mako and rabitech likeness

    Totally off topic, but reading over there on a post posted by someone else from Mark at Omer how he mentions that their manufacterers are from Italy. Is this accurate? I thought they were Chinese as well.

    Perhaps Omer had a factory in Italy at one time? or maybe there is still something manufactured there?
    Just a guess.


    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    Edited 2 times, last by Don Paul ().

    As for the guns, Mako or Rabitech, they both suck as far as I am concerned.


    As Dan mentioned, the grips are far from being ergonomic and the muzzles are garbage. The trigger mech is pretty decent and I haven't had any problems with mine. I did change the handle with a shapelock handle and Tinman made me a sweet muzzle. The gun is nice now, but with almost $100 into the mods,I think the price was hardly worth it. There are better guns available with no mods required that end up being about the same price.


    I have purchased products from both, and both provide excellent customer service. Aside from the guns, I have purchased a few other items from Mako. All I have to say about that, is that I wouldn't buy the products again. I think they are a great value for someone just getting into the sport as the items are reasonably priced. However, having been fortunate enough to have tried so many different brands of gear over the years, Mako gear is just not what I would consider "experienced diver" gear.

    Quote from John Hanson

    Aside from the guns, I have purchased a few other items from Mako. All I have to say about that, is that I wouldn't buy the products again. I think they are a great value for someone just getting into the sport as they items are resonably priced. However, having been fortunate enough to have tried so many different brands of gear over the years, Mako gear is just not what I would consider "experienced diver" gear.

    Well and gently put :)

    Quote from Dan

    fuzz, which item is a good value? Which is plain cool? I'm assuming if you say so it's because you've seen/used it.


    Greek, did the 120cm Mako gun replace your Abellan? :D


    I dont like railguns so much. Wood guns are way better.


    I never use it. It is my backup gun.

    Quote from Ryddragyn

    Fuzz-


    If you read carefully, you'll note that I started my "diatribe", as you call it, in the form of a question, NOT a direction assertion.


    I agree "diatribe" is a bit extreme, but I really just wanted to use that word... I never get to use it. :)


    You may have initially posed it as a question, but when you use phrases like:
    "Mako mafia"
    "ruthless and murky"
    "this sort of Machiavellian capitalism"
    ... then ya, it starts going from question to commentary to rant.




    For the record I'm not pro or anti-Mako. Believe me, it annoys me when people are overly pro-Mako for no reason just as much as when people are anti-Mako for no reason.




    Quote from ladvr

    Harold,
    One can't help but be suspicious of a vendor that gets any unfavorable posts/reviews deleted on a forum that touts itself as a "free speech" forum. The same free speech that is damaging dive spots. It just seems weird.


    Mike


    I have no idea how things truly work over there, but I agree it should be consistent. If it's "free speech", then coddling advertisers and shutting threads is insulting to the members. As I mentioned above, I'm not defending Mako, nor am I putting them down... just an interested observer.




    Quote from Dan

    fuzz, which item is a good value? Which is plain cool? I'm assuming if you say so it's because you've seen/used it.


    A fair amount of their gear is a good value compared to industry equivalents...
    Their rashguard vs. Hammerhead's one
    Their inflatable float vs. Riffe's one
    etc.


    The "plain cool" is more excitement for their willingness to push envelope in stuff like their enclosed railgun. Oddly enough, the first thing that interested me about Mako had nothing to do with their guns or suits - it was that band tying kit. Don't need any of that stuff and didn't buy it, but just thought it was a smart & convenient way to package/sell.




    Quote from John Hanson

    I have purchased products from both, and both provide excellent customer service. Aside from the guns, I have purchased a few other items from Mako. All I have to say about that, is that I wouldn't buy the products again. I think they are a great value for someone just getting into the sport as the items are reasonably priced. However, having been fortunate enough to have tried so many different brands of gear over the years, Mako gear is just not what I would consider "experienced diver" gear.


