For freedivers it's a necessity to keep things as simple and streamlined as possible. This was reflected in the wood guns I built, but there's only so much you can do to get a wood gun light and maneuverable. Now I'm sold on the carbon pipe gun. I really enjoy feeling unencumbered in the water. There are some design elements that I prefer like an enclosed track, shark spike, strong float line and spear line connection, and overall robustness including the trigger mech, that I find difficult to implement in a carbon pipe gun, but overall the lightness and simplicity wins. I am in the process of designing a production carbon gun that will address some of those issues.
Posts by Dan
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I don't understand the loading butt. It looks like hard plastic, so it wouldn't make loading any more comfortable than just leaving a wood butt. Maybe I'm missing something. Thanks for the pics fishy killa, and nice hali. Don't know if Rob Alleys was purposeful or not but it sounds catchy.
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Are those rhetorical questions Judah? I'm not clear on whether I should answer. I think I was clear on why I don't like the roller speargun. My point which I think you missed is that a roller is a bulky contraption, more so with a lever. This may not be a big deal for a scuba diver down for 30 minutes without continuously going up and down for air, but I'm sure you'll feel it on your beach dive swimming out 1-2 miles to the third reef, diving 60ft up and down for 6 hours, then towing back the Banks board heavily laden with the many fish you've taken.
Another point you missed is that at a given length a one band roller will not shoot any better than the same length gun with two bands. Therein lies the hype.
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To me, the feel of a roller is very natural, so most of the time that's what I shoot
I think the freediver vs scuba diver factor may have bearing on this preference. If I remember right Bill you don't freedive? Just trying to keep things in perspective. One of the reasons I post about this is to help guys not make a costly wrong speargun choice.
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Tufual, You shouldn't have. I respect your opinions. There are very few guys who choose to and successfully build the first speargun they're going to use, right down to the trigger mech.
Bill, aren't conventional spearguns built to handle a certain power configuration without being adversely affected by recoil? As long as the recoil doesn't affect the shaft trajectory, I like it. It tells me the gun is shooting hard and fast, whether the bands need to be shortened or changed. With the roller I feel like there's too much time before the shaft leaves the gun, almost enough time for changes in my grip and arm position to affect the aim.
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Judah, I do. IDK, will have to try.
George, the longer band accelerates the spear in a noticeably slower way. I felt like I was waiting for it to leave the gun, and felt the rubber passing/contracting along the rollers.
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Good luck with the trade. Nice pig.
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If the vis is terrible you'll be shooting the fish at point blank range. Do some penetration tests at that range and you'll see that two hot 16mm bands on a 100cm gun are plenty. Or a good pneumatic.
I don't feel like an expert, and shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath together with the true experts. But I don't think it's necessary to be an expert to come to the conclusions I've shared here, it's just some experience and common sense.
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The next speargun design that I can't stand is a roller. It's the latest fad and all the manufacturers are jumping on it. The hype is just awesome. I sourced a very well made roller muzzle a year ago, it matches perfectly with the Speardiver carbon tubes. I built a nice carbon roller gun to see if it's something I want to produce. Compared to a conventional speargun muzzle design the roller is a ridiculous concept. Takes too long to load, forget about getting a second shot on that school of fish. I hated the long drawn out spear release. Hated the bulky profile.
Yes rollers are pretty and well thought out guns, but they're just not practical for a bottom scratcher like me. Just going ahead and saying it because no one else seems to. It's amazing we've been able to get fish at all before the advent this roller revolution.. If I seem to come across a little strong about this, it's because I'm tired of hearing about roller this and roller that. Don't believe me? Spend the cash on that new toy. IMO there is not a circumstance where a roller is the number one choice. This thing about regulations somewhere allowing only one band on a speargun is just a fantasy.
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Which reminds me.. Lunkerbuster where's my spray bottle?
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It boils down to an anatomical wetsuit design and the right choice of neoprene, which translates into a well fitting suit and no water circulation. Yes if you stand in front of fireman's hose and hold out your arms water will go in.
Where were you 4 years ago?!
Down the street from you
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Mix the conditioner with water in a spray bottle. Start with two tablespoons of conditioner and see how slippery you like the suit. Next time you can reduce the amount of conditioner to your liking. Don't wait to do it on your dive day, try it at home now.
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Speardiver offers 9mm suits.
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A Speardiver suit is not a Polosub suit, so you can't make a conclusion about Speardiver suits from your experience. But I can safely make the following general statements. To get a Speardiver quality wetsuit from one of the better known brands you will pay about $150 more. Some of them offer high waist and some offer suspenders. This means that you will pay about $150 more for 2 square feet of neoprene that will theoretically will keep you warmer. Here is a picture demonstrating the difference between suspenders and high waist. I disagree about this extra bit of material providing any kind of additional thermal protection, or preventing water circulation. As a matter of fact the Lycra lining on the outside of the suspenders will negate the suction of the open cell jacket against the skin, and will channel water.
If more warmth is required the best solution is to go to a thicker suit, or at least a thicker jacket. Or use an open cell vest under the jacket, like the Speardiver comfort freedive vest.
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hahaha totally see it.
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I'd rather be comfortable and happy diving all day, than be weighed down by a huge gun all that time. Even if an unexpected huge fish comes by, and I didn't get him because I couldn't get close enough, so be it, I'm happy the fish gets to live.
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Nice timing on the audio, albeit a little too dramatic a build up. Good breath hold too.
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Very nice pics Frank. How are those bluefish to eat?
