Dangerous gear - speargun wrist strap

yeah, I have to agree that this is a death trap waiting to happen:@

the only thing that I like about this is the idea that you can have the strap on your arm and hunt while the gun is disengaged, then after shooting(breakaway rig) or perhaps while pursuing a lobster, you can clip it to your person without having to hold it in your hand...for any purpose while hunting it is really very dangerous.

I Would love to be their product liability insurance carrier. That is really F'ed up.
I use things that have risk, but would never recommend them or dumber yet sell them.
Sure when I'm hunting 5lb caliico bass, and a 60lb white sea bass swims up point blank I won't risk a kill shot
and get pulled to my death. Yeah right.:nono: That thing should be against the law.
Don

It's no good under any circumstance, not even small game fishing. I once shot a small yellowtail snapper and some 80-90 pound grouper decided to make it his lunch taking the fish, spear and about 10 feet of shooting line under a deep ledge, I was at the end of my breath and had the gun tied to my belt with a short rope (any of us used bouys or reels back then) and had a little trouble to unclip the gun because it was just deep enough that I could not reach the surface. I didn't have much experience back then and kind of panicked when the fish pulled me back down. Since then I do not tie anything to myself while spearfishing period.

The only use I could see is for bluewater when shooting a breakaway system. It would work great, better then having to put your arm in the bands.

This thing is going to really mess someone up that is just starting into the sport. That MAKO sales it makes it even worse. They seem to be the brand that alot of starters are going with thanks to there nice prices and mil. deals.

Quote from LOMartin

The only use I could see is for bluewater when shooting a breakaway system. It would work great, better then having to put your arm in the bands.

This thing is going to really mess someone up that is just starting into the sport. That MAKO sales it makes it even worse. They seem to be the brand that alot of starters are going with thanks to there nice prices and mil. deals.

It doesn't happen to me any more on my guns, but I have watched shooting lines get wrapped and hitched
into the bands many times. Guys loose their gun this way all the time in deep water.

I use a adjustable outrigger release on things I don't want to drown me.
Don

Quote from Dan

I think with a breakaway system there's still a chance that the float line could get entangled with the gun and strap. It's hard to unbuckle anything when you're being pulled by a 200lb sounding tuna.

Had that EXACT thing happen to me last summer. Shot a big Jack and the shooting line fouled in the bands. Let go of the gun at 60', shot the fish at 35'... can't imagine trying to unbuckle that thing that fast...AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN! Ended up losing the gun. It eventually came unfouled at some point in the fight and drifted off. We looked for the gun for an hour and never found it. Bad thing was it the first time I had ever shot the gun and it was one of a kind:( At least I got the fish, my Mori shaft and slip-tip back.

Quote from Dan

I live by the axiom if something can go wrong it will.

Couldn't agree more Dan. I am changing out all my primary gear this year to the much more simple, and in my opinion, safest option, of diving deep water for big fish.

F*CK REELS:@

Too many close calls last year. Going to in-line guns on the float-line, with the float-line being the length of my max "comfortable" working dive depth of 75'.

I don't know what is worst, if letting go a new gun or an old favorite one. But one thing for shure if it gotta go...it gotta go. Floats are awesome.:)

Psycho, the worst thing was, I had the gun for 9 months before I ever got a chacne to use it. I can't tell you how excited I was to fianally get in the water with that thing and the first fish I see is a nice one!

Anyway, back to the strap. I can already recommend a couple of things to make this thing a bit more "safe":rolleyes1: Get rid of the buckle; it will be near impossible to relase if under any kind of pressure. Replace it with a velcro strap that wraps only 1/4-1/2" the distance around the wrist, and have a large tab to pull it off with. Many surfboard leashes are designed like this so that a surfer can release the board if being towed through the water by mulitple large waves. I have had to do this a couple of times in my 20+ years of surfing.

Another idea I had was to lose the heavy duty cordage. The line should be strong enough to support the weight of the gun and that is all. A sharp jerk of the arm and the line breaking would be all that is needed (and the most likely reaction if panicking) to release the gun; say some 15 lb monofilament, or something along those lines.

Quote from John Hanson

Psycho, the worst thing was, I had the gun for 9 months before I ever got a chacne to use it. I can't tell you how excited I was to fianally get in the water with that thing and the first fish I see is a nice one!

Anyway, back to the strap. I can already recommend a couple of things to make this thing a bit more "safe":rolleyes1: Get rid of the buckle; it will be near impossible to relase if under any kind of pressure. Replace it with a velcro strap that wraps only 1/4-1/2" the distance around the wrist, and have a large tab to pull it off with. Many surfboard leashes are designed like this so that a surfer can release the board if being towed through the water by mulitple large waves. I have had to do this a couple of times in my 20+ years of surfing.

Another idea I had was to lose the heavy duty cordage. The line should be strong enough to support the weight of the gun and that is all. A sharp jerk of the arm and the line breaking would be all that is needed (and the most likely reaction if panicking) to release the gun; say some 15 lb monofilament, or something along those lines.

how about this,

It's very strong doesn't corrode. I use this for all applications which require quick disconnect.

Definitely a better alternative than what I see on the Mako product. "Grab and yank" is better than "coordinated" thumb and forefinger squeeze.

My only concern would be how well the pin releases under pressure.

As far as I am concerned, the mako product is simply designed as a fall arrest system for the gun in dirty or deep water, IF UNFIRED. But, Like Don paul mentioned, who is going to take the time to relase the strap when that fish of a lifetime, unexpectedly shows up?

Quote from John Hanson

how well the pin releases under pressure.

Even faster then when theres no pressure.

Quote from Dan

:rolleye2:

I agree, this is to much shit to worry about when in the water. But the concept could be useful for some applications.

One more con for this device,
I see it leading to alot of just letting the gun dangle under you when on the surface or near the boat. where if bumped could mis-fire on top of a buddy or to the side. .

Quote from LOMartin

I agree, this is to much shit to worry about when in the water.

Agreed. I think Mako would be better served by removing this product from their inventory and encouraging the idea that someone's life is worth more than one of their guns.:crazy:

In SCUBA i have never seen someone using this type of gear. First time i saw someone with something like that was a rookie spear fisherman but he was an avid free diver. But he said he saw a documentary that Terry Maas appear on it and he saw some of the spearos using some type of coil line attaching the speargun to the weight belt. Still a big nono. sometimes what you see is not for a beginner.

Just fold like 8 inches of float line and stuck it under your belt. That will keep the gun hanging from the waist right at your side. And your hands free to deal with a fish or lobster or whatever. If you pull the gun the loopwill get out from under the belt. If you guys can understand what i mean.