Posts by makoa

Just wanted to comment on the Aimrite. If you cut down the barrel you noticed how thick the wall diameter is. Of all the carbon tubes I've used (including the speardiver barrel) the Super Venom is the thickest measuring 3.5 mm thick! So that's why I recycle my Aimrite barrels because I don't know what other manufacturer produces an equally thick Kevlar/carbon fiber barrel. I just built two guns this Christmas for my boys using a speardiver carbon barrel and a Pathos barrel. Both have thinner wall thickness. So in the end, there are a lot of guns you could've ended up spending less on but there's a reason Aimrite cost you more.

Aloha,
Makoa

The three barrels are left to right Aimrite Super Venom, Pathos Laser Carbon, Speardiver Carbon.

I see your Moana kali. Good eating. My son Kawika's Moana Kali, almost one state record of 5.5 lbs. state record is 6!

Uhu

Respectable kui for any one. Mahalo Ke Akua for any table fare you end the day with. Sometimes just poking menpachis, kolekole, and other small kine fish with one three-prong is a good day. Big fish are great for da thrill, but most kaukau consist of small to medium fish. :thumbsup2:

Like I said cuz, I really like the performance enhancements of the roller, i.e. The longer range with increased punching force, reduced recoil (like when you wen changed the bands from 16 mm down to 14mm), and the biggest plus for me is I'm able to hunt reef ledges, holes, ulua houses with a shorter barrel but still have the range to hit kahala and other kine fish in open water. The downside is it takes one learning curve for figah how to load, track while diving. But like any new change it will become natural aftah using a lot.

Two of the most humble "Kumu" (masters/teachers) of Hawaiian Spearfishing, Daryl and Joe, at just one of the several dinners me and the boys shared with uncle Daryl and cuzzin Joe. Funny, I nevah remember paying!

Makoa

PS. My boys may not be called "The Sons of Moloka'i" but are true "Sons of Hawaii Spearfishing" and know who to look to for an example of ethical and masterful hunting.

Fish are way Akamai in Hawaii Nei. Bottom time and creative techniques are the key. My Aimrite ,super venom is now a 110 roller cut down from a 140.

Sounds like you're enjoying the hunt! If you can hunt Hawaiian waters successfully you'll be able to hunt most places. Hawaii's fish have been hunted for many generations and they are naturally Akamai. You'll become a very patient hunter and Akamai yourself!

Post those pics!
A Hui Hou!
Makoa

If I had a spare barrel that I didn't care about I think I would try it for my own R&D. But I'm not willing to ruin a good gun just to find out the buoyancy properties and structural integrity of HD foam. If anyone has tried it please post your results.

Thx Dan for the input.

Makoa

I used plugs (from Freedivestore.com!:thumbsup2:) in addition to the MVD muzzle O-ring. I wouldn't chance any modification on a pipe gun without plugging the tube so that water has no entry point into the open cavity of the tube. The roller I show in this post shoots amazingly...I love the accuracy and power increase of the gun, but definitely has a learning curve associated with loading, etc. I can see how a roller muzzle on a wood gun affects the handling less than on a pipe gun due to the ability to streamline rollers and bands along the longitudinal axis of the gun, as I can definitely tell that the tracking of my roller gun is a little different than before. But it accomplishes what I need...a smaller travel gun that I can use reef and bottom hunting but with capability to hit bigger fish in open blue water.

Dan, have you heard of guys injecting high density foam into the barrels of their pipe guns? I Saw a guy do this on YouTube. I've used high density foam in one of my hard lifeguard rescue can floats to avoid the collapse of the float at deep depths and it works great. Not sure this would be a functional alternative for anchoring band tabs on the pipe? I've used the marine grade HD foam from a can.

Welcome. I've hunted La Jolla, Children's Pool and had great success especially with opal eyes, sheepshead, and calico bass. Check with the Lifeguard station. Last time I dove Childrens' Pool the head life guard invited me to paddle out with them for an early morning kayak hunt out past the paddies for yellowtail. I can't remember his name but I know he hunts there and is cool about sharing info. I was there with my sons a year ago and we were running an intro to freediving and Spearfishing session for some youth that wanted to learn. The head lifeguard (I want to say his name is John?) approached me and we talked story about his diving spots and he invited me for that early morning dawn patrol hunt the following day. Pretty cool for him to do that.

Good luck.

Right on! I'm anxious to find out what the layovers will be like. The airline announced Belize starting this summer 2015. Would be glad to reciprocate on the Hawaii side if I'm around when you visit! I look forward to being in Belize as a diver rather than as a gunless cruise ship passenger!

Makoa

Hank, I see you're in Belize. The airline I fly for starts service to Belize this summer and I definitely want to bring my boys to hunt there. I also am thinking about hitting spots on layovers if possible. Any chance you can point a Big Island boy in the right direction for spearing in Belize?

Big Mahalo in advance!

Aloha,
Makoa

Quote from makoa

Thanks Dan. The C1 ID is 25.4mm and the Pathos Laser Open Carbon ID is 26mm.

I used an Aimrite handle in the C1 and it fit perfectly. I know the Omer, Aimrite, C1 barrels all fit the same handles and muzzles...same ID.

Parker, pm sent

Quote from Dan

Actually I'm not sure any more because I can't remember the last pathos barrel I've seen. But you have the Speardiver C1 carbon barrel which fits the pathos D'angelo handle, and I can tell you for sure the Speardiver Phantom handle does not fit this barrel, the spigot is too large in diameter. Of course you can sand it down. But then I think the track will not line up.

In any case you're welcome to try and return the handle if you can't use it. It is a better handle than both the D'angelo and D'angelo 2. Just be aware the barrel has to be cut at a 45 degree angle to fit it.

Thanks Dan. The C1 ID is 25.4mm and the Pathos Laser Open Carbon ID is 26mm.

Yes I have a Pathos Laser Open Carbon barrel. As far as the handles both are shown to fit an ID of 26mm. Will the Phantom not fit because of the OD? I would go with the universal grip handle on the D2 and not the right handed.

D'Angelo 2 or Speardiver Phantom for my Pathos?

Hawaiian! Keep country country!

Advice on tying the wishbone and outer loop "thingy" ? Not sure what knot is being used to secure the outer loop to the wishbone.

Yes, I'm using the forward trigger guard for now. If I like how the roller gun feels and shoots then I will explore ways to set up two anchor points for 75% and 100% power. I've used 16mm bands at 48 cm for a band stretch coefficient of 3.4 ISH. I'll try both shafts and decide.

I know there are "Speargun Tech Gurus" out there that have this all dialed in as a science that can help. For me it's an art...trial and error...simples minded island boy? Cheeho!:thumbsup2: