DIY Boogie Board Float

[jkid_39]

how strong it the plastic screw that holds the arm rope on a regular boogie board? would it be strong enough to hold a fish such as a yellow tail on the run with your gun? or would it be better to modify it with stainless circle hook washers and bolts?

 

[flying_spanner]

how strong it the plastic screw that holds the arm rope on a regular boogie board? would it be strong enough to hold a fish such as a yellow tail on the run with your gun? or would it be better to modify it with stainless circle hook washers and bolts?

How Strong? Not very!!! I don't really trust it and plan to replace it before it fails. (Probably with 2 stainless washers and a bolt)

I don't really shoot big game yet, a few blue cod and few Butterfish (aka Greenbone) are all I have to my name so far.

 

[Lenny]

Has anyone thought of perhaps moving this whole bodyboard thing up a notch, say to a paddleski size. I have always thought that a paddleski would be awsome cos you can take it out nice and far and save yourself alot of swimming, you could spray it rocket red, so it would act as a bouy and it would have plenty of storage space. I like catman's clips, i assume they are for your gun, the same thing could be put on a paddleski. If you are nifty enough with fibreglass you could make a watertight compartment that you could keep valubles in. You could also make a storage spot for fish that would keep them cool, fresh and their blood out the water! (Quite important here in Falsebay, Cape Town).
Just an idea?

 

[Mr. X]

Has anyone thought of perhaps moving this whole bodyboard thing up a notch, say to a paddleski size. I have always thought that a paddleski would be awsome cos you can take it out nice and far and save yourself alot of swimming, you could spray it rocket red, so it would act as a bouy and it would have plenty of storage space. I like catman's clips, i assume they are for your gun, the same thing could be put on a paddleski. If you are nifty enough with fibreglass you could make a watertight compartment that you could keep valubles in. You could also make a storage spot for fish that would keep them cool, fresh and their blood out the water! (Quite important here in Falsebay, Cape Town).
Just an idea?

I thought spearing from a paddle ski was quite common in SA. They advertise them in Len Jones' Spearing booklet. I believe Spearo Dave said he had one or used to use one. Several of us use sit-on kayaks (esp. the Devon spearos & Mundial in Israel), which are a bit more kayak/boat-like - although I still haven't speared from mine. The Hawaiians seem to be the real masters of kayak fishing judging from some of the pics. on the web.

Before choosing red (or yummy yellow), you might want to take a look at the Kayak Rigging thread, I think that is the one where Portinfer posted a picture of a shark-easten sea-kayak. It was white with a large red tip (like a giant red head fishing lure)!rofl Gulp.

 

[flying_spanner]

Will it be too bulky to put in the boat? Yip, probably.

Next I can see myself buying/making another float that'll fit into my divebag, purely for boat diving.

Well I can now report that my Boogie Board works great in boat dives too!

The last couple of weeks I've spent diving out of my father inlaw's 14ft Alloy boat.

On board we had 2 scuba divers and all their gear (including 4 tanks)

A boatman who did a little fishing (so rod, tacklebag, etc.),

and myself as the token Freediver,

So yeah, deck space was at a premium.

The Scuba dives took a gear bag along betwen the two of them to throw fins, masks, etc into, and the rest of their gear occupied a fair part of the deckspace:head

Where as I just had my float, a speargun, Fins, Mask & Snorkel, Weightbelt to contend with.

I stowed all my gear under the cargo net on my float and had a single compact package to deal with. It worked Great. Not to mention the net held plenty of schallops just fine also

So I have come to a conclusion....

Bugger making another float, the one I have works better than I imagined!

 

[the_milkman]

I modded an Omer Atoll float (Omer Atoll Float: Spearfishing Gear) ...Firstly, took a small dive weight and fastened it to the centre velcro speargun attachment to act as ballast from keeping it blowing over with flag in high winds. Then, took a divers' goody bag, threaded each end with para cord and fastened this to either end of the underside of the float. Works great for shellfish. Also attached a stainless stringer to one end. The storage on top is enough to carry pelicase with keys / wallet, torch and water. I also changed the float line for some really good floatline I bought off ebay in the states.

I get round the snagging in kelp / round piers issue by carrying a small drop anchor (ANCLA BOYA PICASSO) so that I can leave the float, mark the area but still stay safe.

