The abrasion resistance should be Ok, I have used similar ski rope before with good results. It floated fine and resisted. Kinking
Im also curious about the exact amount of give it has. I will probably put a 6ft DIY bungee on the float end.
Have one on the way. Well see
Yeah I hear you! Im just mentally preparing for a trip to the where the Monsters Roam. I hope to make a trip in the next year to some of the waters know for the best Marlin fishing in the world. Im leaning towards, 75ft bungee, 2 rob allen hard connected by 25ft bunge, to the 60L as a terminal float. All those floats will still be around the price of one riffe 2 atm.
I hear you about shot placement.
I have shot plenty o fish in the 50lbs range and can tell you, anything can happen.
I have had mono cut on structure, slip tip spectra break, floppers bust off shafts, stoned fish slide off of shaft, I have also landed 60lbs amberjack freeshafted, So I anythin is possible, and having a 600lbs class fish wounded, take 1000$ worth of gear never to be seen again, as has been reported, is an optio I would like to make my best preparations to avoid
The idea is to have it as a terminal float that deflates for travel. I like the booster ball, is it pressurized?
While highly improbable, there are PLENTY of reports of fish taking down. 3 float strings, and even tuna boards down never to be seen again.
I figure if i have been fascinated with the idea of landing a monster fish for as long as I have, and spent as much time and money chasing it, Good enough for 99% of the time, is well not good enough. Since I live and breath for the .5% of time.
My recent experience of seeing a 35l inflatable crushing like a used candy wrapper on its way to davei jones locker was sobering.
It will likely be a few years before I get chance to swim in the deepend.
Im thinking absolute worst case scenario
Thick could be good for preventing tangles.
Stranger things have happened, I have seen what looked to be a pair of 200 pounders free swimming, with the top of the sickle out of the water in about 120fsw, we were on the boat as be passed them. Felt like we were witnessing a unicorn.
Even larger ones have been filmed just of the lake worth pier balling up baits.
Hell I even saw a 9 foot sawfish once.
So while improbable, certainly not impossible.
I am actually thinking about another dive spot all-together, its south of the boarder, a coral Atoll, where Marlin and tuna 100 yards from shore appear on a semi regular basis.
When ever on a trip. I always take any time off from boat diving and do a shore dive. These are the times im thinking about.
There is no perfect solution. More lift always means more drag, Less lift means more risk of loosing a once in a lifetime trophy.
The price on the board seems right. Perhaps, by the sounds of it, I will be one of the only people to try a beefed up banks board as a terminal float.
Well see.
Just ordered some, will report back:)
Says its rated for 4k, and it stretches, they price is more inline with what I have in mind.
Thoughts?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000LDWSYW
Im thinking of making a sheath for my bungee to protect it from nick, it would be a piece of hollow tubular webbing the would slide over and be secured only at gun end, so the bungee could stretch under it, but grabbing it would also cancel stretch for added control. Letting it slip through hand to end would make it give. Not sure if makes sense
Has anyone tried it with a riffe bungee?
Awesome exactly the input i am looking for.
The 3atm floats if proven could be a good alternative to the riffe.
Would it be fair to say the banks might be adapted to fit into the daisy chain, to replace a lifeguard float? Given proper precautions are taken. Wouldn't its platform serve a purpose few other blue water float provide: usable platform for safety gear, flashers, etc
The cost of the riffe is obscene.
What I would really hate, is to be the guy who say, I saw my 3 floats be pulled down never to be seen again! Thinking of how much that setup even cost makes me dizzy.
I do someday hope to swim witha monster and would like the best chance at landing it without bankrupting myself and staying safe as possible.
Thanks guys! Your input and previous discussions are invaluable.
If im not mistaken glass dings and dents. Not best for air travel.
The banks board seem like a hell of alot of bang for the buck, compared to riffe, riffe would probably charge 2k for something similar.
What about the times when a beach dive, becomes a blue water experience. It would be nice being able to pop that 150 lbs ahi when you see it on a shore dive and know your board can take the abuse.
Im I mistaken in believing the banks could make the ultimate "life guard can" foam filled inspired blue water float. It would have its niche, as part of a quiver of gear to aid in safety and provide lift and much need platform for the rig.
Im wondering, has anyone buoyancy test the banks?
Yeah a dedicated foam filled bankss board with the eye upgraded to extend the length of board and better secured. With a clutch. Something versatile that can serve a good purpose in both beach diving and blue water hunting duty.
