Where do you live? I have some 423 graphite you can pick up or I can send you some. It doesn't take much so I can send it in a padded envelope if you want..
Very generous of you, I should have the graphite by next week which gives me time to finish this gun, I am in south Florida, really appreciate the offer 
Dan I considered that also, Ill have some drinks and sleep over that thought 
NICE! if a good day on your coast is 20-30' viz I cant imagine a rough day
Where's the defect, the blue dome next to the track?
Yes, it catches my eye every time I look at it, almost tossed the blank when it happened:blowup:
Once I finish the gun I may just paint the gun came blue or something
Well guys here is the first of 3 guns I am building for this year. Plan is to have a decent reef gun with 2 stiff bands, 5/16 shaft with Tin mans handle. Its a 57" overall length blank with 2 vertical teak laminates and 2 vertical cumaru strips with one strip of cumaru on the bottom, laminated using west system epoxy, dimensions are 1.58" wide 1.680" height .The other strips pictured are for a identical gun to this and a 67" Jatoba blank. Any constructive criticism is welcome 
After squaring the blank up I routed a 1/2"x1/2" channel to pour a epoxy track, I used blue tint since my west system 423 graphite has been taking FOREVER to come in so I will do a side by side comparison on a graphite track vs. non graphite with the next build. As usual what can go wrong will, so Mr. Murphy decided to show up while routing the track for the epoxy and the blank skipped off the table cutting a piece off the edge, which leaves me with a VERY VERY VERY annoying defect which may cause to paint this gun.
After letting it sit for a day I ran the blank through the planer to clean up the top, then ran a 1/4" bit followed by Neptonics 5/16" ball cutter.
Then routed the pocket for Neptonics tuna mech in and tested fit with a smaller 9/32 riffe shaft I had laying around.
Next to do:
Pin mech and route line release.
Order Tin mans handle and fit.
Band holes
Ballast (if needed)
Figure what Im doing with the finish.
Are you guys required to attach a tag to the abs? I always see them in pictures.
Very nice addition Dan, are they open or enclose track?
no. I only use my Crist polespear. Do not own any guns.
Cool deal, I've fished with someone from your area by the name of Ryan also
Welcome, Ryan that I sold a rob Allen 110 last year?
I wish they would be like that around here, good luck collecting the fine $$ though
It's the total length of the stock. As I do more research on the subject the blue water guns do run longer. Is 5' to 6' the usual length of the big guns?
I'd say 65" minimum for a true blue water gun
welcome what island are you out of?
Where in Florida? John pennekamp in key largo has nice reef if your down in the keys
Looks like a trip of a life time, stay safe, shoot alot of fish and pics
Sorry to hear, have to get a big flag to be more visible
should of dove the t bolt, lots of mid water and top water action there
Mutton curse? They are very wary when they get "educated".
Have you hit some that tore off? Or no luck getting close?
If it helps at all, I have the best luck with them hiding on the bottom. Even if I have spooked them a bit and they swam off, if I can find a spot nearby to lay and hide, they come back a lot of times. It has tested my breath hold limits.
this seems to work for me also, sometimes ill be digging a lobster out of a hole not paying attention and a nice mut will come in for a look
looks like opening day for grouper is ruined....rain rain go away come back another day! jeeze
*got some more pics also...just waiting for tapatalk to allow me to upload..somedays it works somedays it doesn't...if anyone has any troubleshooting tips please lmk.
grouper is open year around in south beach :cherna2::hi:
welcome theres a few people on here from Belize also
I dont think it is "necessary" but it I think it helps. I had a ton of it from my pine wood derby days and its pretty easy to find online. I also like how the black track looks but there are other ways to change the color.
I was thinking of using some pigment to color the track but the graphite will make it black.