 

[Søren]

Great inspiration!
I've just ordered the blue board form a Dutch site. Then I went to a motorcycle store and got a net for keeping your luggage.
I already made my own float line from 8 mm pvc tubing and it has worked great all last season.
I bought a flag from an english site.
I plan to mount some straps from an old bagpack so that I can carry all the equipment on my back when walking home on a rocky beach.
Any thoughts on this?
S

 

[flying_spanner]

My float made exactly the same way works great as I've tried to convey with this thread.

I put all my gear fins, mask, snorkel, Gloves, Abalone Lever, etc. under the net when travelling to and from the dive by boat. When doing a shore dive this method of gear stowage also makes clambering over the rocks much easier.

When I'm diving I put all my catch under the net on the board, it saves dragging a catch bag around with me. When diving for Schallops for example, I still take my gun with me even though the area Schallops are generally found is a bit of a desert (ie no fish).

That way I can leave my gun on the bottom to mark my spot. I return to the surface beside my float, and have a sizing guage hanging on the side. I can size the schallops there and then. Legal ones go straight under the net, too small over my shoulder.

Depending on how I feel now I may hang onto my float and relax for a min to recover (repetative dives to -17m take it out of me after a while), or may just breath up and follow my float line back down to where I was previously. This saves covering the same territory more than you need to.

One further hint. Go into your local DIY hardware supplier (Mitre 10, Home Depot etc. etc.) and purchase some of those Carribina's that are annodised aluminum, or stainless steel. You know the ones builders use to hang their nail gun to their tool belt when working at height, The ones that have "not for climbing" stamped into them.

They're cheap as chips, and you can never have too many things to clip all those important things like spare knife, underwater camera, waterproof housing for cellphone, etc. etc. etc.

For example my spare knife has a string through the handle to tie it to my wrist. Clip this into the carribina and stash the knife under the net. Even if a wave flips your board the knife won't fall out.

Best of luck with your float and be sure to post pics of the finished product! Look forward to seeing it.

 

[Søren]

Great!
I'll post photos.
I don't want too much equipment on the float because I may want to use it as a resting place and lie on it for at while. But of course, its pretty big so there's probably enough space for everything.

 

[flying_spanner]

Even with all the gear I stuff under the net of my float I still have no trouble getting most of my torso out of the water and lie on the float to rest or adjust my mask etc.

 

[stalker']

nice work catman

 

[Whopperhead]

Any photos of the finished product anyone? I would like to see how it works with the Flag. It's a Great concept!

 

[Søren]

Haven't received the board yet. Will post photos as soon as its here.

 

[flying_spanner]

I've posted photo's at the start of this thread of my float just after I made it. Haven't got any photo's of it in action as yet. Far to busy gathering food to remember the camera:t

Goin out for another "gathering session" in a couple of days I'll ask my girlfreind to get some pics.

 

[Søren]

As you can see from the photos in this thread the net on the board is attached with nylon strips. Any better ideas on fastening things to your board?
s

 

[flying_spanner]

As you can see from the photos in this thread the net on the board is attached with nylon strips. Any better ideas on fastening things to your board?
s

The nylon Strips you speak of are actually Cable Ties (also known as Zip Ties, or Tie Wraps). They seem to be working fine so far

 

[Søren]

The nylon Strips you speak of are actually Cable Ties (also known as Zip Ties, or Tie Wraps). They seem to be working fine so far

Ok - we have other english words for english things that are called different things in english
I just got the zip ties and I'm going to mount the net today.
I also want to attach straps from a backpack on the bottom side of the board (I have considered drag and dynamics and I've decided to give it a try). The thing is: how do I attach these straps without putting too much tension on a small area of the board?
s

 

[Magpie]

Here's how I made points for attachment of netting and straps and stuff.

I put channels into the board made from cable conduit, and ran a bit of thick bungie rope though them in a loop with stainless washers and rings on the top and bottom.

This give me attachment point for netting on top and things like backpack straps on the bottom. The straps are on clips so I can remove them when at the water and stash them on top to reduce drag.

Channels:

Washers and rings:

Underneath:

Top:

 

[Søren]

Great idea the cable conduit. As I have a ready made board I'll need to glue it or somehow stick it in the holes. I'm thinking hot glue from a glue gun.....?

s

 

[Magpie]

As long as its not too hot or it'll melt the board! Epoxy might be better. You won't need much as long as you cut the holes so the conduit is a tight fit when you push it in because its under lateral not vertical load as the tension is taken by the washers at each end.