    Good way of putting it - for the most part, I agree with that statement. They're trying to up the ante; however, they still have a lot of sub-par equipment in their lineup. I would agree that it's a great way for newer divers to break into the sport for a very reasonable budget. Not everyone is a gear-whore with discretionary income like you or I. ;)

    The rashguard is OK. Both HH and Mako buy it from the same Chinese company. The float I haven't seen but it looks comparable, although there could be major differences in basic construction. The Riffe float costs more but it has a zippered pocket for a removable ballast, this is important, Mako doesn't their ballast is permanent. I would only use an inflatable float when traveling, and I may not want to bring ballast. Also the Mako float doesn't have a dump valve for quick deflation, the Riffe float has or used to have it. The add on strap thingies for the Mako float are BS, just creates more drag and if you put anything in it the float will no longer sit upright. The other Mako floats/lifeguard cans and the flag support/ballast strap are made in China. I don't like this system otherwise I'd already added it to the Speardiver line.


    We'll see what happens with the enclosed track guns. It is an innovation but as everything may be based on an already existing product, nothing wrong with that. The freedivers guns were using a similar system for a few years now.


    FreediversTrack.jpg

    Quote from Dan

    The rashguard is OK. Both HH and Mako buy it from the same Chinese company. The float I haven't seen but it looks comparable, although there could be major differences in basic construction. The Riffe float costs more but it has a zippered pocket for a removable ballast, this is important, Mako doesn't their ballast is permanent. I would only use an inflatable float when traveling, and I may not want to bring ballast. Also the Mako float doesn't have a dump valve for quick deflation, the Riffe float has or used to have it. The add on strap thingies for the Mako float are BS, just creates more drag and if you put anything in it the float will no longer sit upright. The other Mako floats/lifeguard cans and the flag support/ballast strap are made in China. I don't like this system otherwise I'd already added it to the Speardiver line.


    I have both the Riffe inflatable float and the lifeguard can with the Mako/chinese flag support system.


    Older Riffe floats didn't have the dump valve,mine thankfully does, and I think it's invaluable. If the Makos don't have it that's a major negative in my opinion. Same for the ballast.


    The hard float's flag system is way more secure ( in terms of keeping it on and upright) versus the inflatable system, IMO, but the flag itself is easily lost by sliding off unless you rig it with some glue.

    Alex

    Quote from Ryddragyn

    I have both the Riffe inflatable float and the lifeguard can with the Mako/chinese flag support system.


    Older Riffe floats didn't have the dump valve,mine thankfully does, and I think it's invaluable. If the Makos don't have it that's a major negative in my opinion. Same for the ballast.


    The hard float's flag system is way more secure ( in terms of keeping it on and upright) versus the inflatable system, IMO, but the flag itself is easily lost by sliding off unless you rig it with some glue.



    Good point.
    The original Mako inflatables had the dump valves... which is why I wanted it for travel.
    The new ones (including the one I got)... don't have the dump valve. :(


    I had one of the lifeguard float's - it ended up going to Nelson (puertocitos).

    :rolleye2: If I only had the time and money to manufacture the hard float I have in mind for 2 years already. Internal ballast, incorporated spooling system for the float line, anti-line-fouling system for the front of the float for reduced chances of entanglement when crossing another diver's float line, and of course a flag that will not come off on its own. I can't bring myself to make anything less :)

    I have been in contact with John, the guy who creates that sweet an float with the gun and internal storage conpartments. He has some very cool other ideas coming too.

    i like to spear fish

    Quote from LunkerBuster

    I have been in contact with John, the guy who creates that sweet an float with the gun and internal storage conpartments. He has some very cool other ideas coming too.


    He's my mushroom hunting guru/mentor. :)

    Quote from fuzz

    He's my mushroom hunting guru/mentor. :)


    nice, he is a great guy with some real design talent. apparently he knows his consumables too :D


    fungus is sooo delicious. I am jealous of the abundance you cali guys have access to...down here we can find "funny" fungus, but not too much as far as delicious

    i like to spear fish

    I just got an email that I found interesting and entertaining, from a Taiwanese diver now living in Florida, who reads the forum and was interested in Pursuit gear. He gave me permission to post the part of it pertaining to Rabitech and Daniel Hu.

    wow...that is some stuff right there...I retract the part of my previous post about faith in the legal process...I am still reluctant to villify Mako, as it sounds like they did what a lot of other companies have done, which is buy from a known supplier...that is ugly and shameful

    i like to spear fish

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