Posts by Silentstoning

One more thing, if you want suggestions of specific fins give your price range per child and I'm sure others will given their perspective based on what they have used. Myself included. I'm sure you have an idea of your boys' feet (i.e., wide, narrow, flat). Give that out too.

Dan and Diving Gecko are right on. I would like to emphasize the plastic freediving fins.

First, freediving fins; these are important because unlike the scuba your boys will need to hold their breath freediving. To assist them they need proper fins and those fins they wear while on scuba will not cut it. Freediving fins will give them the speed without the energy (conserved energy is very important for freediving.

Now to elaborate on the plastic. There will always be a need for plastic fins. No matter if your boys upgrade to carbon fiber, fiberglass, etc. they will still have a use for plastic. Plus, plastic is way cheaper and versatile. I wouldn't really take carbons on the reef, for example. I don't have the money to replace them that often since I push off the bottom and go on caves and such.

As far as Mako goes, if your are getting your information solely from Spearboard your results will be skewed in favor of Mako. They are a sponsor and per the rules there is no bad mouthing allowed. I would never trust Mako with "complicated" or "important" gear, for lack of a better term (i.e., gun). I feel with the reported malfunctions of gear it would be irresponsible for me to suggest them for such gear. For something not as complicated or important (i.e., weight belt, or arguably fins) it's a gamble. I personally have not been satisfied with even the simplest of gear and have vowed to save my money from further disappointment.

I apologize to any Mako supporters. Just one man's opinion, no offense intended.

Just a little update. Added my lead (2.25 oz). Did a little wood burning and now it's time to finish with some epoxy. Haven't taken many pictures, but when I get a chance I'll add a few angles. For those of you who have not seen the movie and have no reference please do not think I think so highly of myself. It's a movie quote (Pulp Fiction). I've always wanted to say "it's the one that says 'bad mother f***er' on it." My last build was a reef gun that I named "Little Friend" (wood burning on that one done for me) so I figured I'd keep with a theme. First time wood burning so although it isn't perfect it'll do. Tried to get it as close to the true font as possible.

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing.

Quote from Dan

and nice pic.

Right? Even under water you can see the stoke. Cloud nine feeling right there.

Hell ya! Now for some details (gun and fish). I want to know how it shoots for you, tracking, etc. I wouldn't mind hearing about the wahoo either. I'm landlocked in an office right now so I'll live through you.

Quote from Dan

It may sit too low in the water with that diameter pipes, and the stretched fabric will create drag.

For the fabric I would say replace it with a cargo bungee net (the ones you will find at your basic motorcycle gear store). That would still give a backing so it works like a pocket with the other bungee crisscrossing over it (or another cargo net over it). Drag from fabric solved.

Reminds me of an AB board. Pretty cool. I'd be interested to see how buoyant it is. How heavy is it?

Awesome. Just add a picture of herself and that boat is as good as sold and her man is as good as home.

When you say it like that it seems so simple.

I totally misquoted you Dan, and I apologize for that. However, there are many out there that are of the belief everything can be corrected by mass, and that just isn't the case. Mass is an important factor, but it goes hand in hand with all of the things you listed above, and some. I think the main thing is finding the point where all of those factors collide in a optimum setup while being appropriately tuned.

As far as rollers go, I'm not sold on them. While they may help recoil there are so many things I have heard to turn me off to them. I will just wait for them to be perfected or the fad to die down. Those are the only two directions I see rollers going. Either the concept is good and just poorly executed or it is something we will realize does not work. Until then I will stick with my classic setup.

If you continue with this test to where you have something to share specific to manufacturers and/or preferred metals I would love to hear about it.

Regarding the enclosed track... I am of the feeling that it does rob velocity. I don't know if there is too much debate over that. However, I do agree with Dan to an extent. Trying to push a shaft a few extra feet versus the benefit must be factored. Enclosed tracks have a time and place, and the fact they rob velocity does not mean they should be ruled out.

One more thing to add regarding accuracy. To say mass dictates, I feel is a misstatement. Spearguns are unlike a firearm and the fact we are in the water just throws in a few more variables to account for. If anything dictates it is the combination of all that goes into the construction and rigging of a speargun down to the shooting line.

A lot of good stuff here.

Dan, are you willing to share your findings? Have you found any one manufacturer to be more resistant to bend? I'm curious your draw to 7mm also. Is it the fish and area you are diving? For me I am starting to venture away from the 7mm for the very reason of bent shafts. 7mm seems to bend to easily for me so I'm making a switch to a bigger shaft.

DivingGecko, I have come to learn that no matter how much people praise Pathos, their shafts just don't do it for me for several reasons. For a long stretch they were all I would buy no matter my disappointment. They are priced higher locally than many other shafts. For me I thought, higher price, must be better. I believe the shafts are too prone to bend. They are not too stiff and so I speculate that their flight is not as true. So for me Pathos loses on stiffness, accuracy, and price. Now to continue the hunt for the perfect shaft.

Welcome!

Quote from virgili

Seems to me they probably identified you as a possible predator and leave you a place in the slaughter. "take your portion! »

Ha! Well they don't want to be greedy. They know you have to eat too. So cool.

That was awesome. Thank you for sharing. It was interesting to see several tuna pass on the same dead herring one after another. Looks like you were right on them. How much of a push from the water do you feel when they wiz by at that speed?

I agree that there is a loss of band stretch with individual holes, however, I feel any loss is negligible (if at all) under three bands. I have a theory on this, which I have nothing tangible to provide in support, but through my building hunting, etc. I have decided that with three bands and under the line of sight and the organization of the bands through individual band holes outweighs the band stretch of a slot.

Last one.