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Help: Spear line - how strong?

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Mr. X

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Spear line: what do you use & how strong must it be?

Accidently pinched my spear line & need to replace it quickly. How strong does it need to be?

I believe the Rob Allen "Mako" line that is original equipment on my gun is very strong -- 350lb+ maybe even more, tuna line.

I have a couple of options at hand & a few others that will take a little longer to sort out. Short term options:

- 50lb mono -- I'm thinking this might be enough for the short term, and I could knot it

- weed-wacker mono -- this is even thicker than the Mako line but I think it will probably still just fit through the hole in the spear. I've heard that it is very strong.

Longer term I could crimp this but short term I'm thinking of whipping the end for about an inch & half, as one of the Guernsey spearos did last year.

Advice/suggestions? (I might go spearing Monday -- hence the urgency. Failing that, off to Devon the following week.).
 
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50lb fishing line too small. Strimmer line...not too big.

Well, the strimmer mono will just go through the hole in the spear & the 50lb mono is just too thin - it would cut into the muzzle end of my new 20mm rubber band. Might have to find a Sunday-opening hardware store tomorrow - maybe get some thinner strimmer mono. I found a place on-line selling 100lb mono -- would that be enough I wonder?

I'm trying to get hold of Mako-line but not too hopeful of getting it anytime soon. (Darn, I was in a good sea fishing store & a diving/spearing store yesterday too:head).
 
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Weed Whacker Line it is!

Ah well, I've used the weed whacker/strimmer line. It worked surprisingly well, although a narrower gauge would fit better (& probably work better in the weed whacker too*). Being larger diameter, it is even softer on the hand than the original line.

I whipped the ends for about an inch and a half & tested the whippings under load. I then glued the whippings with Epoxy resin, & smeared the ends of the mono with a solder iron to mushroom them out a little (per Miles' excellent rigging article).

*I bought the thickest whacker mono available some years ago -- thinking it would be tougher -- and it is, it lasts ages, but it doesn't auto-feed properly. I have a huge reel of this stuff, bought cheaply in the USA for about $5...probably a tiny fraction of the price of fancy Dyneema spear lines. Pity it's not green (or black or clear) though ...
 
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If you want to buy strong mono and crimps online look at the ads put by big fishing tackle shops in the back of the British sea angling magazines.They stock 150, 200, 250 etc. + crimps for same and also specialist tuna fishing mono.
 
Reactions: Mr. X
Thanks guys. I checked the 2 on-line fishing stores that I have used in the past & the heaviest line they carry is 100lb -- so the Sea Angling magazine will be the next port of call. I might also check the hardware store for some thinner, more camo strimmer mono. I'm quite please with the temporary spearline that I rigged last night -- but it's rather bright and, being quite thick, it will be a tight fit through the muzzle opening when firing.

I've added some strimmer mono & whipping cord to the small repair kit I carry round. I'm trying order a second speargun currently -- want to avoid being left without a usable speargun on holiday.
 
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Why such heavy duty mono?????

Do you have a bungee attached to your gun before the line to your spear???
 
glowworm said:
Why such heavy duty mono?????

Do you have a bungee attached to your gun before the line to your spear???
Click to expand...
I would like to say: "because of all the 300lb bass we shoot" but you know that ain't so. For my particular speargun, the mono runs over the front of the rubber band -- anything too fine (50lb mono included), would cut into the rubber band. The larger diameter lines don't seem to do that. The thicker line can also withstand more abrasion, pinches, etc. (the pinch that caused me to replace the line went 2/3rds of the way through the line but did not break it). Also, being designed in SA, they do actually get 300lb+ fish over there. What do you use/recommend?

Yes, I have a bungee, it came on the gun. Thanks Flyflicker - good links

The original Mako spearline is 2mm diameter. The heavy duty strimmer cable is 2.5mm +/- 0.2mm. Both far stronger than would ever be needed for a British Bass - or even a US striped bass!
 
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I reckon for the UK with euro style guns then the 160lb mono I use is about right. Thinner mono tends to tangle and if it tangles when you shoot then it will snap. Thicker than approx 160lb would tend to add drag and effect performance. Rigging with small crimps is best IMHO.