It would be somewhere btw a hard 11L and a true tuna board. Yet provide the obvious advantages of the sleek bed and storage possibilities for safety eq, flashers, chum and spare kill gun. Whats not to like?
The big foam block is appealing but not nearly as sexy as a blue water capable Banks board. Will take time to build and the cost and availability of a complete one, limiting
Has any one had their hands on one of these?
Yeah the idea would be, a 75 foot bungee, 1 or 2 hard 11L floats, 25ft bungees
in a dump pouch, rubber banded to one of these, and for the biggest of fish an additional 25ft bungee in a pouch rigged to break away from a foam filled banks board. Possibly a small reel loaded with spectra recessed in a smaller rearmost buoy loaded in the bed of the banks.
It seems even a set up like mentioned above could prove not enough for a true grander class fish.
All terminal connections would need to be up to the strain as well.
What kind of forces are we talking?
Im thinking a set up for 500+ lbs fish.
All that would probably pack up smaller than a tuna board or close to it, and be more versatile. The banks board could serve for the odd beach dive, as well as the inflatable or the hard float.
The cost of alot of riffe stuff imho is inflated to the point that its almost insulting. Some other stuff is worth it but always on the verge of being prohibitive.
Not many alternatives to their blue water bungee. Except the botha style bungee, and DIY.
3 of those floats and all riffe gear would set me back an obscene amount, I would like to someday have the requisite equipment to confidently take a shot at a monster, hence all the questions.
Any input welcome
Very appealing.
I just cant justify the cost of the riffe and inflation is a must for travel.
Does anyone have any experience with these floats.
Seem interesting. Input welcome
Given the cost of materials, shipping, and time to build a tuna board, or the cost of buying one, and add to that the fact its not nearly as elegant a solution as the banks.
If i go the foam block route, I would still have a need for a shore diving rig.
If you thought about it, means the idea may have some merrit. ;).
It would be interesting to know the bouyancy and weight when filled with 7lbs foam for maximum crush resistance.
The more I think about it, I will probably give it a try, maybe find a way to make the bolt through reinforced the length of the board.
Anyone else try this. Seems way better suited to our needs than the typical lifeguard can, given the proper mods are made. Perhaps not as a primary float but as a trailing float.
Any feedback on guys using this on big game fish?
Ive been thinking of getting a tuna board, and also need one of these. Cash is tight so, ideally one float could pull double duty.
Has anyone filled theirs with foam, perhaps beefing up attachment points, and used it like a hard lifeguard float in a string for Bluewater?
Thanks for the input.
Bump for updates. Any of those that have done this, input very welcome
My gear needs revamping and this seems like a decent way to save a few$$. If done correctly seems to be as stron as any.
Thanks for any further info
Thanks! Thats exactly what im looking for!
The cost of a true bkue water setup has my head spinning.
Some day if neptune deems it fit and an 800+ blue presents a shot, I will only take the shot if its clean and my grear is the best that I can make it.
So far, have a 35 l gen 1 rob allen blow up doll;) scary to see it crumple as it goes down.
Leaning towards 75ft rife bungee, to an 11L hard float, to 15 ft bungee in bag, rubber banded to another 11L, to and 25 ft bungee, in a bag, rubber banded to a large tuna board, and a small bouy with a recessed reel with 500 ft of spectra rigged to break away. Sounds like over kilk, but I dont want my story to end, with, my bouys were dragged down never to be seen again.
My hoo was toast, but my exuberance got the best of me.
Any one have experience with some new, 60L inflatable 3atm floats? Havent seen anything good or bad about them. Seem like a good float. Claim to be zodiak tough
Any lead on bulk floating high strengtn bungee would be hugely apreciated!
Don, if you had to do it over, would you try for a brain shot? Im a big fan of lateral line placement, had very very good results, mid body.
Recent experiences similar to yours, with easy shots on big fish, where i actually celebrated the capture in my mind before seeing it all somehow unravel, has me reconcidering my default target zone on closer shots on once in a lifetime fish.? Thanks for all your input. I value it!
For further or fleating shots, it does make more sense to target the spine, btwn the anal and dorsal fin, I feel its the most stationary part of fish, but when it all lines up, and you have the fish youve dreamt about 8ft from gun tip, Im giving serious thought to trying to get the brain through the collar bone, does that make sense? Or would you stick with the instinct that works of zeroing in on that part know are familiar with conecting with? I like to preprogram my mind so to speak, so the fish doesnt sense you deciding how you want him in your freezer and bolt.
Thanks.
Carry on
