New line spool - my float rig

Dan · 10-07-2009, 07:30 PM

If anyone knows a more correct name for what I call a line spool please let me know and I'll change the thread title.

This is my float rig, it includes a line spool that I made which I wanted to get your opinions on. The purpose of the line spool is to hold excess line while in the water. I carry enough line to allow me to do my deepest dive, this means the actual depth plus 30ft. The deepest I will go is 90ft so the line is 120ft long. It is an orange RA line but another polypropelene line of similar diameter and weave will have similar properties. The purpose of the spool is to hold unnecessary line; if I'm diving in 30ft I don't want 120ft trailing behind me. This makes stringing a fish faster as the float is closer, and together with coiling the line between dives helps avoid crossing lines with other divers.

I was not satisfied with any of the available line spools, they all look like this with some minor variations.

The problem with this design is that as soon as you cross another diver's line you're almost guaranteed to catch his line with your spool. So I made something that's tangle free. I think it's obvious from the pics how it works but if there's a doubt I can elaborate. Basically with this spool the only way my rig will catch on another diver's line (without a spool) is because of my flag if his line goes over mine. If there was no flag in my float his line would slide over the top of my float. If both divers had my line spool their lines would never get tangled. The spool is made from a teak board and a smaller piece of teak board glued in the front, with the grain in a different direction to add strength. The finish is two layers of penetrating epoxy. The spool floats with all the line wound on.

I also made a modification to the RA float as I don't like their flag holder. I used an automotive fuel line of the right diameter for a conventional flag pole. I plugged one end of it with a small piece of pole, glue, and a crosswise placed SS pin. A hole was drilled into the center of the RA float that was a little bigger than the hose, and I used epoxy to set the hose in the hole. It's very solid and the flag pole is retained in there by friction and suction, it is not coming out on its own.

This design has worked flawlessly for me so far and I would like to mass produce it, or something similar to it. If you guys can see an obvious flaw or an improvement please point it out. It . The only thing better I can envision and would very much like to develop is an integrated float & spool system.

Dan · 10-07-2009, 07:39 PM

I also made this stringer which is easy to clip after stringing the fish, and to get the fish off of.

Tin Man · 10-07-2009, 10:15 PM

Pretty cool. I like how the line passes through the front hook, so the force of the pull goes back to the spool instead of breaking off the front hook.

How buoyant do you think that the mass produced version needs to be? It would be easy to have them waterjet cut from Starboard (and then just router the edges), but I think Starboard just barely floats.

Dan · 10-07-2009, 10:26 PM

The line floats so I guess as long as the spool floats it's fine.

monster slayer · 10-07-2009, 10:26 PM

Great idea, Does it releases line in a hurry if need be? Another thing, use ss cable instead of mono for the stringer, some thoothy critters will cut your line with no effort.

Dan · 10-07-2009, 10:33 PM

Yeah, I just went back to mono after a few months with stainless cable. I started to use stainless cable after two strung cudas cut the mono stringer and I had to swim around looking for them. But I didn't like how the cable kinks and rusts despite being stainless. I would go to a different coating than clear which would look nice but I'd be afraid to not see when it's rusted to the point of breaking.

This spool is a little slower to wind and unwind line than the open one but it's still convenient.

monster slayer · 10-07-2009, 10:51 PM

I think is better to actually anchor the float to the bottom that way, just to string the fish and not swiming around, cause if a nice sized Aj, crosses your path, you will loose the gun, unless you have a reel on it. I seen Gon spearing a 40 lb Aj, that spooled it out in 5 secs, I had to string my floats to his gun. That system is perfect to anchor the float tho.

Dan · 10-07-2009, 10:54 PM

What the hell are you talking about?

I'll never lose a 50lb AJ with that rig. I let go of the gun and hold on to the line..

monster slayer · 10-07-2009, 10:54 PM

About the SS, is better to restring it every other month, or at the end of the season, around here I had lately some nasty experiences with sea lions, those get your fish anyways. Also i have been harrassed by a couple of huge dogs at Swans rock. Tried to poke them out, but they dodged my blows as frigging sea Tysons, I was in the boat in a hot min.

monster slayer · 10-07-2009, 10:56 PM

As a bro use to say, I was seriously thinking in getting innuit with their asses !!! Lol.

Loved your float system by the way..