Torch - anybody use a torch for spearing?

[strangelove]

Ted

Yes that is my name !
Alaska is not a bad place after all, I can snowboard on the winter and spear fish on the summer. I am going to Rio next week (probably the reason the water is murky - seams to be the case for the last six years).
I actually own a Princeton Tec Surge, you can buy a dozen of them for the price of one Decathlon, I will look into buying one as soon as I stop buying expensive wooden guns (I am not sure when that will happen).
Thanks for all the info I really like your post about the European pendulum.

 

[rcerdena]

Where is the post about the european pendulum?
I am interested in reading it.

Cheers,

Roberto

 

[strangelove]

Here it is

http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?t=63517&highlight=pendulum

 

[Mr. X]

... I am going to Rio next week (probably the reason the water is murky - seams to be the case for the last six years).

I've asked about what causes the murk before -- nobody seems quite sure. Plankton & krill and the like usually get the blame (I wondered if some seaweeds produce a kind of aquatic pollen -- as knocking them can send clouds of powder up). I have a theory, which will probably not be popular (no -- not global warming...although you never know -- all that warmth & CO2 ) -- I am beginning to associate murk with human habitation. The few places known for consistent good viz in this country are Cornwall & Scotland -- two areas with low population density and relatively little industrial development. Both areas are farmed, so the farm run-off explanation doesn't ring true with me. I am thinking sewage, and/or, perhaps, pollution (industrial & residential). Just a theory.

Maybe it is all of the above (warmth + CO2 + sewage = growing conditions for Plankton? Gaia Principle/Control Theory in action?!)

 

[Ted Budion]

Me liga. De repente damos uma saidinha. 2542-5205 e 8119-7790 (cel)

 

[Groupermadness]

Mr X. Here in eastern med its the cold and warm waters meeting and forming Sea storms(no wind just rough seas) which kicks up the fine particals and reduces vis sometimes to absolute 0, maybe the same there, cold pole waters coming down between Ireland and mainland UK, i know the Irish sea can be a Nightmare sometimes. its probably just silt and mud thats traveling around with all the other micro organisms thats reducing the vis. once its settled sometime in Summer you might see something again .

 

[Huan]

Anyone used or seen the LED lenser Frogman torch?
about €35 and pretty bright, feels to be really good quality too.
I tried it out in the shop and was well impressed by the focused beam it threw out.
Stainless head is also nice.

 

[Chad Carney]

Light holders are for shooting fish in holes, often the ones that may have torn off.

I find a light on your gun feels much less robotic than one on your mask strap, and it lines up where your spear will shoot.

Quiver light holders are tension fit, so you can pull it out with one hand in one motion, spot the prey, put it back on the gun with one motion, and take the shot.

Both of the 4AA lights by UK and Pelican are very bright with very little weight or profile.

http://www.mobilescuba.com/Quiver.htm

Chad

 

[Mr. X]

Anyone used or seen the LED lenser Frogman torch?
about €35 and pretty bright, feels to be really good quality too.
I tried it out in the shop and was well impressed by the focused beam it threw out.
Stainless head is also nice.

Looks like good value: http://www.sporttek.co.uk/LED_LENSER_Frogman_Divers_Torch_.html (Hey since when has 1 pound = 1 euro! SHould be 1 pound = 2 euro.)

 

[Ted Budion]

The LED Lerse has only 1,5 W power output; too weak for spearfishing applications. I've decided to go for all the marbles and purchase a FA-Mi Power Led 40 :inlove . It's a calculated risk. If I approve it, it'll be my torch for maybe the rest of my diving career (a Brazilian poet said love is eternal while it lasts...)

If not, I already lined up a friend who's a tech-diver nut to buy it for the same price I'd pay for it -- and would get me a Princeton Tek Surge as replacement.

