South Florida Bluewater Build.

Very cool Reefchief, I look forward to following this one. I'd go with 4 5/8th bands, especially if targeting wahoo. I recently did a similar build with 5/16th shaft in an enclosed track with 3 5/8th bands.. I'm wishing that I had put a 4th one on it, in fact I plan to modify it. I don't put myself into the category of experienced blue water, or experienced gun builder for that matter, however after testing the range on my own build I realized that I may want/need a little more umph.

Daryl Wong makes what's called a rear handle plus, it seems to be in between a mid handle and a rear handle.. thus a "quarter handle" with a vey short push rod.. so that's entirely doable. Good luck, keep us updated. :thumbsup2:

I chose the rear handle because I've shot midhandles in the past and had a tough time transitioning. I'm sure I could make the transition, but I don't want to miss fish in the process. I've only shot on the reef with it so far, to see how it performed, it tracks well.. not as quickly as a midhandle I'm sure, but I'm certain it will be just fine.

Quote from Reefchief

Ive never shot one. But you bring up a good point for me. I think it would be very hard to transition.

I am cross hand-eye dominant. My right eye and my left hand are dominant. This requires me to shoot rifles,bows, and I guess mid handle spearguns right handed/backwards. Since the gun cant be put infront of me. Guess I need to figure this one out and probably go with a rear handle. 4 bands in front of my face just makes me think of sherri dayes terrible wong handle accident though.

If your face is going to be behind the far side of the barrel, I would go with a rear handle. Big Hoo will swim straight into 10 to 12' range as long as you haven't pissed them off shooting at the smaller scouts first.
When diving down to intersect a fat Wahoo, hold the long barreled gun in the center and close to your body,
just as the fish comes in to killing range, face him and unfold the gun for a center of mass shot.... then get out of the way of your shooting line and float if you use one. I don't have time rewinding 300' of line with a chase boat on my heals so I prefer a bungie and float for these powerful speedsters. Small Hoo (under 50#s) can be taken with a well built reel after the first run.

Cheers, Don

Quote from Reefchief

I think my gun is very wong inspired. I thought about guns I liked and before I knew it was basically describing a Wong. Although im not as big a fan of the hybrids.

As a history buff.... I would say your gun looks like a Steve Alexander, then the one he copied to some extent..
the Long Beach Neptune's Jack Brown gun. Steve cast his very nice handle, muzzle and build his mech of stronger materials then the Legendary brass Australian UnderSee mech first used and copied by Riffe.
Wong came in later with his Hybird with much ''inspiration'' from the Terry Maas, Jim Maybury and My Hybird from 1980.
There will be a test on this data later.;):D

Cheers, Don

Open or ET track?

Cheers, Don

Changed the Avay to inspire you.;):D .... 4-5/8 bands on a 3/8's and open track. I also like 3-5/8's on a 5/16.

Quote from Reefchief

Was planning on enclosed track but that was just based on most other bluewater guns I see being ET and liking ET on my other wood gun. The simplicity in routing etc. But I dont mind loading my OT speardiver 120.

I have done alot of testing over the years (30:@) and have milled off ET tracks with Graphite/Epoxie matrix
on a gun I built in the mid eighty's. With proper shaft to power balance I feel they are unnecessary.

They do imply a degree of '' higher tech'' and perceived value on a gun described as ''shooting like a laser'', and a strong industry of gun sales and verbal testimony supports this. On my guns however they are just '' Junk in da trunk''.
One thing ET's are good for is when your buddy leans your gun against the wall and it falls... the shaft doesn't
damage the sear cut end or the mech housing.:@

Later..
Cheers, Don

PS here is Terry's 1982 Hybird gun, but the ''Hybird'' name came much later, we just called it '' The Tuna Gun''.:D
4 band 3/8's shaft Open track, Lexan sear box with SportWays mech geometry. Fish is his WR 398# blue fin.

Build me one while you're at it.

Comercial spear fisherman wrote this to his shaft supplier and I got it as advice on building a ultimate wahoo sticker, so thought I would share
"My best customer in FL hunts wahoo a lot and only shoots 3 fin x 72" 7.5 mm shafts threaded 6 mm for a skinny slip tip. He says the 7.5 gives him more speed and enough punch over 5/16. "
Don such a privilege to read your advice on hunting the hoos

Whats a spear diver slip tip? Never seen slip tips for sale on the web site

Quote from Dude george

Comercial spear fisherman wrote this to his shaft supplier and I got it as advice on building a ultimate wahoo sticker, so thought I would share
"My best customer in FL hunts wahoo a lot and only shoots 3 fin x 72" 7.5 mm shafts threaded 6 mm for a skinny slip tip. He says the 7.5 gives him more speed and enough punch over 5/16. "
Don such a privilege to read your advice on hunting the hoos

George Thanks.
I hope I don't mess up ReefCheif's build thread with species hunting styles.Big Wahoo can be successfully landed by World class Champion(like Jean Baptiste Esclapez) speros using 90cm guns and close brain/head shots. I would class myself as a spine breaker. This means my shaft needs to shatter and punch through vertebra while towing 400 lb mono or wire rope. A 9/32 doesn't carry its speed and inertia well at 15 feet for me, nor will it tow heavy cable and lines I use in the blue.

I have hrs of Champion diver John Ernst shooting wahoo with Jay Riffe ( sorry I do not have permission from him to post it up) shooting Hoos with some Ti barrel guns I built for him . In the film he shoots with a 5/16 and a 9/32, many more Hoo were landed/hurt with the 5/16 and it's powerful punch and speed profile.
Smaller Wahoo can be shot with anything, just like a Cuda.
Next time I see John I'll try to get permission to show the comparison.

Cheers, Don

Beautiful blank! You won't be disappointed, Woodguy's work is amazing.

nice blank:cool2: