cannot pick up your float on sales day, you must make arrangements to pay for your float within 7 days following the sale. The price list is at the end of this newsletter as well as at https://www.oystergardener.org/fall-float-sale.
In the past, demand for floats has been very high. As a result, this year vendors will be on hand to sell their floats and equipment. This is intended to help walk-ups, members who missed the order deadline, and those looking for different style floats, tools, and supplies that TOGA does not sell.
This event is one of TOGA’s primary fundraising activities, with all proceeds benefiting TOGA, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. All proceeds beyond material costs go to the TOGA/VIMS Student Fellowship Endowment and to other needs determined by the TOGA Board of Directors.
Purchasing a TOGA float requires current membership. You may order up to three wire floats plus two spat tubes total, including build-your-own purchases. If you are unsure about your membership status, check the address label on the back of the mailed newsletter. Otherwise, inquire when you fill out the “Become a Member” form.
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You may also contact Vic Spain at vicspain@rocketmail.com.The preferred online order form creates a record in our files and returns a copy of your order to you by email. That email is your confirmation of your order. Please contact Vic (vicspain@rockrtmail.com) if you order and do not receive a confirmation.
Please pay (by check or cash) when you pick up your order. If you cannot be at the sales event, ask us to hold your float for you, and let us know when and where you prefer to pick up your purchase. Otherwise, the float(s) you ordered may be sold. So, please pick up your pre-ordered floats by 11 a.m.
Unclaimed and unreserved floats will go on sale to walkups.
If you choose to order floats by mail, rather than online, please use the order form at the end of this newsletter (or download a manual order form). Submit a completed form by mail to the address on the form, or email a copy to: vicspain@rocketmail.com.
Available at the sale will be small or medium spat bags, crab pot line, float wire mesh, shell bag material, TOGA hats, and T-shirts (no need to order). We are also introducing Chum Bags for keeping small spat in a 9mm mesh container. These are 14” x 16” fine-mesh bags that allow the flow of nutrients for the young spat. They eliminate the need to purchase the large small-mesh spat bags. If you don’t see them at the sale, ask a volunteer.
Build-Your-Own Float Day: Saturday, October 10, 2026, Camp Kekoka, 10am to 1pm: TOGA members who help build their own floats before the sale, and in return get a $25 discount on items they build, may sign up on either the online or mail-in order forms. Contact Vic Spain for details: vicspain@rocketmail.com