New Seatec Gabbiano 2009!

[azapa]

feeling like you need a longer gun! thought it would never happen to me, but I was diving in Guadeloupe with 50M viz and skittish fish, the 90 I took along was pathetic! Now bought a RA 110CM, the spears alone are 150Cm long
just got to save up to get back there now...

 

[spaghetti]

I have always used an Seac Sub x-fire 85 and have never felt like I needed a longer gun. In fact I said to my self that i wouldn't go for a longer gun until the day I genuinely felt that the the 85 let me down in terms of range. That day never came. I love the x-fire but sadly the line release died this year so I have had to buy a new gun. I decided to go for the 90cm this time because it seems like the most popular size. I hope It is not to cumbersome. I can't imagine it will be being only being an extra 5cm longer than I am used to. If i feel it is in anyway too long for low vis and hole fishing I will have to get a 75 as well! Shame

You can use the shaft of your X-Fire 85 on the Snake 90, so that the overall length will be the same of your previous gun.

The shorter shaft (and thus lighter in weight) will make it faster on close target shots, and more accurate on distant target shots.

Just take care, when you use the thinner and shorter 6,25mm X-Fire shaft, to shoot your Snake with only one circular band.

Try it this way, then tell me how it does....

 

[daveduvet]

Anyone ever seen 50m viz in Torbay?

The RA sounds cool though! Good luck saving!

 

[daveduvet]

You can use the shaft of your X-Fire 85 on the Snake 90, so that the overall length will be the same of your previous gun.

The shorter shaft (and thus lighter in weight) will make it faster on close target shots, and more accurate on distant target shots.

Just take care, when you use the thinner and shorter 6,25mm X-Fire shaft, to shoot your Snake with only one circular band.

Try it this way, then tell me how it does....

That is really worth knowing thanks!
What do you mean take care with one band? What might happen?

 

[DafyddRees]

Gah, I hate seeing threads like these! My new standard gabbiano 90 arrived which I cant wait to use but those guns look so nice....No...i cant get another! I can really see myself having a huge collection of guns in a few years though >.<

 

[daveduvet]

Dafyddrees...i think the snake will bite you.....

 

[spaghetti]

That is really worth knowing thanks!
What do you mean take care with one band? What might happen?

For complicated ballistic reasons, I would not use 2 bands on a 90cm gun with a 6,25m shaft.
2 bands would make it a bit overpowered and the gun would loose accuracy, especially on short shots: I'm not good at physics, but as far sa I understand, the excess of kinetic energy (too much energy for the mass of the spear) would make the spear quiver in the initial segment of the trajectory. There is a huge literature of close bass missed for overpowered guns....

Simon: Re. gun length. Guadalupe is Guadalupe....these poor european guys (like me) hunt in 3 meters viz

 

[daveduvet]

Spagetti,
Sorry I miss-read your post. I thought you said take care when using just one band when what you said was take care and only use one band (not two). This makes perfect sense!
I will try the shorter spear and will let you know. I like the idea of it being faster on close target shots, and more accurate on distant target shots.
Why do you think Seatec dont use the shorter spear in the first place?

 

[spaghetti]

Spagetti,
Why do you think Seatec dont use the shorter spear in the first place?

because every gain is a loss, and every loss is a gain. A slightly shorter shaft (5 or 10 centimeters shorter than the standard) is said to give a better ballistic performance (straighter tajectory), but a longer shaft (standard size*) is obviously easier to aim on the target.

However, Seatec guns come super-accurate from the factory.
Target test on european rail guns have proven that a smaller shaft may help a bit with accuracy, but IF you decide to change the standard shaft with a thinner one, you have to compensate the reduced spear mass by reducing the band power as well...
D'you have a headache now? Me too! rofl

* the standard size for european manufacturers is barrel length + 40 centimeters: 115 spear for a 75 gun, 130 for a 90, 140 for a 100 et cetera). Seatec, Omer and everyone else use this rule of thumb, than it's up to you to modify the set up if you wish.

 

[daveduvet]

So the shaft on my 85 x-fire is shorter and thinner than on the snake 90, but the bands on the x-fire are 17.5 but only 16 on the snake. Now my head is really hurting!

Any soothing comment on this?

I also have to ask what size bands should I try if using the shorter, thinner shaft on the snake?

 

[spaghetti]

band thickness is not so important.


(sorry for the headache. I'll try to make it simple: you have 2 options, both good.
1) keep as it comes
OR
2) try it with the X-Fire shaft but with one band only.
Both will do good.

 

[Mr. X]

Welcome to the dilemma Dave. 75 - 90 -75- 90????!

 

[daveduvet]

Good advice.

However I was planning (before i knew about the x-fire shaft) to use it as it as it comes but with only one band. Is this a good or bad idea? I assumed (which one should never do) that two bands would be a bit much for UK, but had not considered that one band with the shaft supplied may not work so well.

Mr X. Thanks for welcoming me to the club...! I know you have been chairman of it for some time now so good to get the golden handshake!

 

[Broseidon]

Gah, I hate seeing threads like these! My new standard gabbiano 90 arrived which I cant wait to use but those guns look so nice....No...i cant get another! I can really see myself having a huge collection of guns in a few years though >.<

Did you get that from Spearo? I was looking at thw Gabbioano's earlier this week thinking it was high time I brought one! Having seen the Snake though...... well... I know where my pennies will be going! :inlove

 

[Broseidon]

Does anyone know why the new 2009 models are not on Seatec's website?

 

[daveduvet]

Good luck...

 

[spaghetti]

Does anyone know why the new 2009 models are not on Seatec's website?

Seatec is a small sized family-run factory. For sure they're not computer geeks: never been very active with the internet, and in facts their website is very rarely updated.
They could make their business much bigger if they gave more attention to the internet and more projection to foreign markets. But of course it's their own business...

 

[Broseidon]

Seatec is a small sized family-run factory. For sure they're not computer geeks: never been very active with the internet, and in facts their website is very rarely updated.
They could make their business much bigger if they gave more attention to the internet and more projection to foreign markets. But of course it's their own business...

Hmmm... it's things like that, that totally put me off as a customer.

Hearing that, I'm genuinely put of buying Seatec.

If they can't be bothered to update their website... that for me certainly raises a few questions... totally unprofessional :naughty

 

[DafyddRees]

I agree with you Dev, I cant find any listings for Seatec gear anywhere. I was looking for the Snake aswell but the only link I could find was the same one that Spag linked! O well, guess it is their choice though and they must be doing well. I reckon their company would become huge with abit of marketing and advertisement as the gear they make all looks really nice!

 

[Broseidon]

I agree with you Dev, I cant find any listings for Seatec gear anywhere. I was looking for the Snake aswell but the only link I could find was the same one that Spag linked! O well, guess it is their choice though and they must be doing well. I reckon their company would become huge with abit of marketing and advertisement as the gear they make all looks really nice!

Yeah, it's a shame really - I've also had a long, fruitless search for the new 2009 Seatec range and again, nothing! In this day and age, companies just can't afford to piss around like this. I mean, don't they want to sell their products!?!? You should jus be able to go to their website, see the products and buy them there and then. No middle men taking a cut, no hunting round tons of Italian websites I can't read; just simple customer-company trade.

It would be better for us in the UK if spearing was more popular so that we actually had some decent importers (although Apnea.co.uk in Jersey are great to deal with!)

I'm pretty sure Spearo is the only one in the UK which stocks Seatec - realistically, all of the old Gabbiano's Spearo have in stock should be on sale and the new 2009 ones listed and ready for shipping. BUT, when you've got small companies trying to turn a profit in small markets, it's just not viable. It's a shame really.