Dave
 
Reactions: Mr. X
I think i will stick to my 2mm dyneema rather than mono as i have had no problems with dyneema at all.
 
glowworm said:
I think i will stick to my 2mm dyneema rather than mono as i have had no problems with dyneema at all.
Click to expand...
Sounds like that'd handle pretty much anything (600lb+?)
 
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i just was having the same doubts re line thinkness after a wear-out this weekend. I too looked at strimmer line: don't use it as it is not the same structure as fishing line (was my auto-response). I agress that 160lb mono looks good for up to 20Kg prey (a gooood day here).

Foxy: any specifics on using mono and crimps on pneumatics that you would care to share? I am thinking of rigging my fave asso 65 with that. I have it pumped and shoot at full power. Would I get away without a bungee?
 
Cant really see the point of not using a bungee? I have tried all sorts of line & rigs on all sorts of guns, at the moment every thing is rigged with 150 mono & crimps. I have a few different bungee set ups but always use one of some description.
Maybe where I live helps because mono, elastic cord & similar things are easily to find in one of the many fishing tackle shops or boat chandlers we have all over the Island.
 
thanks for the answer foxy. after a tangly weekend I am trying to remove everything that I don't neet from my kit. Its not the bungy I don't like, its the bungy, little bit of cord around it and an extra joint that bothers me. Also, a pneumatics spear has the spring on it that reduces shock.... Just and idea. I should probably just be trying it instead of asking

I got second place in a local spear fishing comp. and the w/e though, but can't help thinking that without the snags and tangles I would have won... next time...
 
Congratulation on the 2nd place Azapa - yes I can imagine you'll be looking at all options to get an edge & get the #1 slot next time.

Strimmer line (at least the stuff I have) is less consistent than fishing mono -- I measured it with a digital vernier caliper from 2.2 to 2.7 mm or there abouts. I doubt if fishing line would vary anywhere near that much. Also, there is also no claimed breaking strain for strimmer line (but the thick stuff is v. strong).
 
Another option?

I got some useful info. from a very experienced spearo. Apparently trimmer line is ok -- strong enough but will sometimes stretch. Also, whipping, when done properly can be stronger than crimps (this guy will have measured it).

Also, another possible "stop gap" spear line occurred to me. I have some braided nylon chalk line -- I just wanted some fairly strong nylon string and most hardware stores & stalls carry this stuff ("Faithful"- brand). It is like the cord used on blinds, maybe even thinner. Probably nowhere near as strong or hardwearing as thick mono but it might work & should thread through the hole in the tail of the spear ok.
 
thanks Mr. X I didn't really deserve second place IMHO, I guess the guys were giving me a break. The spearfishing comp rules here are really strict, and looking at them now, I broke half of them!.

Re the strimmer string idea. I can certainly get that here easier that 200Lb mono...has anyone else tried it??

Do you make your own bungees or at least wrap them on those bone shaped rubbers? What cord do you use for that? I have seen some great ready made ones for about 10 to 20 dollars, but the post to get them here normally doubles that and, it's more fun making your own
 
I'm still using the original muzzle bungee that came on my gun, although it is looking a little perished now so starting to think about replacement. RA did spares for around £3.60 I think ($7 US) 2 years ago, which seems reasonable -- probably not the one with the built-in clip, I expect that'd be pound or so more. For that price, it's probably not worth me making one (although I have a spare clip & of course the original swivel clip, & some nylon braid:hmm). What strength & length of mono do you use? What are "bone-shaped rubbers" - do you have a picture/link?

Looks like Dave at Spearguns by Spearo uk ltd finest supplier of speargun, monofins, speargun and freediving equipment offers a fine selection including versions by Venom & Rabitech (similar to RA design), with & without swivel clip: Speargun accesories




SPEARO UK LTD - ONE STOP ON-LINE SPEARFISHING RESOURCE
Actually, I quite like the look of the Venom's pigtail clip -- the other type can be quite painful/awkward to open (although I recently noticed a Dorset angling store offered some smaller versions):
 
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Reactions: azapa
azapa pm me your address & I will send you some mono, some elastic cord as well. These things cost but penny's.
 
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