 

[rydergrove]

I agree uk q40 perfect for spear fishing i use 2 of them. i have one attached to mask with strap that comes with torch the other i use in my hane is very helpful the one on mask if you catch octopus and you need both hands to put the critter on a stringer, i have also experimented with one strapped to gun barrel from undernreath works very well .


anyone tried using squid jigs at night when you see squid that are too small for spear fishing works very well.

 

[Ted Budion]

My buddy is using a PCLite from Ikelite, 6 small batteries. He said is very bright, but the switch is kind of akward.

 

[rydergrove]

UK mini q40

 

[rydergrove]

uk mini q40 pretty good but if you have bad viz and can afford a hid liight go for it i regularily use a halcyon straped to my weight belt for night fishing.

 

[Mr. X]

The LED Lerse has only 1,5 W power output; too weak for spearfishing applications. I've decided to go for all the marbles and purchase a FA-Mi Power Led 40 :inlove . It's a calculated risk. If I approve it, it'll be my torch for maybe the rest of my diving career (a Brazilian poet said love is eternal while it lasts...)

If not, I already lined up a friend who's a tech-diver nut to buy it for the same price I'd pay for it -- and would get me a Princeton Tek Surge as replacement.

Cool. Now that's the way to do it.

Brighter is better -- let us know how you get on. There are quite a lot of large, used rechargeable UK dive lamps for sale on ebay for reasonable prices (often divers retiring) -- definitely a handful though.

By the way, I just got some 2500mAhr NiMh rechargeable batteries from http://www.7dayshop.com (4 for 3.99 GBP) -- seems pretty high capacity but I think we already established that rechargeables have a lower voltage (1.2 vs. 1.5V). They also have 3 different chargers (6-15 GBP) available. We seem to use a lot of AA cells these days for various things. I also got some throw awayalkalines cells 12 for 2.99 GBP. Oh ...Shipping is free until 2pm this Saturday.

 

[Mr. X]

Torch Muzzle / Muzzle torch ???

Light holders are for shooting fish in holes...
I find a light on your gun feels much less robotic than one on your mask strap, and it lines up where your spear will shoot.
...

Neat product. I guess the design would not work for euroguns/railguns -- with spear lines under the barrel. I suppose it would also increase lateral drag a little & would need to be fitted to maintain balance -- although perhaps not an issue for holes.

Hey, how about this for a product idea -- a torch muzzle / muzzle torch -- a lamp that is actually part of the muzzle or barrel ... or that fits into the muzzle (and possibly barrel too?!). Just plug your speargun in at night to charge it up! Maybe those guys at Hammerhead or Omer could do it?! It might be a good match for those small cave guns that come with trident points.

 

[Ted Budion]

I finally got my Power Led 4 from Europe. My son bought it at Decathlon in Paris for even less: 200€. Yes, it's expensive, but 40% off the retail. I havent used in the water yet--got it last Friday and seas were undiveable until today--but the light is unreal. Very very white and strong. At least, above water there's no comparison with my now-retired torches, a Bottom Light and a Tec 6.

I did a little customizing to prevent banging and scratching, and to improve handling in the bottom. Below are before and after pics.

 

[Murat]

what about its opearation switch? magnetic or what? What types of battery does it uses and how long it lights?

 

[foxfish]

You may be interested in Old man Dave's information on torches. You can find it on the Guernsey 2006 thread.

 

[Ted Budion]

what about its opearation switch? magnetic or what? What types of battery does it uses and how long it lights?

The switch is a rotating magnectic one (black plastic ring on the photo) with lock for diving; and a stronger screw lock for transport. It uses four AA batteries, alkaline or rechargeable. Actually the original kit comes in a cool plastic case, with 8 rechargeable Ni-MH batteries (4 x 2500mAh + 4 x 2100mAh), an AC battery charger plus a cigarette lighter-type 12V charger!

The LEDs are power misers. Consuption is extremely low.

The beam (12° angle) is extremely white, never seen like that. And lights everything up to 2 m away.